AFC Emley striker Kieran Ryan strikes for goal in his side’s 4-3 defeat at Westella VIP. Picture: Mark Parsons
New boys Westella VIP held their nerve to record their best win yet in the Toolstation NCEL Division – the 4-3 victory over AFC Emley.
Westella were looking to clinch their first home win since their arrival in the NCEL and Leon Sewell’s men got off to the perfect start.
Westella opened up the game in a frantic pace that the visitors could not get to grips with and the hosts took the lead on the fifth minute.
Young Joe McFadyen delivered an inch perfect corner for Mike Hewitt to get across his marker and glance his header into the back of the net for 1-0.
Emley grew in to the game for a short period of time only for the back Westella VIP back four snuffing out any danger and catching the lively Ash Flynn and Kieran Ryan offside numerous times.
With both sides looking lively going forward it was Westella VIP who gained a further foot hold in the game on 25 minutes. Alex Wood played a long diagonal ball over the visitors defence and McFadyen was on hand again taking the ball out of the air and firing a thunderous half volley past the stranded Emley keeper.
Emley continued to probe at the Westella defence and eventually pulled a goal back. Ryan despite offside appeals kept his cool to fire past the returning Nathan Otley.
McFadyen had a great chance on 40 minutes after some neat play from Alex Wood and Chris Spinks, McFadyen rose above his marker and drew a one handed save from the Emley keeper who had to tip the ball over the bar.
Emley began the second half in a similar fashion as to what Westella did the first half and in the first minute of play Ryan wriggled his way through the Westella defence and fired in to the far bottom corner to pull his side level.
Five minutes later and Westella’s minds were still in the changing room a Alex Hallam put his side in the lead slotting the ball under the advancing Otley for 3-2.
No sooner had the visitors taken their positions for the re-start Westella where back in the game, as the ball dropped out of the air and from 20 yards out Spinks fired an unstoppable volley to make it three apiece.
Westella managed to control the game for a period of time and on the hour mark caught Emley on a counter attack as they pushed men forward.
McFadyen drove forward switching play from left to right to Spinks who beat his man and crossed far post for McFadyen who drew a fantastic save from the keeper and on hand was new signing Callum Harrison to fire home the loose ball to put Westella VIP 4-3 up.
The game had more twists and turns heading in to the last ten minutes. Flynn and Matt Fyvie went shoulder to shoulder as Flynn was approaching goal and somewhat went tumbling outside of the Westella area seeing the referee produce a red card for Fyvie.
Emley threw everything they had at the stern Westella defence but found no way through to get the equaliser they desperately needed.
Westella VIP manager Leon Sewell:
“A fantastic game and unbelievable effort put in by the lads has seen them get their rewards with three big points against a well organised side who will be pushing for promotion come end of the season.
“Today’s performance was all about us and putting in a worthy performance and doing the basics right time and time again.
“The challenge for the lads now is to maintain the standards set in today’s game and really push on and move forward.”
Westella VIP: Otley, Dodson, Hewitt, Gardiner, Williamson, Fyvie (captain), Wood, Short (Andrews), Harrison (Petch), Spinks, McFadyen. Sub unused: Alden.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Scrivens, D Ryan, Graham, Jerome, Brennan, Townend, Coduri, Flynn, K Ryan, Hallam. Subs: Slack, Spicer, Bangali, Evans, Howson.
Referee: Robert Woodburn
Attendance: 38