Barwell 2 Westfields 1

IN SPITE of staging a late rally Westfields rarely looked capable of completing a Midland Alliance League double over their Leicestershire hosts. Westfields won the first encounter by the same score-line.

Substitutes Derek Craddock and Matt Beale did pep up the performance during their 20-minute spell on the park, but it came too late to overturn the two-goal advantage already gained by the home side. Craddock scored the goal and Beale had a shot cleared off the line by a defender with his keeper well beaten.

Missing influential, but unavailable, midfielder Wayne Hoskins, Westfields failed to gain any control on the game. A mixture of sloppy passes and a resolute Barwell defence meant that their scoring opportunities were very limited during the first 70 minutes.

Barwell opened the scoring midway through the first half when Andy Tiday skated past three defenders, completed a neat one-two, and curled an 18-yard shot past Jon Pugh. Chris Jefferson did force one save from the home keeper as the visitors responded.

Westfields posed more threat following the break but, after Roy Jordan and James Watkins had both gone close to equalising, Barwell stretched their lead. Paul Lucas volleyed home from eight yards.

Craddock gave his team a lifeline 10 minutes after coming on, when he raced through the home defence and lobbed the ball over a stranded home keeper.