Westwood u18s 9

Steeton u18s 6

WESTWOOD Under-18s came out on top in a game that swung either way on numerous occasions.

The hosts took the lead after eight minutes when a cross from the left-hand side was slotted home.

Steeton equalised with a 25-yard free-kick from Harris Khan, as his shot had too much power for the Westwood goalkeeper.

Westwood made it 2-1 from a corner following a spell of pressure from the hosts.

Steeton equalised again when a powerful driving one from Joe Snowden, beating the Westwood defence before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

The visitors were now on top, playing some lovely football through midfield. Khan played Lewis Plumb in on goal down the left-hand side of the penalty box, Plumb ran clear and powered a left foot shot past the keeper to give Steeton the lead on half time.

The second period started with the young Chevrons on top playing with confidence.

Westwood were awarded a free-kick just inside the Steeton half. The kick looked to be floating harmlessly into the Steeton keeper’s hands only for it to slip out into the advancing Westwood striker to slot home for 3-3.

Steeton then had a crazy 10 minutes when Westwood scored three goals to make it 6-3.

Full credit to the boys, though, who showed tremendous character to get themselves back in the game.

Substitutes Joe and Brad Lee both joined the fray. It was them who started the comeback. Neat play down the left-hand side from Barney Cope, who played the ball to Brad Lee, he sent in a lovely cross into the box, Joe Lee beat his marker to the ball only to be brought down in the box. He regained his feet and coolly slotted home the resulting penalty.

Brad Lee made it 6-5 when he poked home from six yards out following excellent work from Louis Wasylyk.

Steeton then equalised. Lee took a long throw down the left-hand side to Cope, he skipped passed the Westwood full-back on the byline before smashing home from a tight angle.

At this point it looked like they would be only one winner.

Minutes later Brad Lee hit a rocket of a shot from the edge of the box which looked destined for the bottom corner, only for the Westwood keeper to save brilliantly, Joe Lee went close with the rebound.

Controversy with the next goal, when the ball seemingly looked to have run out of play on the Steeton deadball line, the Westwood players kept playing and the ball was tapped in with the Steeton players at a standstill.

Steeton kept pressing at the other end, Daniel Ambler, Joe Snowden and Khan all went close to scoring.

But Westwood got the decisive next goal after they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. The ball took a wicked deflection of the Steeton wall, wrong footing the keeper, spinning into the corner of the net.

Westwood scored a ninth in injury time which was harsh on Steeton who played well enough to get at least a point out of the game.