Westfield emerged victorious from a classic ding dong battle against Herstmonceux in the quarter finals of the ESFL Challenge Cup this afternoon to set up a mouth watering tie against division three high flyers Ninfield United in the semi finals.
Herstmonceux started the game in lightning fashion and were cutting through the Westfield back line with relative ease when after just 4 minutes they took the lead after a well worked move down Westfield’s right hand side.
Westfield began to grow into the game and fashioned some decent chances of their own but poor finishing and heroic defending from Herstmonceux kept the Westies at bay. Kyle Churchman was bossing the midfield yet again and his forceful tackles were stopping the dangerous Herstmonceux counter attacks. Churchman was highly unlucky not to score his second of the season with a few long range efforts of his own but the Herstmonceux keeper and defenders managed to somehow repel his best efforts.
At half time manager Harry Stapley had some choice words of his own and the dressing down, along with the introduction of talented midfielder Jordan Yahya, seemed to galvanise the Westies as they went out in the second half like a new team.
Just 11 minutes into the half and midfield maestro Joe Page released star striker Jay Edwards with a fabulous outside of the boot pass and Edwards powered home a classy finish. 1-1.
Westfield continued knocking on the door but they couldn’t force the ball into the net despite their best efforts. Then midway through the half a late Churchman challenge was adjudged to be just inside the penalty area, much to the annoyance of the Westfield players. Herstmonceux’s number 8 confidently fired home the penalty to make it 2-1.
Westfield were now throwing the kitchen sink at the strong Herstmonceux back line. Edwards thought he’d equalised with only 10 minutes remaining but the linesman’s flag ended those celebrations. Then Westfield thought they’d earned a penalty after a late challenge on Edwards but the referee decided the challenge was outside the area despite the poor visibility of the penalty area lines. But with just two minutes remaining the creative force that is Lee Paine played a delicate cross towards the back post and goal machine Edwards for him to bundle home the late but deserved equaliser. 2-2 and extra time.
Extra time continued much like the rest of the game had been with Westfield enjoying much of the possession and creating chance after chance but still being vulnerable to the pacy counter attacks of Herstmonceux. It was from one of those counter attacks that Herstmonceux took the lead for the third time when their number 2 headed home a delightful cross.
After 100 minutes both teams were reduced to ten men after an altercation between Jordan Yahya and their number 8. Despite both players being involved in a wrestling match the referee decided Yahya deserved a straight red compared to the Herstmonceux player’s second yellow card.
As the second half of extra time begun Westfield seemed to have a confidence that they could turn the tie around. Paine again got in down the right hand side and his pin point cross found Edwards who tapped home from a couple of yards to level the scores. Then, with just 6 minutes remaining, a Kyle Young corner was floated into the box and a late Leon Mende run looked like it was enough to allow him a header at goal, however, a Herstmonceux defender denied the chance by handling the ball just before Mende could head the ball. From the resulting penalty captain fantastic Dayne Beaumont showed nerves of steel to confidently thump home the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way. 4-3 and full time.
Next week Westfield welcome Herstmonceux to the Parish Field in a must win league tie. ????
