Westland United 0 Banwell 1 - WITH strong winds and intermittent rain blowing sideways across the pitch for the 90 minutes this fixture was never going to be pretty.

Westland United 0

Banwell 1

WITH strong winds and intermittent rain blowing sideways across the pitch for the 90 minutes this fixture was never going to be pretty.

The message before the game from the United management was to stay disciplined and try to keep the ball on the deck as much as was possible. This was exactly how the game started and looked promising from the off. Some good link-up play from Rich Lloyd and Adam Haysom saw Callum McManus charge into the Banwell box early on only to be bundled off the ball by a clumsy challenge and a huge appeal for a penalty was turned away by the referee.

United continued the push through the first half and a Ritchie Powell free kick from just outside the box was spilled by the Banwell keeper and a host of United players reacted quickest to bundle the ball over the line only to be flagged offside. The same linesman then flagged for offside from a corner leaving United knowing they were in for a troubled afternoon. Haysom was chopped down on the edge of the box but again an appeal was waved away by the referee.

Banwell created a first-half chance, striking the crossbar from a free kick from just past the halfway line.

Within minutes of the start of the second half a Banwell corner was ballooned to the outside of the box and fell at the feet of a Banwell defender whose shot wass failed to be blocked by onrushing Pete Churchill and an outstretched boot from John Sutor changed the path of the ball. Goalkeeper Dan Till was already committed and could only scramble the ball into the net.

Banwell resorted to route one tactics for the remainder of the game, and United's chances were dealt another blow as Sam King had to leave the field with a painful foot injury.

United gave their all to get back in the game, chances for Adam Haysom, substitute Ryan Hawkins and Danny Dancer failed to find the net. With seconds left on the clock a glorious chance fell to United striker Lloyd after some trickery from McManus but the Banwell goalkeeper kept big and Lloyd shot over the bar.