CITY SECURE SINGLE-GOAL VICTORY

CITY played out a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Westfields as we maintained our challenge amongst the League leaders.
We started on the front-foot and within the opening minute a neat move involving Nathan Hayward and Dave Reynolds saw Brad Birch presented with a chance, which he fired over.
Our bright start continued as Reynolds lifted the ball over the advancing ‘keeper only for his effort to land on the roof of the net.
It was City who were asking all of the early questions as Nick Turton did well out wide on the right before pulling the ball back into the path of Reynolds who was inches wide with his strike.
On the quarter-hour mark Reynolds was denied by a fine save from the visitors’ ‘keeper before Westfields started to get into the game without seriously testing Matt Gwynne.
The game was developing into something of an evenly-matched affair as the opening period went on with both sides creating half-chances.
Birch put an effort wide whilst at the other end a free-kick for the visitors was fired well over.
The first half ended with a free-kick from George Forsyth saved as we went in at the break goalless.
It was a rather cagey opening to the second period with neither side able to make the breakthrough until the 66th minute when a free-kick in a promising position was fired into the top corner by Forsyth to open the scoring for City.
In the wake of the goal, Westfields upped the pressure in search of an equaliser and Mat Birley had to be alert to clear a dangerous cross into the area.
After seeing our visitors have a penalty appeal turned down, we almost made the game safe when Birley got in a strike that flew over.
As the clock ticked down, a corner from Hayward was headed just over by Jordan Stoddart as we played out the closing stages to hold on to our single-goal advantage and claim three hard-earned points.

CITY: Gwynne, Hall, J Smith, Stoddart, M Smith, Hayward, Birley, Forsyth, Turton (Robinson), Reynolds, Birch. Subs not used: Danks, Przybek, Ambalu, Gomes
GOAL(S): Forsyth
ATTENDANCE: 231.