Westwood headed to Muirend to take on last season’s runners up and Fraser Trophy finalists Greenbank, and were looking to make amends for their defeat to Glasgow Nazerene a fortnight ago.  The blustery conditions would make for a “game of two halves” as the wind gusted more or less from goal to goal.

With the wind in the faces of the Westwood players in the first half, the game started as expected, with Greenbank having the lion’s share of possession and by and large controlling the game.  With their full backs pushing on to aid their wingers, the’Bank attacks were persistent as they pushed forward in numbers.   Their pressure paid off after 15 minutes when a cross followed a short corner, and the Greenbank no.9 rose highest to head home from 8 yards to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

In stark contrast to their previous game after conceding the goal, this time Westwood didn’t allow their heads to drop.  The midfield started to boss the game and when their first chance presented itself, the Wessie never hesitated in taking it.  After Chris Nicholl fired a free kick to the back post, Man of the Match Danny Kellachan nodded across goal to Stevie Nicholl who crashed the ball into the net with an Andy Gray-esque diving header from 6 yards to make it 1-1.

Wessie weren’t on level terms for long however as Greenbank quickly regained the ascendancy 5 minutes later.  A left footed, inswinging corner guided by the harsh wind flew into the top corner at the near post, past the desperate grasp of McKenna in the Westwood goal, who had set himself too close to the far post anticipating a deeper cross. 

Now 2-1 ahead, Greenbank continued to press and should have doubled their advantage when their striker was put through one on one with McKenna, but his bottom corner bound shot was diverted wide after the Wessie goalie instinctively threw his left leg and it and it clipped his shinguard to narrowly go outside the post for a corner. 

A pinpoint free kick from Steff McKenna landed at the feet of Stevie Nicholl at the back post for the chance to grab another equaliser just before half time, but he couldn’t connect properly and it went agonizingly wide for a goal kick.

The half time whistle sounded and Westwood went in, although behind, fairly happy that they had proverbially and literally, weathered the storm.   Now with the wind at their backs, the EK men knew they had done the hard part and it was now Greenbank’s turn to endure the conditions.  Wessie started the half as they meant to go on, with near misses from close range from Nicholl and Wilson.   Greenbank done well to exploit Wessie’s need for a goal with some good counter attack play, but the back line held firm to stifle any dangerous passages of play by the home side.

Wessie were demonstrating real grit and determination and this was evident in the equaliser, dogged tackling and persistence paid off on the right hand side of the Greenbank penalty area and as the ball broke loose, Titch done superbly well to prevent the ball going out for a goal kick and in doing so, fired an excellent low cross for the unmarked Colin McGinty to smash into the net from 2 yards.

Wessie then produced a late show to take all 3 points, when substitute Paul Mochan beat the offside trap, lifted his head and coolly slotted past the keeper with his weaker left foot to give the Wessie the win.

A good battling performance and given the conditions, Westwood played some nice stuff in spells and kept going til the end and never allowed conceding goals to let their heads drop. A good result which will stand them in good stead for Mothewell KC next week.