Westwood returned to league duty with a trip to Strathaven to face bottom-of-the-table Avendale in a close fought match.  With a strong squad available for selection, gaffer Colin Wilson made some changes from last week’s cup defeat with Steff McKenna taking his place in central midfield after a run of games at right back, and Grant Baillie returning on the left side of midfield.

The game started at a high tempo, with both sides moving the ball around well on a very heavy pitch, but it was the visitors who were quickest out the traps to snatch an early goal.  After beating 2 players in the penalty area, Davie Wilson layed off for Grant Baillie, who crashed a right foot shot past the keeper and into to the top corner to make it 1-0 to Westwood.   Baillie was a thorn in Avendale’s side throughout the whole game and especially in the first half.  He delivered two pinpoint crosses that Wessie were unlucky not to take advantage of.  Firstly, his delivery from the left hand side landed right on Titch’s forehead, but he his header was deflected wide by the Avendale defender.  Then another similarly excellent cross was only just missed by Steff McKenna, again at the back post.

The game was being played in a competitive manner with tough tackles being put in by both sides, but this unfortunately led to Titch’s game being cut short, after a late tackle by the Avendale striker, he had to be substituted and was replaced by Michael Dolan after twenty minutes.  Avendale had a good chance to grab an equaliser when a scramble in the 6 yard box led to McKenna having to push a toe poked effort wide.  Westwood then produced a sublime example of passing football which led to Grant Baillie unleashing a 25 yard effort that only just dropped over the crossbar. 

Despite having a lot of possession, Avendale were mostly reduced to efforts from long range and never troubled the Westwood goal in the 1^st half.  At half time, Westwood knew that if they were to hold onto the lead, they would have to continue to stay strong at the back and stifle Avendale’s short passing game.

The 2^nd half started much like the 1^st had finished, with the home side having a large chunk of the possession without really breaching the Westwood defence.   Also,  as the conditions underfoot started to worsen, there were some mis-timed challenges going in, which added to the atmosphere of the game.  Avendale then had a chance to equalise, after their left mid found himself in space inside the penalty area, but Martin McKenna in the Wessie goal was out smartly to dive at his feet and get the ball clear.

Although Westwood had displayed some excellent passing football, their 2^nd goal was more of a route one affair.  A long goal kick from McKenna went over the heads of the Avendale defence and landed in the path of Paul Mochan, who still had some work to do, but he kept cool and lifted it over the onrushing keeper’s head and it nestled into the net to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage. 

As the game wore on, Avendale pushed forward as they searched for a way back into the game, and they got what they were looking for when a long ball sent the Avendale striker on a man on man situation with Chris Nicholl, who looked as though he had been fouled, but play raged on and the forward thundered an excellent strike into the net to give the home side a fighting chance of getting something from the game.  It wasn’t to be however and Wessie held on for all 3 points.

A hard fought victory and another 3 points on the board to keep us in contention at the top of the league.  Next week’s opponents are Port Glasgow who will be looking for revenge after last season’s cup final.