Naylor grabs hat trick

Jan 8 2008 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NAYLOR GRABS HAT TRICK

DL Naylor turned the Under 15 top-of-the-table Divison IV clash against Hartshead B in Westend’s favour with a fine hat trick.

Hightown’s King George Playing Fields staged the meeting between second-placed Westend B and third-placed Hartshead and a bright, sunny afternoon made for a welcome change from the cold and rain which plagued league fixtures through December.

Westend started the game having lost only one game so far, while Hartshead’s record included one loss and one draw, so both sides were well aware that a win was vital to their chances of winning the title.

The home side looked a little rusty after the Christmas break and Westend almost made them pay after just five minutes, but keeper Jimmy Downes was alert and pulled off a superb save at the feet of Adam Rushworth.

Although the game flowed from end to end and Westend’s Saajan Shah was a constant threat on the right wing, Hartshead defenders Eddie Crowther and Carl Fulston repeatedly cut out the danger.

After half an hour the game began to level out and Hartshead were giving as much as they got, but a brilliant turn and snapshot from 15 yards gave Naylor the opening goal and Westend a vital advantage.

With only a minute remaining of the first half, the home side could have levelled the scores when Adam Davies was adjudged to have handled the ball as he blocked a Hartshead shot, but Danny Deakin’s spot kick flew high over the bar.

Hartshead threw everything into attack after the break and forced a series of corners, but Adam Rushworth, Alex Dorostak and Johnny Hankins made sure that keeper Jon Van Leeuwen was rarely troubled.

At the other end, James Tindall was finding space on the left wing to drive in some dangerous crosses and when Hartshead failed to clear one such cross, Naylor was on hand to nod home his second and give Westend some breathing space.

Hartshead continued to cause problems for the visitors and were unlucky not to score when James Jowett fired inches wide of the left upright and then Alex Gouthelis saw his goalbound shot well saved by Van Leeuwen.

The outcome was undoubtedly settled when a rash challenge from Fulton sent Westend’s Tindall crashing to the ground inside the penalty area. Naylor stepped up to drill home his third from the spot.

Hartshead continued pressing and the last few minutes found Westend under siege but, even though Fulton headed home from a corner, it was too little, too late for the home side.

Hartshead were clearly not in their best form but, with a little more luck in front of goal, might have got something from the game.

Westend, however, fully deserved their win and will be glad to have got the full complement of points.