HAFC 3

Westend Lions 2

(Under 12 Cup semi-final)

HAFC and Westend still harboured hopes of a league and cup double before the start of this under 12 semi-final.

Although HAFC sit two places behind Westend, the Elland club have games in hand and they are one of only two clubs to take three points from the league leaders so the result was always going to be a close affair.

Topsy-turvy was the only way to describe a game and HAFC seemed to be relaxing in the sunshine a little too much as Westend began to set up a series of chances.

However, despite going close, Harry Freeth and Sean O’Brien were unable to find a clean connection and the chances went wide of the mark.

HAFC defenders Ben Keegan, Joe Mason-Jones, Jack Lawler and the excellent William Calcott looked as though they were going to have a torrid time as the Lions continued to pile on the pressure but suddenly their team mates awoke from their slumbers and, in a frantic ten minutes, the game was turned on its head.

The first signs of a danger for Westend arrived when a Sam Drake free kick skimmed the outside of a post and, within a few minutes, HAFC took a surprise lead when Oliver McEwan fired the goal of the game, a dipping shot from the corner of the area into the far top corner, to stun Westend.

Before the Lions had time to recover from the shock, HAFC doubled their lead when Adam Whittaker scored from a similar shot which dipped over keeper James Sowerby’s head.

Westend were struggling and, although Joe Lockwood, Matthew Dorotiak and Rowan Ford did their best to stem the flow, there was little they could do when a long range shot from Aaron Dorward deceived everyone and trickled into the bottom corner to give HAFC what looked like an unassailable lead.

Some serious half time re-shuffling was needed if Westend were to have any hopes of salvaging the game and the tactic of using 3 defenders and 5 in mid-field certainly did the trick.

Sean O’Brien struck within two minutes of the re-start to lift his sides spirits and when, three minutes later, O’Brien’s deflected shot fell to Harry Freeth, the Westend captain made no mistake from 10 yards.

Westend were well and truly back in control and, once again, Elland based HAFC were struggling to hold on to their slender lead, but full back Calcott was enjoying a terrific day and, despite the best efforts of O’Brien, Niall Bent and Kyle Ford, the Lions were unable to cause HAFC keeper Adam Sloane any real danger.

The Lions continued to push everyone forward but HAFC weathered the storm to move into a Cup Final meeting with YMCA, another team with strong claims for the double.