Howden AFC v Westella & Willerby

Facing new side Willerby & Westella, Howden made it a lot more difficult than it should have been. Fluffing early chances nearly cost the MinsterMen dearly, who can count their lucky stars and thank Craig Gorman for a late double to see Howden claim all three points.
  Holt made three changes to last week's side that hammered Driffield JFC, Hutchinson and C.Gorman replaced absentees Wagstaff and skipper Damien McMahon respectively. Adam Bell dropped to the bench as John Boardman was preferred in attack. Howden started strongly and should have had an early lead as Rothery latched onto Boardman's inviting cross. However the striker hit over from 4 yards.
   Smith, Webster and Bell again looked strong in midfield. Smith did have a 25 yard effort from a free-kick but it went wide, without testing the goalkeeper. Willerby seemed content to attack Howden on the break, but the back four were equal to any counters. 
   John Boardman should have put the visitors ahead when played in by Craig Gorman, however the wide man hit the effort against the cross bar from all of 3 yards out. Gorman came close following a short corner but the MinsterMen couldn't get the goal their play deserved. Willerby did look threatening on the counter and Nath Munday was on hand to clear from the goal line after a corner from the home side.
    On the stroke of half-time Howden did grab the lead, courtesy of Boardman who had suffered an in-different afternoon. The forward smashed home from a tight angle, making up for his earlier glaring miss. 
 
The MinsterMen came out second best after the interval. Rothery had a chance to convert when clean through, but a last ditch tackle rescued Westella. Both sides began to vent frustration towards the match official as decisions were not going either sides way. 
  Willerby did draw level after a corner was cleared and the striker managed to fire across Gorman from the edge of the box with a neat finish. The home side got a quick second also on the counter. Howden were caught too high up and left exposed. This time the striker cut inside and fired a quick effort into the corner with another very good finish for Willerby. Howden were shell-shocked and couldn't believe they were trailing in the game.
   Holt introduced Dave McMahon, Adam Bell and Kieran Boardman in place of Butterill, Boardman and Hutchinson. Penning Willerby back into their own half, who were using as much time as the official would give them, frustrating Howden even more.
    Five minutes left to go, Howden did get the leveller, courtesy of a goal mouth scramble. Munday wound up a throw to Dave McMahon. K.Boardman headed back the clearance into the danger zone and Gorman was on hand to poke home.
   2-2 and the game in added time, Willerby had a corner looking for a late winner. As McMahon cleared the whipped corner, Willerby's midfielder was dispossessed by Smith on the edge of the box. The midfielder freed off Gorman who ran 75 yards with the ball, from his own half. The forward slide home one on one, sending the keeper the wrong way, sending the visiting support and player's into wild celebrations. There was no time for a Willerby response as time was up and the MinsterMen took all the points back to Howden.
 "We showed good character today" said a delighted manager. "2-1 down with five minutes to go, that was a cracking ending. We deserved that win. We made it a lot harder for ourselves but credit the boys for not giving up." 
 Man of the Match was awarded to Craig Gorman for his late heroics.