Percy Main 5 Westmoor & Jesmond 1

Match report courtesy of Ian Cusack;

If ever a contest deserved the epithet “a game of two halves,” then surely the first ever contest between Percy Main and West Moor & Jesmond was it. The first period saw the visitors take the game to a leggy and sluggish Percy side who looked to have been paying the price for their superb endeavours in completing a 48 hour double over league leaders Wallington, only 48 hours previously. Indeed, as early as the second minute home keeper Callum Eliott was called into action to make a superb stop from Michael Aslett. In response, Ben Gaffney channelled his inner Ben White, but instead of finding the top corner with a cross as the Arsenal play had the night previously, the Villagers’ left back saw his free kick from out on the touchline, right on the halfway line, clip the top of the bar and go over. Both Ben Bradburn and Mackenzie Sharpe went close, firing just wide on both occasions, but it was to be the visitors who took the lead.

A partially cleared corner arrived at the feet of Aslett near the edge of the box and his slightly deflected effort just eluded the best efforts of Elliott. Percy threatened when Bradley Morns turned astutely in the box, but his shot lack the power to trouble Joe Fletcher in the away goal. This resulted in a half time score of Percy Main 0 West Moor and Jesmond 1.

Whatever manager Gavin Hattrick said to his troops in the interval, it did not have an immediate effect as the second half began in a sedate fashion. However, the game exploded on 55 minutes when Sharpe exchanged passes with Dillon Blake, before firing powerfully home to restore parity. On the hour, the game decisively swung in the direction of Percy Main when substitute Kai Charlton collected the ball near halfway on the left wing, which was to prove a fruitful source of goals for the eventually rampant home side. Charlton bore down on goal and finished with an accurate low shot into the far corner, with keeper Fletcher left with no chance. This appeared to completely knock the stuffing out of West Moor and Jesmond, who mustered a solitary further attempt on goal, when Elliott comfortably held a low free kick from Alex Martin.

In contrast, the Main went hunting more goals. Sharpe was denied by desperate defence after a scramble in the box, before Charlton launched one into orbit from about 3 yards out, in front of an open goal. However, the floodgates finally opened after an astute free kick from Carl Collins saw Blake upended in the area. The well-spoken Villager picked himself and slotted the spot kick home, before injury time brought double rewards. Firstly Sharpe replicated Charlton’s goal as he tore down the left and finished across the keeper to make it 4-1, before unselfishly setting up the articulate Blake to roll in with the last kick of the game.

Percy Main MOM: Mackenzie Sharpe
Att: 77
Next up: Percy v Newcastle Chemfica on Saturday, 2:30 ko