KES Fight to Keep Preston at Bay

Having made the perfect start to the campaign last week, Wests were looking to double their points tally in successive games and did so, edging past Preston in a 10 goal thriller.

KWC made the journey without Mark Bowen, but welcomed back last years top scorer Rikki Barnes. The game began at a fast pace and both sides found unfamiliar space on several occasions to exploit providing the foundations for what would be an ultimately all attacking encounter.

Wests soon broke the deadlock – Swanston found Morgan who in turn picked out Barnes on the byline to slot past the debutant keeper from close range. Preston rallied and hit back almost immediately with a quickifire double to turn the score on its head – Wests simply switching off from their game-plan and failing to give possession the importance it deserved. However, despite the mixed performance, West battled back themselves and within a matter of minutes – the game was once again turned. The equaliser came courtesy of a short corner routine: Cook playing a 1-2 with Morgan before laying off Barnes for his second. Barnes completed his hat-trick before the break with another back post finish following a short corner to cap a welcome return to the squad.

After the break KWC extended their lead when defence turned into attack. A combination of Mattear and Fennell broke down early home pressure, moved forward and held up by Barnes, offloaded to Morgan who rounded the defence and cut the ball back for Mark Proctor to apply the finish. With that the game should have been put to bed but credit to Preston, the home side continued to battle and again broke the KWC defence with a back stick strike to make it 4-3.

But soon the 2 goal cushion was restored. Paul Sloan made an exceptional tackle on the right and burst forward before finding Mark Proctor who drove into the D and lashed home. However the points still weren’t safe as a tap in at the back post for Preston pulled the game closer once again but a nicely deflected strike from Proctor nestled in the roof of the net to secure his hat trick, restore the 2 goal lead and put an end to the contest.

West's play Urmston in their next battle for 3points on Saturday at home 13:00 push back