Westdyke BC cruised into the fourth round of the Sunnybank Shield with a well deserved victory over Colony Colts courtesy of goals from Cameron Elphinstone, Craig McLenan and a brace from Tyler Reid.

 

Colony will have been disappointed that they could only answer to the attacking prowess of Westdyke with one goal of their own, coming through Jake Stewart although misfortune saw keeper Aiden Peck forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury.

 

Having beaten Westdyke when the teams previously met one could be forgiven for affording confidence Colony’s way, however a sodden pitch and  an effective midfield saw Westdyke’s cup run continue. A frenetic opening few minutes saw a a series of wayward shots by McLenan from beyond 25 yards before Elphinstone saw a goal ruled out for what looked like a correct offside decision. Colony will have lamented their luck as they looked for an answer to Westdyke’s early pressure when Luke Munro should have done better from the goalmouth scramble which ensued following Colony’s mishit freekick.

 

Early exchanges pointed to an open game with both teams inviting the opposite’s attack and it didn’t take long for Elphinstone to open the scoring after Jonathan Marples had missed a glaring opportunity when he stung the palms of Peck from 6 yards out only moments earlier. Elphinstone was presented with one of the easiest finishes as Scott Mackie’s precise cross found its way to him and he promptly planted the ball in the back of the net from 5 yards out.

 

Westdyke took this as an opportunity and galvanised with McLenan and Reid both having chances before Mackie’s smart throw-in found McLenan acres of space in the box before he picked his spot, curling the ball beyond Peck’s outstretched gloves and into the top corner. With Colony looking decidedly lacklustre and somewhat deflated it wasn’t long before McLenan found Reid  after Elphinstone had won the ball back well out on the right flank leaving Reid to dance past a Colony defender before expertly despatching a clinical finish from the edge of the area.

After a scintillating first half and with rain lashing down unabated, spectators and players alike looked set for a treat in the second half. An unchanged Colony side took to the pitch with something to prove in the remaining 45 minutes although it was Daniel Murray of Westdyke who saw himself come within inches of Westdyke’s fourth before Charlie Wilson’s brilliant challenge prevented what looked a certain goal.

 

Like the pitch, the players began to look worn and it seemed that Westdyke were happy to settle for the margin they had worked so hard for in the first half until Peck was forced off through what looked a muscular injury and with a stand-in keeper Reid relished his chance as his pressure proved too much when the ball was fumbled leaving all but the easiest of finishes.

 

Although there had been little sign of the Colony who earlier in the season got the better of Westdyke however, Westdyke’s last goal seemed to have stirred something in Stewart who made it his mission to make his way through the Westdyke back four with some good footwork before slotting the ball in form 18 yards, alas only for a consolation.

 

With the game effectively won in the first half Colony will lament their misfiring during the first forty-five and will be made to wait until next year for their chance at lifting the Sunnybank Shield.