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The Redditch Arrows made the long trek to Glasgow on Sunday but came away with both a 16-8 victory and revenge for
last seasons defeat from the Scottish team in the semi-finals. The Arrows going into the game against many peoples favourite for the conference title looked a far different side from the one
that lost last week to Staffordshire Surge.
The game started with neither team making serious headway however the Arrows were always forced to start their
drives from deep inside their own half. This pressure from West Coast forced the Arrows to punt but a bad snap forced Arrows punter Karl Watkins to kick the ball out of his end-zone and
present the with Home team a 2-0 lead on a safety.
In the second quarter the Arrows finally got some momentum going on the back of some strong running from Mark
Collett and Ian Lakin. The Arrows also started to get their pashing game going with Arrows QB Richard Wilde completing passes for some small but crucial gains.
As the quarter continued the Arrows continued to grow in confidence and Wilde connecting up with Arrows running back
Dave Mills on a 16 yard screen pass and Mills scampered down the side line to put the Arrows in the lead 6-2. A successful 2 point pass from Wilde to Andy Kite saw the Arrows extend the lead
to 8-6.
West Coast came back strongly and had the ball deep inside the Arrows 20 yard line however the Arrows defense
repeatedly stood firm and forced the Trojans to turn the ball over. Just as it looked that the Arrows would go into the halftime break with a lead West Coast struck. QB Gary McNey connected
up with David Pasnik for a 24 yard completion to tie the game at 8-8.
The opening drive of the second half saw the Trojans again deep inside the Arrows half with a first and ten inside
the Arrows ten yard line. The Arrows defense however again held firm and got the ball back for its offense.
As the game wore on it always looked as if one score would win it for either side. The Trojans repeatedly drove down
the field only to see the Arrows defense hold firm inside their 20.
With 5 minutes left the Arrows finally put together their longest drive of the game. Wilde connected with Neil
Solomon for a 40 yard pass and with a 3rd and 1 on the Trojans goal-line it looked as if the Arrows had let slip their golden chance when the Arrows running back stumble for a 3
yard loss on the play. The Arrows gambled on 4th down an Errol Wilson went in on a sweep to put the Arrows up again 14-8. Another successful 2 point PAT saw Toby Rhodes go in up the middle
for a crucial 16-8.
The game was still however to have another twist , 2 penalties saw the Trojans given one last chance. However, as had been the story of
the game, the Arrows defense came up trumps when Jamie Kilby made the Arrows first interception of the game to allow the Arrows to run the clock out.
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