Westbury United 2008-2009

[Sam]

F A Cup Replay  - Tuesday 19th August

Hamble ASSC 2 Westbury United 2 (AET)

Westbury United Won 4-2 on Penalties - Home to Fairford in the next round Saturday 30th August

Full Report to Follow from Andy

[Andy]

Thanks Sam  .

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY
Tuesday 19 August 2008

WESTBURY THROUGH IN PENALTY SHOOT OUT
Hamble ASSC 2-2 Westbury United
(after extra time, Westbury win 4-2 on penalties)

      Westbury won through to play home to Fairford Town in the next round on Saturday 30 August after an epic cup tie ended with a late evening penalty shoot out. Steve Seals returned to the first team with an assured performance after a late call up.
      After Saturday's 0-0 draw, the replay seemed to be heading the same way as the score remained goalless until just after the hour mark. Both teams had played better football than during than their first meeting with Westbury keeper Nick Evans saving from Simon Quirk, Marc Harnett and Jimmy Bull. Westbury had their chances too and again found Dean Beale in top form as he denied Matty Smith twice, Pete Ayton and Nick Ridout. The closest to a goal was Wayne Wheeler who hit a crashing 30 yarder against the underside of the crossbar with the ball then bouncing away from the line!
      The deadlock was broken on 62 when Wheeler was upended by Karl Cotton inside the box and a penalty awarded : Ridout stepped up to notch his first goal of the season from the spot.
      As in previous games, Westbury's lead was shortlived and they fell victim to a set piece goal as Quirk's accurate ball was met by a back post run and left footed finish by Richard Butt.
      Matty Smith had a glorious chance to regain Westbury's lead, but after being released by Mark Young and with only Beale to beat he hit a poor lobbed effort wide of the target.
      Hamble thought they'd snatched victory at the death : firstly Evans made an excellent save from Bull, then from Harnett's resulting corner Bull headed into the net but it was disallowed for a push in the build up.
      Extra time was no less dramatic with Matty Smith putting Westbury 1-2 ahead on 93 after dispossessing Cotton and finishing with ease. Cotton was shown a straight red card just two minutes later for an off the ball incident with Nathan Hallett.
      When it seemed time for Westbury to keep their discipline because they were leading and playing against ten men, the opposite happened as Lee Morgan also committed an offence off the ball and, as with Cotton, he was sent straight off!
      Hamble piled on the pressure and it was rewarded on 105 when, after Evans had again saved a Bull header, Harnett's corner was headed into the roof of the net by Quirk.
      The second period of extra time was tense with both teams tiring. The only chances were for the home side with Evans turning wide an effort by Bunce and saving a header from Kristian Pell.
      Evans did superbly again in the shoot out by saving Hamble's opening kick from Bull. Ayton put Westbury ahead before Harnett made it 1-1. Hallett scored his kick calmly and Tom Hutching's levelled at 2-2. Matty Smith slotted in the next kick before Quirk blazed his over the bar. With Westbury leading 3-2 Mark Young's spot kick won the tie for his team.

STAR MEN : Marc Harnett (Hamble ASSC), Nick Evans & Steve Seals (Westbury United)
TEAM : Nick Evans, Pete Ayton, Luke Smith, Bobby Mitchell, Ross Parker, Lee Morgan,
          Steve Seals, Matty Smith, Nick Ridout, Wayne Wheeler, Tarick Yachou
SUBS : Nathan Hallett, Mark Young, Matt Mead (all used)

Adjusted First Team Fixtures
Tues 26 Aug, Keynsham Town, Away, League, 7.45pm
Sat 30 Aug, Fairdfird Town, HOME, FA Cup Preliminary Round, 3pm
Tues 2 Sept, Bradford Town, Away, 6.30pm
Sat 6 Sept, Downton, Away, FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round, 3pm

[ashsebali]

well done the west    

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 23 August 2008

BRILLIANT BAILEY HITS ANOTHER HATTRICK
Westbury United 1-3 Larkhall Athletic

      Larkhall striker Dave Bailey scored his second hattrick in consecutive matches as Westbury surrendered a lead to slip to another home defeat. Westbury will regret missed chances before Larkhall's equalising goal.
      Bailey had the first chance in the opening minute but Nick Evans saved his attempted lob and it was the home side who opened the scoring on 10 minutes : Nick Ridout hit a fierce 35 yard free kick that was well saved by Adam Sheppard and Luke Smith raced in to score on the rebound.
      Ridout had two glorious chances to extend his side's lead : he missed from six yards after great work by Bobby Mitchell and Mark Young, then headed wide from a Young cross when well placed.
      The penalty came on 34 minutes when Pete Ayton was adjudged to have fouled Dave Cooper, Bailey stepped up and scored from the spot despite Evans getting his right hand to the ball.
      Soon after, Evans saved well as Cooper tried a 25 yarder while at the other end Matty Smith combined with Young to set up Ridout, but he found Sheppard in top form as a goalbound header was saved!
      Larkhall dominated the second half and it was only a matter of time until they scored : Cooper, Adam Shackle twice and Bailey all had chances to put their side ahead while Westbury's only chance fell to Tarick Yachou who found the side netting from 18 yards.
      Bailey's second goal came on 71 when he latched onto Jim Jefferey's pass, beat Lee Morgan and finished confidently. Bailey then got through one on one with Evans but dragged his effort wide. Westbury were being torn apart and on 78 Cooper's ball into the box was met by the unmarked Bailey and he notched his hattrick goal with ease.
      Sheppard kept Larkhall's two goal advantage intact with a great late save from Yachou, but Westbury will regret their missed chances earlier in the game.

*STAR MAN : Dave Bailey (Larkhall Athletic)
TEAM : Nick Evans, Pete Ayton, Luke Smith, Bobby Mitchell, Ross Parker, Lee Morgan,
          Steve Seals, Matty Smith, Nick Ridout, Wayne Wheeler, Mark Young
SUBS : Tarick Yachou, Tom Staddon, Nathan Hallett (all used)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Tuesday 26 August 2008

MATTY SMITH'S LATE EQUALISER GRABS POINT FOR WESTBURY
Keynsham Town 2-2 Westbury United

      Matty Smith's fourth goal of the season snatched a late point for Westbury as they came from behind twice away to a strong, attacking Keynsham Town team. There was also a notable performance by Tarick Yachou who completed a rare 90 minutes and an assured first team debut for Jamie Oliver.
      The match took a while to get going, but once it did chances flowed at both ends. Keynsham striker Ryan Bernard flicked the ball wide early on after being set up by left winger Josh Dyer, while Westbury's first chance came on 21 minutes when Mark Young, Luke Smith and Nick Ridout combined to set up Wayne Wheeler who was denied by Ryan Beak's brave defensive block.
      A flowing Westbury move between Yachou & Young set up Ridout soon after and he brought a top drawer, close range save out of Chris Astley then, after Tom Staddon had dispossessed Rob Sheriton in midfield, Wayne Wheeler fired wide from 20 yards.
      Bernard missed two glorious chances for the hosts as he headed a Fabian McCarthy cross wide when well placed before latching onto Sheriton's through ball, rounding Nick Evans and rolling the ball wide with the goal gaping!
      More chances followed towards the end of the half with Evans saving from Dyer before Astley found himself poorly positioned but he still managed to save from Wheeler. Keynsham opened the scoring shortly before half time when McCarthy went on a pacy run that started in his own half and, after looking to shoot, decided to pass the ball to Jeff Copp who hit an 18 yard drive into the net with Evans out of position.
      Westbury made a tactical change at half time with Oliver coming on at right back in a 4-4-2 formation rather than the previous 3-5-2. The move paid immediate dividends as Matty Smith's deep cross was headed wide by Yachou. Yachou then latched onto a poor Astley kick, took a touch and shot powerfully into the keeper's bottom left hand corner to make it 1-1.
      Ridout had a chance to put his side ahead just a few minutes later but, tellingly for a striker out of form, he took too long to shoot and Ross Beazer was able to block the effort.
      Keynsham began to get a foothold after the hour and found Evans in excellent form with saves from a McCarthy 30 yard screamer then a double stop from Bernard and Tony Pike : following the resulting corner Westbury counter attacked and Ashley Groves shot wide from the edge of the box.
      The home side regained their lead with a debatable penalty on 78 : Nathan Hallett looked to have won the ball from Bernard (the referee said afterwards that he'd played the ball and the man!) but the spot kick was given : Sheriton slotted the ball to Evans' left.
      Matty Smith had been a threat all evening and he got a deserved goal two minutes into injury time when Astley again made a misjudgement in trying to clear Lee Morgan's long ball which allowed Smith the time and space to roll it into the net.

*STAR MEN : Tarick Yachou (Westbury United) & Rob Sheriton (Keynsham Town)
TEAM : Nick Evans, Pete Ayton, Luke Smith, Tom Staddon, Ross Parker, Lee Morgan,
          Tarick Yachou, Matty Smith, Nick Ridout, Wayne Wheeler, Mark Young
SUBS - Ashley Groves, Jamie Oliver, Nathan Hallett (all used)

[Andy]

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
Saturday 30 August 2008

FAIRFORD INFLICT EMBARRASSING DEFEAT ON WESTBURY
Westbury United 0-6 Fairford Town

      Westbury succumbed to an embarrassing thrashing against their opponents from the Hellenic Premier League and will need a rapid confidence boost ahead of some vital league matches and an FA Vase game at Downton. There can be no excuses about the loss of several attacking players through injury because it was the defending that went awry.
      There was no sign of the onslaught to come as a tight first half saw only a few chances :Fairford's Ben Snook forced a save out of Nick Evans while Westbury's Nick Ridout hit a 20 yarder wide and saw a header blocked.
      The opening goal came on 41 when a left wing cross by the excellent Matt Boucher found Alex Rudd in soace and his towering header flew into the net.
      Fairford totally dominated after half time and, after chances had been missed by Boucher and Pete Walker, the two combined to make it 0-2 on 56 with Walker heading past Evans from another Boucher cross.
      The third goal came ten minutes later and Evans was at fault as he spilt a poor Taylor Gill cross which allowed Rudd a simple tap in for his second.
      Things went from bad to worse for Westbury with the final three goals coming in just four minutes! On 76 Rudd intercepted an Evans kick, took two touches and drove in his hattrick goal. More sloppy defending gifted Walker a chance to make it five and he did so for his own second of the day before Boucher got a deserved goal of his own when racing into the box and blasting the ball beyond the reach of Evans.

*STAR MAN : Matt Boucher (Fairford Town)
TEAM : Nick Evans, Pete Ayton, Luke Smith, Ashley Groves, Ross Parker, Lee Morgan,
          Jamie Oliver, Matty Smith, Tarick Yachou, Tom Staddon, Mark Young
SUBS - Nick Ridout, Mark Pearce, Matty Bown (used) Matt Mead (unused)

[Andy]

Well, tomorrow evening Westbury Utd are playing away to Bradford Town. They do not have floodlights and the kick off is 6.30pm.

This evening it was dark before 8pm and, should the weather be similar tomorrow evening, there is no way the game will be completed. We may get lucky with a clear evening!

This will highlight several issues to do with the Toolstation League...

1. Why are teams without floodlights still allowed to come into and play in a league which the administrators like to think of as being semi-professional, yet they still expect players to turn up immediately from a days work rather than for a normal 7.45pm evening kick off.

2. If teams without floodlights are going to be in the league then they should not be playing home evening matches or, if they have to, it should only be at the very beginning and very end of the season to allow for maximum daylight.

3. Westbury Utd offered to switch the fixture so that it could be played under floodlights but Bradford Town refused. Later in the season they are playing here on a Saturday which would have been a far more sensible day to go there. In winter-time teams without floodlights kick off at 2pm on Saturdays and daylight is never an issue.

Being honest now, I actually would like the match to be abandoned so that the league administrators are forced to think the whole issue through. Unfortunately should that happen two football clubs and their supporters will suffer first!

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Tuesday 2 September 2008

BRADFORD STRIKE LATE TO KEEP WESTBURY WAITING
Bradford Town 2-0 Westbury United

      Westbury are still waiting for their first victory of the season after going down to two late goals in this competitive local derby. It was a very blustery evening and, luckily for all involved, the sky cleared during the second half to allow the match to end - although dusk was well advanced in the last ten minutes!
      Westbury had a few early chances with Wayne Wheeler bringing a save out of Scott Windle. A few minutes later Bradford's keeper had to backtrack to tip Luke Smith's cross away from danger after the ball had caught the wind.
      The home side still hadn't threatened when Tarick Yachou almost scored a brilliant individual goal on 27 : he received the ball inside his own half and went on a 70 yard run before hitting a dipping 20 yarder that clipped the top of the crossbar! Five minutes later Luke Smith played in Wheeler but his lack of form and confidence showed as he fired well over from the edge of the box.
      Bradford began to build up some pressure late in the half and they were awarded a penalty on 37 when Nick Ridout fouled Steve Roddy : Matt Minnis' spot kick was well save by Tom Drewitt. Just before half time Drewitt denied Minnis again with a brave claim of the ball at the edge of his box.
      Westbury were very slow to start after the break and Roddy shot over from ten yards after a corner wasn't cleared. Minnis then got in one on one after good work by Jerad O'Pray but he rolled the ball wide when scoring seemed easier!
      A few Westbury attacks saw Ashley Groves mipoop an effort wide and Staddon hit a great 30 yarder that was tipped away by Windle, but it was Bradford who picked up the pace as the light began to fade.
      Liam Milburn's run and cross went unrewarded when both Roddy and Russell Whatley failed to make contact before the first goal arrived on 76 : an error by Lee Morgan allowed Roddy to pass to Minnis and, after rounding the advancing Drewitt, he finished well from an acute angle.
      Roddy made the points safe for his side on 82 with an easy finish after Steve Tweddle's through ball had opened up Westbury's defence. Drewitt prevented a third goal five minutes from time by saving Minnis' fierce strike.

TEAM - Nick Evans, Ashley Groves, Luke Smith, Nick Ridout, Ross Parker, Lee Morgan,
         Tom Staddon, Matty Smith, Mark Pearce, Wayne Wheeler, Tarick Yachou
SUBS - Nathan Hallett, Mark Young, Jamie Oliver (all used)

[Andy]

Fixtures

Sat 6 Sept, Downton, Away, FA Vase, 3pm
Tues 9 Sept, Bridport, HOME, League, 7.45pm
Sat 13 Sept, Almondsbury, HOME, League, 3pm
Weds 17 Sept, Portishead, Away, League, 7.45pm
Sat 20 Sept : Possible FA Vase

[Andy]

FA VASE FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING
Saturday 6 September 2008

FIVE GOALS AND THREE RED CARDS IN SECOND HALF!
Downton FC 1-4 Westbury United

      Westbury Manager Paul Brickley kept his promise to make changes as six were made to the team which had lost at Bradford Town earlier in the week. Westbury will have a home tie against Malmesbury Victoria or Cheltenham Saracens in the next round on Saturday 20 September after this comfortable victory away to their Wessex League opponents.
      The first half of this encounter was largely forgettable and there was no sign of all the action to come after the break. Most of the chances were created by Westbury with home keeper Glenn Craven saving well from Tarick Yachou, Wayne Wheeler twice and Luke Smith. At the other end Downton briefly threatened when Kevin Thick headed straight at Tom Drewitt.
      Thick and Wheeler went close at either end early in the second half before a controversial moment led to Downton's Matt Baker being sent off. Home striker Scott Donaldson was brought down in the penalty area but no spot kick was given, an angry Matt Baker verbally abused the referee and was given a red card for dissent on 52.
      Westbury took the lead within two minutes when Smith had an effort blocked after a Wheeler corner, the ball broke back to Smith and his accurate cross found Mark Pearce who headed into the net. In the aftermath a frustrated Liam Hanlon also received a red card for dissent, leaving his side to play more than half an hour with only nine men!
      Teenage midfielder Matthew Friendship capped his full debut with the second goal on 68 : he received the ball 30 yards from goal and fired a fizzing strike past Craven.
      Westbury were now dominant and Pearce headed against the crossbar before Yachou made it 0-3 on 72 : Wheeler hit a 20 yarder that struck Craven's right hand post and rebounded to Yachou who smashed the ball home.
      Yet again there was a lack of discipline from Westbury when the time seemed right to see out the game with ease. With ten minutes remaining Jamie Oliver, who had done very well in defence until this moment, was fouled by Donaldson. Oliver got to his feet and pushed Donaldson over in retaliation and therefore was sent off to leave Westbury with ten men against their host's nine.
      Downton sensed the chance of a comeback and got a goal on 83 when Phil Ward's cross was headed past Drewitt by Ollie Hoare.
      Wheeler finally got his first goal of the season with two minutes left when another excellent cross by Smith found Wheeler unmarked and he powered a header past Craven.

STAR MAN : Luke Smith (Westbury United)
TEAM - Tom Drewitt, Jamie Oliver, Luke Smith, Allan Clarke, Nick Ridout, Matthew Friendship, Ashley Groves, Steve Seals, Mark Pearce, Tarick Yachou, Sayeed Ibrahim
SUBS - Ross Parker, Lee Morgan, Wayne Wheeler (used) Nick Evans (unused)

[Andy]

Tonight's match vs Bridport has been postponed.

Fixtures
Sat 13 Sept, Almondsbury, HOME, League, 3pm
Weds 17 Sept, Portishead, Away, League, 7.45pm
Sat 20 Sept, Malmesbury Vics or Cheltenham Saracens, HOME, FA Vase, 3pm
Sat 27 Sept, Oldland Abbotonians, Away, League, 3pm

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 13 September 2008

PEARCE AT THE DOUBLE IN WESTBURY'S FIRST WIN
Westbury United 3-2 Almondsbury

      Mark Pearce scored twice and Wayne Wheeler got the winner as Westbury came from behind to gain their first league win of the season. Almondsbury came into the game with an average of more than five goals scored or conceded per match and that record kept going as both defences looked fragile.
      Pearce went close in the second minute but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on four : Adam Alford's cross from the right was flicked on by Robert Warren to Adam Grinter who made no mistake with a fine finish.
      Tarick Yachou went close to equalising soon after but Philip O'Connell made a good save and Almondsbury came within inches of doubling their advantage as Warren's curling 20 yarder struck Tom Drewitt's left hand post.
      After half an hour Matty Smith came on for Sayeed Ibrahim : he had an immediate impact when his corner kick wasn't cleared which allowed Pearce the opportunity to make it 1-1 by hooking the ball in from ten yards.
      The Almonds regained their lead within a minute : Mark Stoneham's corner was half cleared and he latched onto the ball again before crossing to Grinter who notched his second by powering a header into the top corner.
      Westbury looked a much better side after half time. New signing Rob Taylor looked composed in midfield while the available again Bobby Mitchell organised his colleagues. Pearce took the captain's armband and led from the front when, with O'Connell out of position, he found himself with an empty goal to aim at and made no mistake from 25 yards.
      Wheeler scored the winner on 66 : Pete Ayton's accurate direct pass set Wheeler running and he finished with composure from the edge of the box.
      Drewitt and Ridout did excellently late in the game as Almondsbury pushed to make it 3-3 : Ridout made several vital clearances and Drewitt saved a header from Grinter, a fierce Jon Mitchell 20 yard volley and turned away Ashley Knight's angled drive.

*STAR MAN : Mark Pearce (Westbury United)
TEAM - Tom Drewitt, Pete Ayton, Luke Smith, Ross Parker, Nick Ridout, Ashley Groves,
         Matthew Friendship, Tarick Yachou, Mark Pearce, Wayne Wheeler, Sayeed Ibrahim
SUBS - Matty Smith, Rob Taylor, Bobby Mitchell (all used)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Wednesday 17 September 2008

NARROW DEFEAT AT PORTISHEAD
Portishead Town 1-0 Westbury United

      The most impressive feature of this match was seeing the football played under the home side's impresssive new floodlights on a calm and dry early Autumn evening. The game itself was not far short of dour and with both teams struggling to put any meaningful moves together goalscoring chances were at a premium with most of the play in midfield.
      Portishead's James Clarke put a free kick wide early on and Westbury's Wayne Wheeler shot across the face of goal. On 17 minutes Matty Smith went on a pacy run and his superb cross found Tarick Yachou who shot left footed only to see Jack Phillips clear off the line. James Clarke headed over a few minutes later before Wheeler forced Ian Ganfield's only save of the night when a low strike was heading into his bottom right hand corner : Rob Taylor took the resulting flag kick which was headed wide by Mark Pearce.
      Westbury made their customary slow start to the second half and Portishead took advantage to score the only goal of the game : James Clarke's set piece found Simon Kelly unmarked and he powered a header into the roof of the net from six yards out.
      Westbury had a spell of pressure without creating a chance and a counter attack led to Mark Mapstone striking the ball towards goal where Tom Drewitt pulled off a fine save. The nearest either side came to scoring in the final half hour was when a flowing move between James Hughes, Kelly and James Clarke saw the latter set to make it 2-0 until Jamie Oliver raced back to clear the ball off the line.

*STAR MAN - Jamie Oliver (Westbury United)
TEAM - Tom Drewitt, Rob Taylor, Jamie Oliver, Allan Clarke, Matt Friendship, Bobby Mitchell,
          Ashley Groves, Matty Smith, Mark Pearce, Wayne Wheeler, Tarick Yachou
SUBS - Luke Smith, Sayeed Ibrahim, Pete Ayton (all used)

[Andy]

Fixtures

Sat 20 Sept, Malmesbury Victoria, HOME, FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round, 3pm
Sat 27 Sept, Oldland Abbotonians, Away, league, 3pm
Tues 30 Sept, Cadbury Heath, HOME, League, 7.45pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam : any Reserve Team updates? Good start to the season!
Westbury Hero : still shattered?!

[ExWestburyHero]

I always look shattered.
You'll see the signs about 10 mins into every game when i'm doubled over hanging onto my own shorts.

The most annoying thing about the game last night was that bloke they had called Clarkie - I was confused all night!