Westbury United 2008-2009

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 18 April 2009

KOVACS NETS AGAIN IN FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN
Bridport 1-2 Westbury United

Westbury overcame a very poor first half display to notch their fifth straight win as their surge up the league continued. A final placing of sixth, very unlikely just a month or so ago, is now possible with two away matches remaining at Hengrove Athletic (25 April) and Roman Glass St George (2 May).

With Sayeed Ibrahim (injured) and Wayne Wheeler (suspended) unable to play, Mark Young and Aaron Billett came into the starting line up.

United were very slow to start and Bridport dominated the opening half hour with Ashley Clarke and Shane Evans going close, while Russell Legg ran through but saw his effort saved by Nick Evans. The best chance fell to Dan Wise but he touched the ball inches wide from Chris Clarke's corner.

It took a fine pass by Pete Ayton to set up Westbury's first chance with Tarick Yachou receiving the ball on the right wing and crossing to Billett who headed wide. With confidence restored, Nick Ridout found Dan Kovacs but his goalbound effort was held by Lee Cuff.

The second half started at a fast pace and Billett, recently returned to Westbury after spells at Corsham Town and Devizes Town, latched on to Kovacs pass and sent a clever lob over Cuff and into the net to put his side ahead.

The lead was very shortlived, however, as the hosts equalised within a minute : an error between Mark Young and Dan Dominy allowed Shane Evans to nip in and he finished with a low shot past Nick Evans.

Bridport almost took the lead soon after as Matt Condliffe forced Nick Evans to save his strike and Ashley Clarke headed Chris Herbst's corner past the post.

The Bees were reduced to ten men on 67 when Tom Coggins verbally abused the referee and received a straight red card. Westbury took immediate advantage by stepping up the pace and Cuff had to tip an Ayton corner away from under his crossbar. Soon after the impressive Yachou took the ball from Ridout, crossed into the box and Mark Pearce sent his first time effort wide.

A lovely move between Pearce and Ashley Groves set Kovacs on his way to net the winner on 77 when he got on the end of Groves' low ball to finish cleverly from ten yards.

Kovacs saw his fine day turn sour in the closing stages as he received two yellow cards, and therefore a red, within five minutes. The first was harsh as he was only marginally late to challenge Cuff for the ball, the second was for a foul on a Bridport defender.

Westbury managed to withstand some late Bridport pressure to maintain their superb run of form which now stands at just one defeat in twelve matches.

STAR MAN - Tarick Yachou (Westbury United)

TEAM - Nick Evans, Mark Young, Pete Ayton, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout, Lee Morgan,
Ashley Groves, Tarick Yachou, Dan Kovacs, Aaron Billett, Nathan Hallett
SUBS - MArk Pearce, Bobby Mitchell (used) Matty Smith (unused)

[Andy]

Westbury Utd lost 1-2 at Hengrove Athletic today. Hengrove led 2-0 at half time, Dan Kovacs scored with a header on the hour and had a late header saved.

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 2 May 2009

SEASON CLOSES WITH ENTERTAINING DRAW
Roman Glass St George 1-1 Westbury United

      Westbury United ended the season in 9th place in the league after this entertaining draw on a warm and sunny afternoon in Bristol. Had they won the match they would have gone above Shrewton United into 8th place, but a series of missed chances during the early stages kept their hosts in the game and, after Matty Smith's stunning opening strike on the hour, Roman Glass equalised with a fine goal of their own before wasting chances to win the three points for themselves. Luke Smith made a surprise return to action after his injury as a late substitute, and Mark Pearce did well when making his first start in defence for a long time.
      Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler and Nathan Hallett were all involved in some pacy early attacks with Hallett heading just wide before curling an effort beyond Martin O'Connell but also past the post. O'Connell then saved a Kovacs 25 yarder before pulling off a fine double save to deny Matty Smith and Kovacs.
      Home winger Dave Doe's pace took him into the box and, with Nick Evans beaten to the ball, Doe crossed to John Toy but Mark Young got back to block Toy's header.
      Kovacs went close twice more and, with play switching from end to end, Chris Astley set up Toy who was flagged offside as he headed into Evans' hands.
      More chances followed with both teams intent on taking maximum points into the summer break : home forward Ian Power showed good skill before striking a 30 yarder over the bar and Hallett mistimed his header after Matty Smith had sent in a fine cross. Toy and Power combined twice : Toy wasted a glorious chance by shooting over when unmarked inside the box, while the next chance saw Power receive the ball from Toy but be equally wasteful.
      As half time approached Matty Smith ran forward from inside United's half and fizzed a 30 yarder wide and, as a counter attack was launched, Astley found himself with the chance to lob Evans but the ball dropped narrowly wide.
      There was no less action after the break and, despite Westbury threatening first through a Pete Ayton free kick that was blocked by the defensive wall, it was Roman Glass who went close when Doe latched on to Astley's pass with Evans making a save. Astley created danger again soon after : Chris Tucker thought he'd given his team the lead with a looping header, however the goal was disallowed for offside.
      Matty Smith gave Westbury the lead on 56 when a lovely move between himself and Wayne Wheeler led to him striking the ball from 25 yards and it flew past O'Connell into the top corner for his 16th goal of the season.
      St George got themselves level soon after when strong play by Power allowed him the time to set up Danny Aldridge and the advancing midfielder hit the ball past Evans from the edge of the box.
      Still both sides poured forward in search of a winner : Mark Pearce nodded the ball wide at a corner and another one-two by Wheeler and Matty Smith led to the ball being played to Lee Morgan who saw a first time shot turned away by O'Connell. Meanwhile Young made another vital clearance when Power beat Evans to the ball only to see Young get back to clear the ball from danger. The final chance fell to Power deep into stoppage time when a long kick by O'Connell was allowed to bounce and Power headed the ball over the advancing Evans with it bouncing wide of the target.

*STAR MEN - Martin O'Connell & Chris Astley (Roman Glass St George)
                     Matty Smith & Mark Pearce (Westbury United)

TEAM - Nick Evans, Mark Young, Pete Ayton, Dan Dominy, Mark Pearce, Lee Morgan,
         Bobby Mitchell, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Nathan Hallett
SUBS - Nick Ridout, Luke Smith (used) Ashley Groves (unused)

[Andy]

Westbury United review of the season 2008-2009

First Team
      Manager Paul Brickley had his sights firmly set on a consistent season and a top six finish when the Toolstation League Division One season begun in August, however an indifferent opening few months saw his side struggling in the lower part of the league, with a number of matches drawn which should have been won, or lost when a better goalscoring touch would have gained at least a point.
      A much better run in the second half of the campaign brought a run of form comparable to the teams who finished in the top four and showed what could have been as the team climbed to a 9th place finish. The goalscoring had improved and the defending/goalkeeping was more solid, consistency had arrived. Westbury United were the league's second highest scorers in the second half of 2008-2009, with 40 goals in the 19 matches! A run of five clean sheets in seven games was a marked improvement too.
       While it is important to bring on younger players from within the Club, something which has continued to occur to good effect, the arrival of good players from other Clubs (experienced defender Dan Dominy and striker Dan Kovacs) coincided with the upturn in results.
      Highlights of the season were the 6-2 home win over Oldland Abbotonians, a 5-1 victory away at Gillingham (which was probably the best team performance) while the 1-0 triumph over Bradford Town as well as the 3-0 Easter Monday win over Shrewton United brought some local pride. Goal of the season was Wayne Wheeler's clever skill and stunning volley at Clevedon United.

Reserve Team
      Phil Alford's Reserve team have regularly finished in the top six of the Wiltshire League in recent seasons and have done so again this time around, however they were challenging at the top of the table in the opening part of the season. Many of the side have gone on to play for the First Team during the season, or have done so in the past and still perform well in County football.

A Team
      Dave Tucker and Pat Whyte led the A Team into their first season in the top division of the Trowbridge and District League. At the turn of the year the team was at the foot of the table with just one win, however the final few months have brought a marked improvement with the players showing desire to progress within the Club and proving their worth by recording six victories and scoring a lot of goals. Hopefully some of the teenage players will move through the ranks next season.


Presentation Evening
      Westbury United held their end of season Presentation Evening in the Club House on Saturday 9 May, with awards being presented to players from the three teams as well as to people nominated by the Club for their service during the season.

First Team Awards
Supporter’s Player : Nick Evans
Player’s Player : Luke Smith
Manager’s Player : Luke Smith
Most improved : Sayeed Ibrahim
Most appearances : Tarick Yachou
Top scorer : Wayne Wheeler

Reserve Team Awards
Player’s Player : Martin Little
Manager’s Player : Martin Little
Most improved : Chris Storey
Most appearances : Steve Munday/Sam Gooding
Top scorer : Marc Lanfear

A Team Awards
Player’s Player : George Wheeler
Manager’s Player : Matty Bown
Most improved : Adrian Chantry
Most appearances : Adam McMackin
Top scorer : Kieran Stone

General Awards
Club Person of the Year : Chris ‘Chinny’ Andrews
Supporters of the Year : Paul & Carl Board

[Andy]

Westbury United Forthcoming Events

Live Football in the Club House
      The Champions League final between Manchester Utd and Barcelona will be shown in the Club House on Wednesday 27 May (kick off 7.45pm) as will the Everton v Chelsea FA Cup Final on Saturday 30 May (kick off 3pm).

Quiz Evening
      A Quiz Evening will be held in the Club House on Friday 12 June from 7.30pm. All are welcome to come and take part.