Westbury United 2009-2010

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 14 October 2009

DOUBLE FOR KOVACS AS WESTBURY GO SECOND!
Westbury United 4-0 Minehead Town

      Westbury United are now second in the league after this crushing victory over their struggling opponents. Besides scoring four goals they had two disallowed for offside! The match was played in awful conditions with a gale force wind and swirling rain, but great credit must go to those who worked very hard to make the pitch playable.
      Dan Kovacs scored twice to take his tally to 17 in all competitions, while man of the match was Matty Smith who was a constant threat in attack.
      United totally dominated the match and it was no surprise when Kovacs arrived in the box to head Luke Smith’s cross past Sam Hutchings on 12 minutes. Home keeper Nick Evans had to make an excellent save soon after when Joe Holder ran through, but he was largely a spectator for the rest of the game.
      Dan Dominy had three chances in rapid succession at a corner but saw two blocked on the line and the third went over the bar. However he wasn’t to be denied for long as another corner led to a goalmouth scramble and, after a Kovacs effort was blocked, Dominy powered in the rebound to make it 2-0 on 35.
      Hutchings made two fine saves to prevent Westbury adding a third before half time and he continued to deny them after the break. They were also denied a goal by an offside flag when Wayne Wheeler found the net from 25 yards. Evans made his second save of the day on the hour when James Browning’s skiddy 25 yarder was on target, but that was as close as Minehead came to scoring.
      The two Smiths combined to create United’s third goal on 71 : Luke’s short corner to Matty led to the winger sending in an accurate cross and Nick Ridout ran in to head the ball home.
      Westbury’s dominance continued to the end and, after Rhys Schell saw a bullet header from a Matty Smith cross ruled out for offside, Mark Young played the ball to the back post, Luke Smith headed it back into the danger area and Kovacs tapped in the final goal.

*STAR MAN – Matty Smith (Westbury United)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Mark Young, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout,
        Tom Robinson, Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs,
        Wayne Wheeler, Nathan Hallett
SUBS – Rhys Schell, Joe Murray (used) Mark Pearce (unused)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 21 November 2009

CONTROVERSIAL ABANDONMENT AT MEADOW LANE
Westbury United 3-1 Oldland Abbotonians
(abandoned 65 minutes)

      This exciting match between the teams in third and fourth place was controversially abandoned halfway through the second half, just as Oldland were mounting a comeback after Westbury led 3-0! The game had started in wind and rain and conditions worsened considerably after half time, however the management and players of both teams were unhappy when the referee decided the pitch had become unplayable.
      The visitors started brightly with Mitch Tippins and Simon Dew going close before United opened the scoring on 17 : Wayne Wheeler’s pacy set piece was met by a superb Matty Smith header that flew into the net!
      Westbury became dominant, with Nathan Hallett prominent ton the left wing, and he set up Matty Smith for what looked a certain second but somehow the ball went wide!
      Hallett’s pace carried him forward shortly before the break and he struck a low shot that Ben Lewis saved, but he was let down by defender Richard Bryant who couldn’t clear the ball and Wheeler nipped in to make it 2-0.
      The rain became torrential early in the second half, but this served to make the match very exciting with both teams attacking quickly. The Abbots’ Matt Huxley flicked a header wide shortly before Mark Pearce got on the end of a Wheeler corner to make it 3-0 to United on 56.
      There followed a crazy period of play : Oldland attacked straight from the kick off and Mark Pocock thrashed in a 20 yarder to reduce their arrears. Then another attack led to a corner, the ball was played to Tippins who was fouled by Tom Robinson and a penalty awarded : Huxley stepped up and sent the spot kick over the crossbar!
      Westbury broke forward quickly and Rhys Schell’s clever ball found Matty Smith who hit a screamer that beat Lewis but rebounded off the bar. This was the last action before the referee’s controversial decision to abandon play.

*STAR Man – Matty Smith (Westbury United)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Mark Young, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Mark Pearce,
        Tom Robinson, Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Rhys Schell,
        Wayne Wheeler, Nathan Hallett
SUBS – Lee Morgan, Joe Murray, matt Mead (all unused)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Tuesday 24 November 2009

HALLETT RED CARD MARS HARD FOUGHT POINT
Wells City 0-0 Westbury United

      Westbury United gained a hard fought point in this promotion chasing encounter at a very wet and windy Wells City ground. They had the better chances in both halves and found home keeper Tom Punchard in fine form. The performance was marred by Nathan Hallett being sent off late in the match for what was his second red card offence of the season.
      Left winger Hallett was actually United's most dangerous player in the early stages : one low cross just eluded the excellent Rhys Schell and soon after he got on the end of Wayne Wheeler's pass and shot just wide from 20 yards.
      The home side were struggling to take advantage of having a gale force wind at their backs and Westbury defended well to prevent any chances. In fact the nearest they came in the first half was a long Punchard kick which carried on the wind and forced Nick Evans to make a save under his crossbar.
      Punchard and Schell were the two best players on the night and on several occasions, firstly on 35 minutes, United's clever forward was denied by brave goalkeeping by Punchard who was quick off his line to block efforts.
      A flowing move by Schell, Wheeler and Hallett led to a corner just before the break and Matty Smith's flag kick was headed onto the roof of the net by Wheeler.
      City wasted a lot of good possession after half time, a number of moves having no end product, whereas United continued to create openings : Hallett struck a shot into the side netting while Punchard did superbly to prevent Schell shooting when he had got in behind Wells' defence.
      Hallett's red card came on 78 when, in an off the ball incident with City's captain Kyle McErlain , he was seen to hit the defender across his face. This indiscipline nearly cost Hallett's side dear as, for the first time in the match, Wells created a clear cut chance when Nathan Truckle ran through but, one on one with Evans, he saw Westbury's keeper save very well. Mark Randall broke forward from left back on 87 and, after beating three visiting players, he was just about to shoot when Sayeed Ibrahim put in a superb tackle on the edge of the box!
      Matty Smith came within inches of winning all the points for United when in the 89th minute and took the ball from Matt Mead and struck a 25 yarder that Punchard tipped onto the crossbar!

*STAR MEN - Tom Punchard (Wells City) & Rhys Schell (Westbury United)

TEAM - Nick Evans, Mark Young, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Mark Pearce, Tom Robinson,
          Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Rhys Schell, Wayne Wheeler, Nathan hallett
SUBS - Matt Mead (used), Nick Ridout, Lee Morgan (unused)

[Andy]

Westbury United are now in 2nd place after a 4-2 win over Cadbury Heath on Sat 28 Nov. United's goals were scored by Mark Pearce, Rhys Schell and 2 own goals! The visitor's goals were both scored by for mer Westbury striker Toby Colbourne!

Fixtures for December

Sat 5 Dec, Roman lass St George, Away, 2pm
Sat 12 Dec, Bradford Town, Away, 3pm
Sat 19 Dec, Portishead Town, HOME, 3pm
Boxing Day Sat 26 Dec, Shrewton Utd, HOME, 2pm

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 5 December 2009

IBRAHIM’S LATE BLAST SETS UP UNITED VICTORY
Roman Glass St George 0-2 Westbury United


      Sayeed Ibrahim’s first goal for Westbury United came in the 88th minute of the match and set his side on the way to clinching three points that they deserved. The win keeps United in second place in the league. It had only taken that long to score due to an excellent goalkeeping performance by James Morgan in the St George goal. Westbury’s star man was Tom Robinson who was prominent in midfield.
      The hosts had their moments in the first half : Nathan Baird having two weak efforts off target while Nick Evans saved well from Selwyn Msakwa.
      United’s first half display was frustrating with a number of wasted final balls : both Wayne Wheeler and Matty Smith fired low into the six yard box with no final touch.
      Morgan’s first save came near the end of the half when a patient move led to Mark Young playing in Rhys Schell and his shot was saved very well.
      Morgan continued his fine work with a series of saves after the break : within the first three minutes he saved from Schell, Ibrahim and Matty Smith and then went on to deny Nathan Hallett once and substitute Nick Ridout three times – the third of which was a blinding tip round the post from a header!
      Evans had one save to make when Msakwa played in Ryan Phillips but it was mainly one way traffic.
      Ridout’s presence and skill up front made all the difference and, after a spell of four corner kicks, the opening goal finally arrived : Young’s pace carried him into space and he played the ball back to Ibrahim who thrashed it into the top left hand corner of Morgan’s goal from outside the box.
      Another substitute, Matt Mead, grabbed the second goal a minute later when he latched onto Ridout’s through ball and, one on one with Moran, Mead chipped the advancing keeper from the edge of the box.

*STAR MEN – James Moran (RGSG) and Tom Robinson (Westbury United)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Mark Young, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Mark Pearce,
        Tom Robinson, Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Rhys Schell, Wayne Wheeler,
        Nathan Hallett
SUBS – Lee Moran, Nick Ridout, Matt Mead (all used)

[Andy]

Westbury United First Team Manager Paul Brickley has been named the Toolstation League Division One Manager of the Month for November.

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 12 December 2009

UNITED THROW AWAY 3-1 LEAD TO LOSE DERBY
Bradford Town 4-3 Westbury United

      Westbury suffered only their second league defeat of the season in a high scoring, dramatic local derby at Bradford. They had actually led 1-3 before the hour and had a great chance to make it 1-4 before the hosts came back to win.
      The match had got off to a slow start with only United’s opening goal as a noting point in the first half hour. That goal came on 13 minutes when Luke Smith’s curling corner eluded all the players in the six yard box and the ball ended up in the net! As well as scoring the opening goal, he had an excellent match in defence with a number of well timed tackles.
      Lewis Porter in the Bradford goal saved well when Wayne Wheeler struck a fine 20 yarder and Town’s first chance came when Gavin Eyre shot from 30 yards with Nick Evans holding the ball safely.
      Bradford equalised on 37 : Liam Milburn slid the ball through a gap in the Westbury defence and Leigh Burke ran through before rolling the ball between Evans’ legs.
      Parity was shortlived as United regained their lead in fine style on 40 : Matty Smith beat two defenders, passed to Nick Ridout and he hit a powerful, angled shot beyond Porter.
      Westbury continued to be the better side after half time and scored again on 54 : Wheeler and Ridout combined on the left win with Wheeler crossing into the box to Dan Kovacs who sent a towering header into the top corner! Then a few minutes later the points should have been safe when Wheeler set up Kovacs who had a shot blocked by a defender and the ball rebounded to Matty Smith and somehow his close range strike hit the crossbar and rebounded to safety!
      Having survived this onslaught, Bradford sent on two attacking substitutes and one of these, Jamie Jordan, played a starring role to turn the game around. Jordan made it 2-3 on 68 when a corner wasn’t cleared by United’s defence and the teenager finished classily to Evans’ right hand side.
      Former Westbury forward Jerad O’Pray equalised five minutes later when Lee Salter’s cross found O’Pray unmarked allowing him a free header.
      The points could have gone either way from then on, but it was an awful error by Tom Robinson which gifted another substitute, Dan Fowler, a clear run on goal and, one on one with Evans he chipped the ball cleverly to complete the comeback.

*STAR MEN – Jamie Jordan (Bradford Town) & Luke Smith (Westbury United)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Mark Young, Luke Smith, Nick Ridout, Mark Pearce,  Tom Robinson, Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Lee Morgan
SUBS – Nathan Hallett, Matt Mead, Joe Murray (all used)

[Andy]

Sat 19 Dec, Portishead Town, HOME, 2pm
Boxing Day Sat 26 Dec, Shrewton Utd, HOME, 2pm

[Andy]

Westbury United Update
 
Westbury United's last three matches have all been postponed due to the weather. The home games versus Portishead (19 Dec) and Shrewton (26 Dec) fell victim to a frozen and waterlogged pitch respectively, while the first fixture of 2010 at Clevedon (2 Jan) had to be called off due to a frozen pitch.
 
The remaining fixtures for January are scheduled to be
 
Sat 9 Jan, Devizes Town, Away, 2.15pm
Tues 12 Jan, Shrewton Utd, HOME, 7.45pm
Sat 16 Jan, Roman Glass St George, HOME, 3pm
Sat 23 Jan, Keynsham Town, HOME, 3pm
Tues 26 Jan, Chard Town, Away, 7.45pm
Sat 30 Jan, Hengrove Athletic, Away, 3pm

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 23 January 2010

LATE COMEBACK NOT ENOUGH FOR UNITED
Westbury United 1-2 Keynsham Town

      Westbury United’s push for promotion suffered a blow as their visitors moved above them into third place. This was United’s first match for six weeks and, with Keynsham having played in midweek, they were the sharper side throughout and their well organised tactics held out against Westbury’s late comeback.
      United actually had the better early chances with Rhys Schell guilty of missing twice when well placed, while Tom Robinson lashed the ball wide from 20 yards.
      Town had an early chance when man of the match Rob Sheriton headed over the bar, but their best openings came near the end of the half when, after a very scrappy period of play, Ross Macnab missed the target from close range before seeing a header excellently cleared off the line by Luke Smith. Macnab then went even closer but saw Nick Evans pull off a great diving fingertip save to push the ball away from danger.
      Schell was poor from close range soon after the break and Westbury were made to pay when Sheriton set up the opening goal on 55 : his corner was half cleared but, receiving the ball again on the left wing, he crossed into the box and Scott Green powered in a header.
      Sheriton was now running the game and, after a defensive error by Lee Morgan, he ran forward and hit a fine shot agaionst Evans’ right hand post. Not to be denied, Sheriton ran onto a loose ball on 67 and hit an unstoppable finish past Evans to make it 0-2.
      Westbury changed to a 3-4-3 formation in search of a comeback and this began six minutes from time when, after some strong Keynsham defending had denied an opening, a free kick was awarded just outside the penalty area. Nick Ridout stepped up to smash the free kick into the net.
      Despite more attacks no more chances were created and the visitors held on for a vital three points.

*STAR MAN – Rob Sheriton (Keynsham Town)
TEAM – Nick Evans, Lee Morgan, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout, Tom Robinson,
             Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Rhys Schell
SUBS – Mark Pearce, Mark Young, Joe Murray (all used)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 30 January 2010

EXCITING DRAW IN OPEN MATCH
Hengrove Athletic 1-1 Westbury United

            There was plenty of goalmouth action in this exciting draw at a cold and sunny Hengrove ground. The points being shared was a fair result, but both sides will feel they could have got the win.
      The home side started better and had already gone close through Ricky Charlton and Danny Guibarra before they scored on 18 minutes : Nick Evans made a good save from Ben Crewe, but Tom Evans followed up to smash in the rebound.
      United got themselves back on level terms within five minutes when Dan Kovacs played in Rhys Schell and he took a touch before firing confidently past Courtney Redwood.
      Both Kovacs and the hard working Tom Robinson almost put Westbury ahead, the latter being denied by Danny Barwood’s goal line clearance. Then at the other end a Tom Kington header from Charlton’s corner was cleared off the line and Tom Evans missed his rebound effort.
      Chances came at both ends in the second half too : Nick Ridout cleared Guibarra’s strike off the line, while Luke Smith’s cross found Matty Smith but he couldn’t give United the lead as his header went wide.
      A poor Nick Evans kick gave Guibarra an opening, but he put the ball wide from 20 yards before a lovely move by Luke Smith and Schell led to Matty Smith firing over from the edge of the box.
      The closing stages saw another chance for both teams : Nick Evans didn’t claim the ball in his box and somehow Ben Crewe put the ball wide and, with time running out, Kovacs ran past two defenders but saw his shot deflected away from danger.

*STAR MEN – Danny Guibarra (Hengrove Athletic) & Tom Robinson (Westbury United)
TEAM – Nick Evans, Mark Pearce, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout, Tom Robinson,
           Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Rhys Schell
SUBS – Joe Murray, Matt Mead (used) George Wheeler (unused)


February Fixtures
Westbury United have a very busy February, with fixtures every Saturday and midweek, including three consecutive home Tuesday evenings when matches will kick off at 7.45pm.
Tues 2 Feb, Roman Glass St George, HOME, 7.45pm
Sat 6 Feb, Devizes Town, Away, 3pm
Tues 9 Feb, Oldland Abbotonians, HOME, 7.45pm
Sat 13 Feb, Elmore, Away, 3pm
Tues 16 Feb, Shrewton United, HOME, 7.45pm
Sat 20 Feb, Chard Town, HOME, 3pm
Weds 24 Feb, Clevedon Utd, Away, 7.45pm
Sat 27 Feb, Bridport, Away, 3pm

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Tuesday 2 February 2010

LUKE SMITH STARS IN EXCELLENT TEAM PERFORMANCE
Westbury United 2-1 Roman Glass St George

      Westbury United produced an excellent all round team performance to see off a determined St George team. Luke Smith had a superb match in both defence and when going forward, producing a number of fine tackles and setting up both of his side’s goals! Matt Sharp performed well at right back on his return to the club.
      After a slow start, the game sprang to life on 20 minutes when United opened the scoring : Luke Smith persevered to beat three men on the left wing and sent in a low ball which was touched in by Dan Kovacs who was on the mark for his 19th goal of the season.
      Westbury dominated the next ten minutes and somehow failed to score again : Tom Robinson found Matty Smith but his shot hit the side netting, Wayne Wheeler hit a 20 yarder just wide, Matty Smith failed to connect with his namesakes’ fizzing cross into the six yard box and he was then denied by visiting keeper James Morgan – that save being the follow up to him denying Kovacs!
      Roman Glass equalised in extraordinary circumstances just after the half hour when the only blot on Westbury’s performance occurred. Dan Dominy failed to clear the ball and instead opted to pass it back to Nick Evans. Westbury’s keeper was put under pressure by the advancing Nathan Baird who dispossessed Evans and rolled the ball to Matt Vicary who couldn’t miss the open goal! The score stayed at 1-1 until the break.
      United continued to be by far the better team in the second half, although it took some superb defending to deny St George any chances.
      Wheeler had already shot inches wide and had a fierce strike saved by Morgan before his side regained their lead on 59. Luke Smith played in a free kick which Kovacs headed towards goal but Morgan produced another top save, however Matty Smith was on hand to tap it in.
      There was little further goalmouth action, but Morgan saved well from Wheeler with ten minutes left. The visitors were unable to make Evans work despite having a spell of pressure with a number of corners as time ran out.

*STAR MAN – Luke Smith (Westbury United)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Matt Sharp, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout, Tom Robinson,       
Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Rhys Schell
SUBS – Matt Mead (used) Ashley Groves, George Wheeler (unused)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 6 February 2010

MATTY SMITH AND KOVACS STAR FOR UNITED
Devizes Town 0-2 Westbury United
 
      Westbury United’s promotion push got back into full swing with this comfortable victory away to bottom club Devizes Town. There wasn’t much of a local derby feel to the match as United dominated from start to finish, with the hosts having just one clear scoring chance! This was their third win over Town this season, following another 2-0 league win in August and a 3-2 victory in the FA Vase.
      Westbury’s star men were Matty Smith and Dan Kovacs, both netting a goal set up by the other. Matty Smith opened the scoring on 14 minutes when after a one-two with Kovacs the latter crossed into the box and Matty Smith arrived to hit a clean half volley into the net.
      There was a lot of tight play throughout the first half, with both defences playing well. The home side’s best opening of the afternoon came on 33 when an error by Dan Dominy allowed Danny Sloan a run on goal but, with just Nick Evans to beat, Sloan wasted the chance by firing over the bar.
      United doubled their lead on 36 when Matty Smith went on a bursting run from inside his own half and, after beating several defenders, he slid the ball through to Kovacs who chipped it over the advancing Darryl Simms to continue his great season of goal scoring.
      Westbury continued their dominance after the break without creating any outstanding chances. Luke Smith’s corner wasn’t cleared and Matty Smith shot over the bar. Then from another corner Kovacs had a header blocked by Ray King. The closest they came was when Wayne Wheeler spotted Simms off his line and struck a great effort from the halfway line that Simms did well to tip round his left hand post after backtracking quickly!

STAR MAN – Matty Smith (Westbury United)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Matt Sharp, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout,
        Tom Robinson, Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs,
         Wayne Wheeler, Rhys Schell
SUBS – Matt Mead, Mark Young, Joe Murray (all used)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Tuesday 9 February 2010

OLDLAND TRIUMPH IN ATTACKING ENCOUNTER
Westbury United 1-3 Oldland Abbotonians
      When the previous match between these sides was abandoned in November, Westbury were leading 3-1 and looking good for maximum points. However in the rematch Oldland showed their attacking instincts to extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches, while United will be regretting missing a host of chances!
      On a frosty evening the visitors opened the scoring with the first chance on ten minutes : Matt Huxley looked offside but was allowed to carry on and brought a fine save out of Nick Evans, however the ball rebounded to Rob Dunphy and he smashed it into the goal. Huxley would later have a goal disallowed for offside after Dunphy had set him up.
      In between those Abbots’ attacks the half was dominated by Westbury. They played some great football, but somehow they failed to equalise! Nick Ridout sent a free header wide from Luke Smith’s corner, Rhys Schell showed good skill only to see his fine strike rebound off a post, Dan Kovacs had a 20 yarder saved by Jeff Hook, Matty Smith volleyed wide after good play by Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler cut in from the left and had a curling effort deflected wide, Matty Smith set up Schell but Hook saved his weak attempt, then Hook saved again just before the break when he denied Kovacs who had headed a Wheeler cross.
      The second half was much more of an end to end affair : Simon Dew set up Dunphy but home keeper Nick Evans parried his powerful shot. As United still searched vainly for an equaliser Matty Smith and Matt Sharp combined to set up Schell but he headed straight at Hook. Then a few minutes later he missed the target again from Sayeed Ibrahim’s long throw. Another Ibrahim throw in found Kovacs but he was also wayward - all that had happened before the hour mark!
      Having kept their lead intact the visitors went close to doubling their advantage : Will Gregory played the ball to Huxley who struck it over from just outside the box. Westbury counter attacked with Wheeler blasting the ball narrowly wide at the end of the move!
      The levelling goal finally arrived on 71 : skipper Dan Dominy sent a long ball up-field which was flicked on by Matty Smith to Schell who hit it across the face of goal and in off Hook’s right hand post.
      Having been so involved in many of United’s best moments, Matty Smith was at fault as the scores only stayed level for a few minutes : he was robbed by Mitch Tippins near the halfway line and the ball was played to Gregory and then Huxley who ran into the box before finishing his 23rd goal of the season with ease.
      Westbury needed to take risks to get another equaliser and they had a number of attacks which went to waste as crosses found Oldland defenders rather than United attackers and, with time running out, Gregory broke forward and rounded the advancing Evans only to see his goal-bound shot blocked on the line by Sharp however Dunphy was on hand to put the ball into the net to complete the scoring.

*STAR MEN – Matt Sharp (Westbury United) & Rob Dunphy (Oldland Abbotonians)

TEAM – Nick Evans, Matt Sharp, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout, Tom Robinson,
Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Rhys Schell

SUBS – Matt Mead, Mark Young, George Wheeler (all used)

[Andy]

TOOLSTATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Saturday 13 February 2010
                                 
DOMINANT UNITED BACK UP TO THIRD
Elmore 0-2 Westbury United

      Westbury United moved back up to third place with another dominant away victory. A week after a similar win at Devizes Town, they brushed aside mid-table Elmore with goals again coming from Dan Kovacs and Matty Smith.
      The home side went close first with Nick Evans making a double save from Sam Kemp and Darren Goff, but Westbury took the lead just two minutes later. A Luke Smith corner wasn’t cleared and Nick Ridout had an effort deflected wide for another corner, this time Luke Smith’s flag kick was met by Kovacs’ bullet header and the ball flew into the net.
      With the early goal behind them, United played with confidence and could have added further first half goals as Mike Taylor saved very well from Rhys Schell’s header and Tom Robinson’s 30 yarder.
      Robinson had a composed match at the heart of the midfield and he was involved in a fine move which ended with Ridout cleverly lobbing the ball inches wide.
      Elmore had more of the play after half time, but they met a determined Westbury back line led strongly as ever by Dan Dominy.
      After Kovacs had sent a few shots off target, Wayne Wheeler went on a pacy run which ended with a 20 yarder being well held by Taylor. The home side attacked and Brett Worbey thought he’d equalised when his 25 yard strike found the net, however the referee had already blown his whistle for a free kick.
      Having survived the scare, United made the points safe in bizarre circumstances on 64 : Matty Smith took a right footed free kick wide on the left wing and the ball crept through everybody in the penalty area, didn’t take a single touch and snuck into the far post!
      Elmore pushed players forward in search of a lifeline, but their top scorer James Blake was wasteful while Matt Sharp prevented Matt Harvey a shot with a well timed challenge.

*STAR MAN – Tom Robinson (Westbury United)
TEAM – Nick Evans, Matt Sharp, Luke Smith, Dan Dominy, Nick Ridout, Tom Robinson,
          Sayeed Ibrahim, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Rhys Schell
SUBS – Nathan Hallett, Matt Mead (used)  George Wheeler (unused)