Westbury can count themselves extremely unlucky to not have at least taken their in form Hellenic League opponents into extra time.
This was an exciting, end to end encounter with Highworth netting two stunning 2nd half goals and United forwards George Bendle and Otis Young both hitting the woodwork.
Play sprang into life in the 8th minute when home defender Matt Jones, who was a tower of strength all evening, superbly tackled Ryan Stanners which set his side onto the counter attack where Kent Kauppinen saved from Martin Johnson. In turn Town counter attacked themselves and Steve May fired a 20 yarder which was deflected wide.
The ever dangerous Kieron Gleed had two efforts blocked then Aysa Corrick hit a 20 yard effort straight at Ben Forester. A few minutes later Westbury’s hearts were in their mouths when Dan Price sliced an attempted clearance which looped up and down onto the roof of the net.
Bendle came within inches of putting United ahead on 24 when Ian Groves set him up and Bendle struck a fine right footed shot that hit Kauppinen’s left hand post.
Corrick and Gleed were certainly Highworth’s danger men and Corrick’s pace then deep cross found Gleed who volleyed wide. Forester then did well to save with his legs when Gleed shot through a crowded penalty area with Fabian MacCarthy blazing his rebound over the bar.
Westbury weren’t able to create any more openings before half time despite some decent attacks and it was thanks to Jones that they went in at 0-0 when the defender brilliantly blocked Corrick’s attempt.
There was no less action after the break and excellent play by Jamie Jordan sent Johnson into the box where his shot from an acute angle was well saved by Kauppinen.
Gleed opened the scoring in spectacular style on 58. He saw a corner kicked blocked then only half cleared and having remained in position wide on the right, unleashed an unexpected stunning strike that flew into the net.
United went all out for a quick equaliser but it just wouldn’t come as Kauppinen denied Johnson again then Jordan Pinder flashed a great ball across the box but there was nobody there to apply a finishing touch.
Remarkably Hoghworth’s 2nd goal on 68 was a carbon copy of Gleed’s opener only this time it was Stanner with the wonderful strike.
Town weren’t able to relax despite having doubled their lead as Westbury put everything into finding a route back into the game. Substitute Otis Young combined well with Jordan and the latter saw his well struck shot roll agonisingly wide. MacCarthy almost made the victory safe for his team but fired wide from a Gleed corner then found Forester in fine form. The ball rebounded to May whose attempt was blocked by Jones.
Young set up Johnson but for the 4th time on the night Kauppinen saved well from his shot, the ball went to Ferris Lamrabet on the left and he played it back in to Young and his fierce shot rebounded off the crossbar to sum up United’s luck.
*Star man – Matt Jones. Team: Ben Forester, Dan Price, Jordan Lawrence, Matt Jones, Jordan Pinder, James Hounsell, Jamie Jordan, Marton Johnson, Ian Groves, George Bendle, Ferris Lamrabet. Substitutes: Matty Mantay, Nathan Hallett-Young, Otis Young (used) Pete Sturman, Charlie Heydon (unused).
