Once again on Saturday the weather put paid to any hope of Westbury United overhauling leaders Keynsham Town at the top of the Toolstation Western League Division One, but there was one crumb of comfort in that the Bristol side were due to play away at Devizes Town, which had no chance of staging a game, rather than on their own 4G pitch which is always available.
It means that the White Horse side go into February just a point off the top spot and with only Roman Glass St George among the chasing pack with any realistic chance of being involved in the shake up come the last week in April.
It has been 15 long years since Westbury United have plied their trade in the top division of the Western League, but judging by the first half of this campaign, that long wait may well be coming to an end for the club from Meadow Lane.
Neil and Joe Kirkpatrick’s squad have been frustrated by the inclement weather during the campaign, which has seen them forced to replay an FA Cup tie down at Christchurch following a mix-up regarding the new substitution law, but then see fortunes change when losing at Chard Town, only to be saved by a very late abandonment.
They are heady days at the club which has had little to shout about since winning Division One under Ian Harris back in 1992 and following that promotion, there were three reasonable campaigns before a series of poor ones, which ended with relegation back to Division One in last place ten years later.
Indeed the club suffered three consecutive bottom three finishes, only reprieved from relegation in 2015 until the arrival of the father and son Kirkpatrick combination, which heralded a long-awaited revival for the dedicated supporters and volunteers at the Wiltshire club.
Greg Coulson is currently secretary and chairman and he told Western League press officer Kerry Miller recently, “Off the field we are now in the position to attract good quality players who will commit to what Neil and Joe Kirkpatrick are trying to achieve and all this seems to have happened at the right time for us at the club, as the two gaffers run everything to do with the playing side and they can pull in players who want to play for Westbury United FC.”
Top scorer at the moment is former Trowbridge and Melksham striker Dan Kovacs, the 28 year-old being assisted by Ricky Hulbert and Jamie Jordan, who are also into double figures, while Mark Robinson has nine. The brand of attacking football has also seen a rise in attendances at Meadow Lane and with promotion a real possibility the club and the old ground are set up for a return to the top flight but Greg added, “We are almost ready to go, although the floodlights need a bit of work, but it is under control and only needs a few bulbs for it to be up to the grading required.”
Westbury have a trip to Hardenhuish Park to take on Chippenham Park this Saturday, followed by a home match with Wincanton Town before new boys Bristol Telephones away and Chard Town at Meadow Lane sees out February, and all at the club will be hoping that the weather abates to let the White Horse Men continue their assault on the First Division title.
Report by Kerry Miller – press officer for the Toolstation Western League.
