Sat 22nd Jan. Hellenic League Premier Division Cribbs 0 Westbury United 2
WESTBURY made the trip up to Bristol to meet former Western League team Cribbs.
Cribbs’ early season form had tailed off recently and at kick off they were in 6th position, three above Westbury with 5 more games played.
The previous fixture between the two clubs saw Westbury have two men sent off in quick succession and Cribbs romped to a 4-0 victory at Meadow Lane in October 2021 to move two points clear at the top of the table so Westbury were looking for revenge.
Westbury were still without left back Ryan Bole through injury and were also missing Callum Demkiv after he saw red in the previous league game at home to Hallen.
Chances were few and far between in the first half as a Cribbs team who towered over the Westbury team looked to break up any passages of play as early as possible, seemingly content that they had the aerial advantage for any set pieces delivered into their area.
Joe Stradling went close, skipping through a few challenges and firing a shot from the angle of the penalty area that bounced off the top of the bar.
Early in the second half Cribbs smashed one off the upright, Baldy was diving full stretch to his left and probably had it covered if it was on target.
As the game moved on Westbury were starting to move the ball well and avoid the heavy-handed tactics from Cribbs; Flippance protected the ball well, 25 yards from goal, turned his man and fed in Stradling, his shot was too close to the Cribbs keeper and he saved well, plus he was offside so it would not have counted had it hit the back of the net.
Most of the Cribbs attacks were focused down their left hand side but Ben Griffiths was always on hand to nick the ball away and set Westbury on another attack; his reading of the game and anticipation was superb all afternoon.
Westbury’s opening goal came from a superb run down the right by centre back Jacob Hutchings. He travelled down the wing after stealing the ball from the Cribbs striker and delivered a sumptuous cross between the goal posts which was headered out to Sammy Jordan; his first touch saw the ball sit up begging to be smashed goalwards, he swung his left boot and sent it past the diving keeper.
The second came moments later. Frost’s long throw forward was defended but as the Cribbs player went to clear, he had his pocket picked by Flippance – Flippance’s steal fell to Jordan who played a backheel into the path of Flippance for him to cut inside and finish left footed to give Westbury a second goal and a well-earned three points.
Star Man – Ben Griffiths; Line-up: Baldy, Hutchings, S.Hulbert, Frost, Price ©, Shanley, Griffiths, Thomson, Flippance, Stradling, Biddiscombe. Subs: S.Jordan, James, Timbrell (used) R.Hulbert, Porter (unused)
