Convincing win for United against local rivals

Mon 1st Jan. Southern League Division One South. Melksham Town 0-2 Westbury United

A SUPERB all round team performance by Westbury as they started 2024 in style at Oakfield Stadium. Solid goalkeeping and defending, energetic midfield play and the pacy striking threat of the Demkiv brothers saw off Melksham on an increasingly wet afternoon.

United attacked from the off but Dan Demkiv’s (DD) cross eluded everyone. Then in the fourth minute Steve Hulbert’s driving run into the box saw him play the ball to Charlie Walton and he was upended by Scott Hendy; Hulbert dispatched the spot kick to put his side ahead.

Albie Hopkins was Town’s most threatening player and his cross led to Ralph Graham twice heading goalwards with Jonny Hill holding on easily to the second effort. Soon after, DD’s pace created an opening for Callum Demkiv (CD) but a defender beat him to the ball.

CD had a strike saved by Joel Manning and a few minutes later the home keeper did well to deny Bevan Cross. Melksham’s Benjani showed good skill on several occasions but he wasn’t able to break through the strong United defence.

Play flowed from end to end despite the stodgy pitch and DD was ushered away by his marker; Ryan Bole’s resulting corner led to Sean Keet having an attempt that dropped onto the crossbar. Hendy whistled a 30-yard strike wide of Hill’s right-hand post, then at the other end Cross curled the ball wide after good play by DD and Bole.

A superb left footed delivery by Cross went unrewarded then soon after Walton latched onto the ball and hit a great left footer that cannoned off the bar and away from the goal.

United deserved to double their lead and they did so just before half time; Hulbert’s well-timed tackle on Benjani led to Hill’s kick up field, Hill was audibly frustrated at his kick; however the ball bounced and fell to CD; he made no mistake with an excellent low finish after advancing towards the penalty area.

The home side had a better start to the second half but Westbury defended really well when Hopkins sent in a cross; then Keet intercepted when another home player broke forward.

Conditions worsened after the hour and both Demkivs, as well as Bole, could have added a clinching goal when creating chances through their pace; Bole headed straight at Mannings, CD lobbed the advancing Mannings and DD was only able to find the side netting on the stretch.

Another attempt by CD dropped narrowly off target then a quick move between Bole and DD led to CD’s glancing header that didn’t worry the hosts. Melksham sensed a brief opportunity to get back into the match with ten minutes remaining but Hill got down low to tip away Hopkins’ skidding free kick.

Walton played in DD whose quickly-hit shot flew wide. DD then struck the ball into the box where a handball claim was waved away by the referee with CD then shooting wide. Town loaded players up front deep into added time but they were denied any lifeline by the work rate of Keet, Emmanuel Adepitan and Aaron Cockerill.

Star men: Dan and Callum Demkiv.

Team: Jonny Hill, Steve Hulbert, Ryan Bole, Emmanuel Adepitan, Aaron Cockerill, Sean Keet, Dan Demkiv, Ashton Shanley, Charlie Walton, Callum Demkiv, Bevan Cross. Subs: Ben Griffiths, Kieran Bailey (used) Harvey Flippance, Jake Hutchings, Lewis Porter (unused).

Report by Andy Bown.