THIS encounter proved to be a turgid match where a draw was a fair result between two evenly matched sides. For Westbury, this was a second consecutive clean sheet and a determined, hard-working performance.
United will be the happier team, however after having Ben Griffiths sent
off after 41 minutes. Before the red card, there was a slow start from Westbury and Bideford and as a spectacle, it never really got going.
Harvey Flippance had a shot deflected wide then Jasper Jones’ header was blocked. At the other end, the home ‘keeper Jonny Hill saved from Jordan Ewing.
Ben Starr lit up proceedings with a sublime piece of skill before releasing Charlie Walton who was well challenged as he approached the penalty area. Griffiths saw red before the break for an incident where he retaliated.
Bideford stepped up the pace after half-time, and Hill made a fine save to deny Alexander Moyse; the ball was then put into the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Jones came closest for the hosts with a left-footer that rebounded off the crossbar.
Jake Hutchings and Aaron Cockerill were superb at the back for United while Hill commanded his area. There was a long time between chances, but late on Hutchings made a superb block on the goal line to keep it goalless.
Star man: Jake Hutchings (Westbury United).
Team: Jonny Hill, Ben Griffiths, Ryan Bole, Aaron Cockerill, Jake Hutchings, Harvey Flippance, Charlie Walton, Callum Demkiv, Ben Starr, Jasper Jones, Bevan Cross. Subs: Dan Demkiv, Ashton Shanley, Will Thomson (used) Emmanuel Adepitan, Craig Loxton (unused).
Report by Andy Bown.
