An upsetting day for Westbury United as this defeat combined with Portishead Town’s 6th match unbeaten saw the latter climb above them at the foot of the table.
This match encapsulated United’s season perfectly; some good football played, holding their own for long periods but then letting themselves down to gift their opponents the advantage.
On Chard’s rock hard sloping pitch and with a strong wind blowing the match was anything but enjoyable to watch as both teams struggled to control the ball. The pivotal moment involved the days’ star men when Town’s Ed Butcher was upended by Westbury’s Nathan Hallett-Young for a penalty which put the hosts ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Before that moment Hallett-Young had been a tower of strength in defence and Butcher a constant threat in attack.
Butcher went close twice early on with fine shots at the end of pacy runs, while Oscar Latas also tested the visiting back line. There was little action at the other end as promising United build up play went unrewarded.
Chard opened the scoring on 33 minutes; Sam Clark took a free kick which was deflected behind for a corner, Andy Martin sent in the flag kick and found Butcher whose fine strike was deflected in by Latas.
Westbury equalised immediately in spectacular fashion when Gary Tugwell fired a wonderful unstoppable long range strike from at least 40 yards!
1-1 was how the score remained until well after the hour and there was little action of note in that time, although Leo Whitehead in the visiting goal did well to save a Martin free kick.
United had a strong period with Mark Young to the fore but again there was no end product. They paid the price when Hallett-Young’s foul on Butcher allowed Clark the chance to score from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 on 75.
Town then made the points safe with a quick 3rd goal when Jamie Barfoot broke forward to tap in Butcher’s low cross and, with Westbury all over the place, Clark had a goal disallowed for offside!
To their credit Westbury kept trying to get back into the game and Marc Scammell headed wide from Grant Gunning’s cross before Tony McElhone forced Scott Wells-Burr into a fine save with the last kick of the game.
*STAR MAN – Nathan Hallett-Young. TEAM – Leo Whitehead, Ryan Elliott, Marc Scammell, Josh Maguire, Nathan Hallett-Young, Sam Clift, Mark Young, Gary Tugwell, Matt Mead, Cameron Thomas, Jordan Mathews. SUBS – Tony McElhone, Grant Gunning (used) Huw Buckley, Joe Cavalla, Callum Hotine (unused).
