Before the game Cheddar knew that they needed a win and other results to go their way if they were to stay in with a chance of promotion to the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.
They put an end to Westbury’s unbeaten run but the other results went against them, meaning that the spectators will get the chance to see this fixture again next season.
Both teams had tasted victory against each other this season with Cheddar taking a 4-1 win at Meadow Lane in the league game back in November and Westbury winning the Les Phillips Cup match, also at Meadow Lane 3-2. So, with ten goals scored in the last two matches between them, this fixture promised more goals and duly delivered. Cheddar came flying out of the changing rooms and created a chance within minutes of the kick-off which snuck just wide.
Westbury replied on three minutes to create their first chance. Jordan Pinder gained possession in the centre of the park and passed it out to the flying Leon Greenland, Greenland drove into the box and got his shot off, the shot was deflected and went wide. Two minutes later Pinder won the ball in centre midfield again and he drove forward. Ricky Hulbert made a run in the centre forward position drawing the attention of most of the Cheddar defence, this opened the space for Pinder to carry on advancing; he struck a lovely shot which passed the keeper before he could react, making it 1-0 to Westbury.
It didn’t take long for Cheddar to reply; only 11 minutes into the game a well delivered corner evaded the defenders on the front post and was glanced into the far corner by the arriving attacker.
The game continued to be played at full throttle with chances coming for both teams. On the 25th minute Cheddar delivered from the wide left position, but the delivery was too deep for the attacker so he smartly headed it back across the goal for his strike partner to smartly glance inside of the post and make it 2-1 to Cheddar.
Ten minutes later a Westbury throw-in was picked up by Jake Stephenson, who moved into a central position about 25 yards from goal and rifled an unsaveable shot that Heckler and Koch would have been proud of into the top right hand corner, to draw Westbury level at 2-2.
Westbury finished the first half strongly, Greenland coming close with a shot that just missed the far right post and the arriving George Bendle couldn’t make up the ground quick enough. Then a game of pinball in the Cheddar area where Westbury had four chances, but the Cheddar defence somehow kept the ball out of their net.
In the second half Westbury made an early sub. Bendle couldn’t shake a knock he had received in the first half so was replaced by Joe Kirkpatrick. Westbury shuffled their pack and continued to push. Without the ball they were dropping deep and compact, forcing Cheddar into mistakes.
On the 70th minute mark Carl Crabtree in the Westbury goal elected to stand on the edge of his box to wait for a long pass forward from the Cheddar defence to arrive, but the Cheddar No.9 raced through and got to the ball before it entered the box. He rounded Crabtree and scored Cheddar’s third goal to take Cheddar back ahead. Westbury changed formation and continued to create chances, but unfortunately none of them ended in the Cheddar net, with the final score 3-2.
Westbury entertain title hopefuls Hengrove Athletic in their last league game of this season at Meadow Lane on Saturday 29th April.
Westbury Star Man: Jordan Pinder.
