Sat. 12th October. FA Vase first round Westbury Utd 0 Badshot Lea 1.
Badshot of the Combined Counties League edged this tie, courtesy of an early goal and by defending superbly throughout, to deny Westbury many clear cut chances.
The visitors flew out of the blocks and could have scored several times in the opening minutes; the excellent Danilo Cadete crossed from the right wing to Zac Harper, whose powerful header was brilliantly saved at point blank range by Ed Baldy. Hawker missed the target after a corner wasn’t cleared, then Tom Cursons’ shot was saved by Baldy.
A goal had been coming and it duly arrived on 8 minutes when Cadete played in Darren Blake, whose cross was swept in by Cursons.
United nearly got level from a corner which was only partially cleared to Steve Hulbert, who knocked the ball back in to Sam Jordan, but his header was straight at Kallum Lunn. As Badshot threatened again, Hawker set up Nic Ciardini who curled it past Baldy, but he was offside.
Lunn saved an effort by Jamie Jordan, then in a series of set pieces taken by Bole and Ciardini, the respective defences held firm.
Ryan Bole was prominent for the hosts and the nearest they came in the first half was from his left foot skiddy 30-yarder that was well saved by Lunn. Ciardini and Cadete both had half chances, but those opportunities were cleared off the line and blocked. United were the better side territorially after the break, but couldn’t break down the Badshot back line.
After a tight period of play until the hour mark, with Matt Jones and Dan Jordan dominating the home defence and George Hedley and Liam Flanighan likewise for Lea, Westbury finally got through, but Lunn was equal to Callum Demkiv’s attempt from an acute angle.
Westbury’s pressed for an equaliser but this gave Badshot the chance to create again. Cadete looked like getting a shot away, but was excellently tackled by Bole. Then at the other end, a fine link up between Demkiv and Joe Stradling led to the ball being blocked in front of goal.
United really began to push Badshot back and Jamie Jordan hit a fine dipping effort that rustled the roof of the net. Then Jason Henley found Sam Jordan, but his appeal for a penalty was turned down by the referee. Badshot’s Nick Medcraft had a similar penalty shout denied.
Bole spotted Lunn off his line and went for the spectacular from the halfway line, only for the ball to go narrowly over.
Medcraft set up Cursons whose shot went just over the bar and with 10 minutes remaining, Mark Robinson was brought on to add to United’s forward line.
The closest they came as time ticked down was when Bole’s deep ball was headed by Sam Jordan, but comfortably held by Lunn.
*Star Man; Ryan Bole. Team ; Ed Baldy, Jason Henley, Ryan Bole, Steve Hulbert, Matt Jones, Dan Jordan, Jamie Jordan, Joe Stradling, Ricky Hulbert, Sam Jordan, Callum Demkiv. Subs; Will Stead, Mark Robinson, Jordan Pinder (used) Callum Ham, Lewis Porter (unused).
