Fifth place finish despite defeat

This match was the decider for 4th and 5th place and it was Bridgwater who claimed the ascendancy, courtesy of two first half goals. 

Westbury can count themselves very unlucky to not make it a closer result after dominating the second half and being denied a stonewall penalty.

The visitors actually scored before the official match kick off time, and a goal after just 53 seconds found the net at 14.59. Ed Baldy got his hand to Jake Brown’s lob but this only served to slow the ball and allow it to drop into the net!

In a sign of what was to come, some fine approach play by Joe Stradling and Callum Demkiv saw both threaten but fail to create a clear cut chance.

Baldy made a fine double save to keep the score at 0-1, firstly denying Brown, then using his legs to block Ian Bellinger’s rebound!

United’s best player on the day was Josh Ferguson, the first of a number of fine runs saw his ball into the box intercepted before it reached Ricky Hulbert.

Baldy was in excellent form and did well twice in quick succession, holding an effort by Carl Jones and a few minutes later, doing well when Harry Horton struck a low drive from outside the box.

Baldy however was unable to keep his opponents at bay in the 36th minute, when he was unfortunate to see his save from a good shot fall to Jones who bundled the ball over the line!

United improved somewhat as half-time approached, Ferguson forcing Jake Viney into a save, then Jamie Jordan saw his free kick drift a yard past the keeper’s right hand post.

The improvement continued after the break with Bridgwater on the back foot from the off. Ricky Hulbert, Ferguson and Demkiv all threatened, but the final ball was lacking. Then Stradling set up Demkiv, whose attempt was blocked to Ferguson but his rebound flew wide.

Ferguson’s fine performance continued past the hour mark and having received the ball from Ricky Hulbert, he passed it to Jake Hiscocks who shot off target. Ferguson then tried the spectacular only to be denied by an equally brilliant catch by Viney!

Controversy never seems far away these days and it came in abundance on 70 ; Demkiv burst forward and was flattened inside the box by a defender but the referee chose not to give a penalty as well as ignore his assistant who was waving his flag!

It took until the last 10 minutes for Bridgwater to fashion a chance when Pat O’Halloran curled an effort over the bar.

United kept pushing forward and a great run from deep by Steve Hulbert led to him playing the ball to Mark Robinson, but typically for this match, he miskicked, then Demkiv was unable to retrieve the ball!

It was no surprise that Ferguson had another shot at goal before the end; Ricky Hulbert held off his marker and played the ball inside to Ferguson, whose low left footer was spilt then claimed by Viney!

The visitors should have added an undeserved 3rd at the end, but were guilty of trying to walk the ball in rather than shoot.

*Star Man; Josh Ferguson. TEAM ; Ed Baldy, Steve Hulbert, Ian Jeffery, Olly Webb, Jordan Pinder, Dan Jordan, Jamie Jordan, Josh Ferguson, Ricky Hulbert, Callum Demkiv, Joe Stradling. SUBS ; Mark Robinson, Jake Hiscocks (used) Joe Kirkpatrick, Lewis Porter, Dan Kovacs.