First point of the season for United

Sat. 5th Sept. Toolstation League Premier Clevedon Town 1 Westbury United

WESTBURY United made the journey over to the seaside for their first Toolstation Western Premier League game of the 2020/21 season to face Clevedon.

The game saw five players make their Westbury league debut, but it was an old favourite who led the way; Pinder had an excellent game in centre midfield, everything he touched in the second half seemed to turn to gold, no wonder there was a lot of interest from other clubs during the summer.

It took until just before the 20 minute mark for Westbury to really get going, Stradling stole the ball to the left of the Westbury penalty area and raced away up the pitch. Of the three Clevedon players who were in pursuit, two weren’t quick enough and the third wasn’t strong enough to prevent Stradling from finding Demkiv on the edge of the Clevedon penalty area. Demkiv, with his back to goal, turned and powered his left footed shot over the bar. Moments later Demkiv linked up with Biddiscombe on the right flank and found Pinder arriving on the edge of the area. Pinder took one touch to set the ball and sent a shot on target which was well watched and saved by the Clevedon keeper. At half-time it was 0-0.

The second half saw Griffiths replace Steve Hulbert in centre midfield due to an injury and Dan Price took over the armband. It took only seven minutes for Westbury to score. Pinder won the header in centre mid and flicked it into the path of Demkiv. His first touch was perfectly executed to get him out of the crowd of players, he raced clear and finished low and hard to the keeper’s right. 

Moments later Westbury were awarded a penalty as Stradling was too tricky for his defender and was brought down. Demkiv stepped up and blasted the penalty over the bar. Clevedon survived a second penalty shout when Stradling was brought down again in pretty much the exact same position, this time though the referee saw nothing wrong with the challenge. 

Clevedon’s only shot on target came with five minutes left on the clock and it was enough to draw them level. They cut in from the right and drove a shot through the congested penalty area that somehow made it into the net. For the final five minutes, plus the six minutes that the referee added for stoppages, was all Westbury. Pinder was winning everything in centre mid and breaking forward. Several times Westbury broke with Demkiv, Stradling, Ferguson and Robinson supported by Pinder and Griff, but the final ball was either cut out or the shots went wide. 

Had Westbury been more clinical in front of goal it would’ve been a different result, however a point away from home in this tough league is nothing to be grumbling about. Ricky and Lewis will be delighted with the chances created and know that on another day, the three points would’ve come back to Westbury with them.

Team – Bowden, Hutchings, J.Gregory, S.Hulbert, Price, S.Gregory, J.Jordan, Pinder, Demkiv, Stradling, Biddiscombe. Subs: Griffiths, Ferguson, Robinson (used) R.Hulbert, Porter (unused). Westbury Star Man-Jordan Pinder.

More United news on pages 16 and 17.