Gaffer’s goal sees United through

Sat. 14th September. FA Vase Alton 1 Westbury United 2

United travelled to Wessex League first division Alton Town for this FA Vase second qualifying round game. 

With Steve Hulbert, Matt Jones, Ollie Webb and Josh Ferguson still unavailable and Jordan Pinder missing the team bus, Callum Ham made his first start, Dan Kovacs slotted into midfield and Dan Price returned after missing Tuesday’s game. 

The game was played on Alton’s 4G pitch in very hot conditions and Alton showed early promise as United took time to adapt to the surface which wasn’t great but once they got going it was no real surprise that Westbury took the lead. 

Ryan Bole whipped in a free kick that Kovacs got his head on and it had enough power to beat the home keeper.  A few moments later United had to shuffle the pack as Jason Henley picked up an ankle injury and was replaced by Pinder who had made it to the ground by car. 

Alton forced a couple of half chances but nothing that Ed Baldy couldn’t handle. United were looking comfortable but things changed in the 29th minute when Kovacs was given a straight red card for a poor challenge. This lifted the home side and they started to enjoy the lion’s share of possession 

United set up to frustrate Alton in the second half and the plan was going well as the hosts huffed and puffed but created very little and it was the visitors who looked dangerous on the break. 

Alton looked like they had run out of ideas but with 20 minutes remaining they drew level thanks to a cracking drive into the top corner from 25 yards.  Alton could sniff victory now but Westbury’s back line were in no mood to be breached again and this attitude was shared around the rest of the pitch as the ten men worked tirelessly for each other. 

Joe Kirkpatrick replaced Ham who enjoyed an excellent full debut and the fresh legs helped reenergise the team and a surging run from Joe Stradling saw his final ball just evade Mark Robinson and so it looked like the ten men would have to endure extra time but then up stepped Kirkpatrick to collect the ball just outside the box and curl one into the bottom corner to win the game and send United into the next round’s draw. 

Credit must go to a very good Alton side who more than played their part in an entertaining game. 

Line up.  Baldy, Henley, Bole, Kovacs, Price, D Jordan, Ham, J. Jordan, R. Hulbert, S. Jordan, Stradling. Subs Kirkpatrick, Robinson, Pinder. All used