Sat 2nd Sept. Southern League Division One South. Westbury United 5 Malvern Town 3.
THERE was a goal fest at the sun-soaked Oakfield Stadium in Melksham as Westbury won 5-3 after leading 3-1 then being pegged back to 3-3 midway through the second half!
There were numerous chances created, missed, saved and ultimately scored by both sides. A quiet opening 20 minutes, which only had Callum Demkiv’s shot into the side netting to show for it, gave no hint of the chaos to come then, just after home keeper Jonny Hill had made a good save from Alex Bell, Demkiv raced through the visitors’ high defensive line, rounded Kieron Blackburn and netted with ease.
Blackburn made a fine diving save from Jack Biddiscombe then his team drew level on 33 through Jack Watts’ powerful strike after a corner had only been half cleared. Joe Stradling beat the same risky offside trap but Blackburn was equal to his efforts; however he regained the lead for United just before the break when he finished calmly after being set up by Steve Hulbert.
Westbury played some scintillating football straight after half-time and could have been out of sight within ten minutes of the restart. Chances went begging for Charlie Walton whose header clipped the bar, Demkiv was denied by Blackburn, Ben Starr curled inches wide, then Brad Norris’ free kick went just over.
Finally they increased their advantage on 56 when, after Stradling’s deflected header hit the bar, Demkiv lashed in his second from the resulting corner. Joseph Davies made it 3-2 on 63 after being set up by Lewis Platt.
United had a golden opportunity to regain a two-goal lead but Norris’ penalty was well saved by Blackburn who made amends for fouling Demkiv after he yet again got in behind. Having kept themselves in it, Malvern got a spot kick of their own for a push by Ryan Bole and Watts levelled the score.
Demkiv set up Norris who bundled Westbury back in front on 83. Then on 90 Norris latched onto Starr’s fine cross to make it 5-3. The action still wasn’t over though as Hill made the save of the game late on while Demkiv and Norris both nearly notched hat-trick goals.
Star man: Callum Demkiv.
Team: Jonny Hill, Steve Hulbert, Dan Ellison, Aaron Cockerill, Jake Hutchings, Joe Stradling, Charlie Walton, Callum Demkiv, Ben Griffiths, Ben Starr, Jack Biddiscombe. Subs: Ryan Bole, Brad Norris, Will Thomson (used). Harvey Flippance, Emmanuel Adepitan (unused).
