Hallen 3-4 Westbury – Sat. 6th April. Toolstation Premier Div

UNITED have secured themselves a top five finish in their first season in the Toolstation Premier Division, with hopes of becoming the best Westbury team in history still on track.

Westbury arrived at Hallen’s Moorhouse Lane ground with the sun shining and were greeted by a fantastic pitch, one that would not look out of place in the football league. 

This immediately lifted the spirits of the team who had been having a difficult time, results wise, recently. 

There was a few changes to the Westbury line up with skipper Steve Hulbert, Jamie Jordan and Dan Price all away, along with Will Stead and Callum Demkiv who were both suspended. This led to Ollie Webb making his debut in centre midfield after signing on a few weeks ago, and Mark Robinson in his first start after returning and making a couple of appearances from the bench in recent weeks.

It didn’t take Westbury long to get going; after only ten minutes a Westbury corner was cleared, Jason Henley was the quickest and his low delivery snuck in past the far post past the unsighted goalkeeper. 

Moments later, debutante Webb was adjudged to catch a Hallen player with a high boot and a penalty was awarded, and even though Ed Baldy managed to get his finger tips to the strike, he couldn’t keep it out and the scores were level at 1-1. 

Westbury’s reaction was excellent and the pressure told a few minutes later. Mark Robinson drove into the area and was fouled; Dan Kovacs stepped up and slotted the penalty home into the bottom right corner, to put Westbury back in front with less than 15 minutes on the clock. 

After only 22 minutes the referee awarded the third penalty of the game, Robinson was fouled again in the area. Kovacs stepped up again, this time he went high and left to make it 3-1. 

The frantic start to the game continued and on 26 minutes, Hallen had a second with a strike from close range. The game continued with end-to-end action, both teams believing that they could add to their tally. 

Minutes before half time, Henley cut inside from the right and delivered a ball into the box. Joe Stradling flicked a looping header goalwards, deceiving the goalkeeper to give Westbury a 4-2 lead at half time.

The flow of goals slowed in the second half and after 15 minutes, Jordan Pinders’ free header hit the top of the bar. On the 65 minute mark Hallen delivered a looped cross from the left which evaded Dan Jordan for the striker to volley home from about three yards in the centre of Baldy’s goal. The 4-3 scoreline made for a nervy finish for Westbury and five minutes from time, Hallen thought they’d got their equalizer, but Baldy managed to save. However Westbury managed to hold on and win their first game for over a month, to guarantee a top five finish in their fantastic first season back in the Toolstation Premier Division.   

Star man – Mark Robinson. Team: Ed Baldy, Jason Henley, Ian Jeffery(c), Ollie Webb, Jordan Pinder, Dan Jordan, Joe Stradling, Josh Ferguson, Ricky Hulbert, Dan Kovacs, Mark Robinson. Subs: Joe Kirkpatrick (used), Luke Smith, Lewis Porter (unused).