Losing confidence is a big thing in sport and that, allied to missing a number of key players due to injury (both before and during this match) contributed to this defeat against Brixham who, yes are in the relegation zone but who are equally full of confidence themselves on current form.
Within the first minute Joel Manning made a superb save with his legs to deny William Hancox with the ball rebounding to Cole Harford who fired wide.
The opening goal came on 10 minutes when the first touch at a corner somehow didn’t go in; however Ewan Howarth applied the finishing touch to put the visitors ahead.
It was 0-2 only a few minutes later; a direct ball picked out Harford and he lofted it over the advancing Manning.
To their great credit Westbury’s beleaguered squad got stuck in and played some lovely football amongst a number of misplaced passes.
Jack Witcombe, Bevan Cross and Jamie Jordan all delivered fine balls into the box with no final touch while Cross also shot narrowly wide and had another attempt blocked.
Brixham set out to increase their lead early in the second-half and it took a fine challenge by the retreating Ben Starr to deny them a shot. Starr was then in action at the other end but he was equally well denied.
The visitors’ cause was aided further when Dan Restorick had to leave the field injured. Ironically, however, this forced a change and his replacement, young Cole Fleming, gave the hosts a dynamic attacking threat.
Initially it looked more likely to become 0-3 though but Manning saved from James De Selincourt while Jordan Ewing was upended inside the penalty area but no spot kick was given.
Fleming on one wing and Cross on the other drove at the increasingly deep away defence on numerous occasions without any luck or finishing touch to their deliveries. When a shot was applied, Witcombe’s effort flew over the bar.
Jordan tried a long range shot but Matthew Wonnacott was equal to it then Cross headed over from Fleming’s ball in.
Due to the long stoppage for Restorick’s injury there were 12 minutes added on and the attacks kept coming for United versus the resolute Brixham players.
Selwood played in a fizzing ball that eluded everyone, Jordan latched onto Fleming’s pass but shot over then on 90+11 Jordan nodded in at the end of another move to give his side hope.
Straight from the restart Westbury mounted another raid and had an appeal for a penalty waved away but then time ran out.
Star Men: Cole Fleming (Westbury United) & Cole Harford (Brixham AFC)
Team: Joel Manning, Steve Hulbert, Dan Restorick, Jack Witcombe, Brad Selwood, CJ Stewart, Ben Starr, Ethan Witchell, Bevan Cross, Ali Sen, Jamie Jordan. Subs: Cole Fleming, Rayane Hamdia (used). Aaron Witchell, Ricky Hulbert, Lewis Porter (unused).
