Keynsham Town 2-2 Westbury Utd – Toolstation Division One, Sat. 17th October

This match, which kicked off at 7.45pm, formed part of the Western League’s Ground Hop weekend and attracted an excellent attendance of 224. 

In superb dry and cool conditions on Keynsham’s 3G surface both teams provided the crowd with a thrilling encounter in which United took an early lead, conceded twice in quick succession during the 2nd half, then in a grandstand finish forced an equaliser to snatch a point!

Town started quickly and should have scored but Ben Harris blasted the ball over the bar from six yards. A minute later Sam Duggan tried his luck from long range with the effort flying just wide.

Westbury’s first attack led to them opening the scoring on six minutes; Ben Forester’s fine play set up Grant Gunning whose deep cross from the left found Jordon Matthews and his looping header back across goal eluded home keeper Ashley Wintle.

United’s James Hounsell and Matty Mantay were controlling the midfield allowing Josh Ferguson to be prominent and he twice went close to doubling the lead, a low drive going a foot wide and a clever chip well held under his crossbar by Wintle.

The home side, with Ben Harris a constant threat and firing off target on several occasions, had the better of the play in the closing stages of the 1st half. Visiting keeper Charlie Heydon made a fine save to parry Duggan’s left footed strike then a brilliant point blank save when Jason Adams got his head to a free kick to keep his team ahead at the break!

There was even more action after half time and it was by luck that Westbury held onto their lead for as long as they did. Tom Harris’ low ball deflected onto the post, Tom Johnson fired wide after Ben Harris’ free kick hadn’t been cleared then Heydon excelled again to tip Duggan’s shot over the bar!

United relieved the pressure with a few attacks of their own, on both occasions it was Matthews who set the moves up with Ferguson going on a run and having a shot blocked then Forester looking certain to make it 0-2 only for Wintle to produce a great save!

That save proved the turning point but still the visitors held their lead as Rob Sheriton saw his header disallowed for offside. However his side drew level in spectacular fashion on 71 when the impressive substitute Bertrand Abang hit a screamer into the top left hand corner of Heydon’s net!

Westbury were rattled and the home side now rampant! Tom Harris skewed an effort wide, Johnson headed Ben Harris’ cross over the bar then Ben Harris somehow put the ball wide when clean through on goal!

Unfortunately it was a defensive error which allowed Town to take the lead on 85 when Nathan Hallett-Young’s attempted clearance fell to Tom Harris and this time he made no mistake to make it 2-1.

United put their all into attacking the hosts’ goal and a riveting spell of pressure led to the last gasp equaliser; Jordan Cain’s deep cross found Tony McElhone at the far post with Wintle making an excellent save, the ball rebounded to Hounsell who saw an effort blocked to Dan Moore on the right of the penalty area and Moore’s cross was headed into his own net by Adams!

*STAR MEN – Both teams for an excellent match. TEAM – Charlie Heydon, Tony McElhone, Grant Gunning, Nathan Hallett-Young, Marc Scammell, Matty Mantay, Mark Young, James Hounsell, Ben Forester, Josh Ferguson, Jordon Matthews. SUBS – Jordan Cain, Levi Wood, Dan Moore (used) Karl Freeman (unused).