Wed 13th Feb. Wilts FA Senior Cup Semi-Final Westbury United 1 Swindon Supermarine 4
The Whitehorsemen were minutes away from causing a huge cup giant killing in this Wiltshire Senior Cup Semi Final played at Royal Wootten Basset against Swindon Supermarine, who play two leagues above United in the Southern Premier League.
Ian Jeffers and Dan Kovacs returned with joint manager Joe Kirkpatrick and Jason Henley taking their place on the bench. It was Supermarine who got the first shot away, albeit from distance, which was easily dealt with by the impressive Ed Baldy. This stirred United into action and good work by Kovacs very nearly put Ricky Hulbert though, but he was denied by a last-ditch interception.
Westbury were then indebted to Baldy who did well to tip a shot onto the top of the bar as Supermarine were enjoying good possession, but United stayed strong and looked dangerous on the break. The band of travelling Westbury supporters who out shouted and out sang their Swindon counterparts were getting very frustrated with some of the referee’s interpretations of the laws and greeted the award of a free kick to Westbury with ironic cheers.
Jamie Jordan then fashioned a half chance after good interplay by Jordan Pinder and Hulbert, but he couldn’t get any power in his shot. The game went from end to end and Baldy again saved well blocking bravely at the far post before Callum Demkiv broke clean through and fired a shot low and hard, which was brilliantly saved by the Supermarine keeper.
The second half saw more of the same, with both sides playing some good football. With fifteen minutes to go, the excellent Kovacs was replaced by Josh Ferguson as, without much football, one or two legs started to tire. With ten minutes to go Supermarine missed a golden opportunity when their striker dragged the ball wide from close range and with five minutes remaining, it looked as if they would be made to pay for it as Demkiv cut in and hit a great shot that was well saved and the ball rebounded just outside the box where the oncoming Ferguson hammered home a superb half volley into the bottom corner, to set off huge celebrations on and off the pitch.
The delight was to be turned into heartbreak when on 89 minutes, Ferguson was unlucky to catch their striker as their paths crossed and unfortunately gave away a penalty which was duly hammered home to take the game to extra time. With United looking tired, Marine soon took the lead but to their credit, United fought back and made a couple of half chances which Marine somehow blocked and cleared.
But the moment of huge controversy then came with United on top as Ferguson headed in from a corner, but the Marine centre half handled the ball and bizarrely the referee waived play on. The linesman also had a great view and to compound matters, the United lads said that the ball had also crossed the line. Supermarine took advantage of this let off and went straight down the other end and scored a third to secure their win; and the match finished badly for United as they added a fourth in the last minute and then skipper Steve Hulbert was given a second yellow card.
All in all, it was a bitter way to lose the game with a major officiating blunder playing a key role, but a really proud evening for the club and for the fantastic supporters who clapped and cheered the shattered Westbury players off the pitch.
