Weds. 21st August. Toolstation Div. One Westbury United 1 Hallen 3.
This was a first league defeat of the season for Westbury against a Hallen side who thoroughly deserved the points after playing some excellent incisive football.
Somehow United survived the opening 20 minutes without conceding a goal. Visiting attackers Troy Simpson, Kyle Thomas and Elliott Gibbons made chances at will and between them they had nine attempts in that time with Ed Baldy making five saves and the crossbar being struck twice in three seconds.
Baldy’s opposite number, Liam Macfarlane, did well to divert Jordan Pinder’s long ranger then held Jamie Jordan’s curling effort which came against the run of play.
Having survived the onslaught, Westbury grew into the match and thought they had taken the lead on 34; Baldy’s kick was flicked on by Ricky Hulbert to Sam Jordan but his excellent finish was disallowed for offside.
United opened the scoring in similar fashion just four minutes later. Another Baldy kick was flicked on by Sam Jordan this time to Ricky Hulbert who chested it down and scored with a beautiful lob!
Hallen came out 1-0 down after half time but started in the same way as the beginning of the match.
They equalised on 51 when a corner wasn’t cleared, Matt Davis lashed the ball into the roof of the net. Baldy continued his brilliant performance with saves from Simpson and Jack Mills as well as punching it away from under the bar when a corner was swung in.
United were hardly able to create anything; the closest they came in the second half was when Sam Jordan headed Jamie Jordan’s cross straight at Macfarlane.
Skipper Steve Hulbert made a great tackle as one of the Hallen strikers was about to shoot, but it was down to Baldy again that the score remained 1-1 soon after when he denied Gibbons and Tom Collett in quick succession.
The final 5 minutes were a nightmare for the hosts. Firstly Dan Jordan made an uncharacteristic error which gifted Simpson a one on one opportunity and he gave his side the lead on 86.
Then with Hallen still pressing for more goals Baldy saved from Simpson yet again only for Dan Price to gift the ball to Collett whose shot cannoned in off the post!
*Star Man ; Ed Baldy. Team; Ed Baldy, Ollie Webb, Ryan Bole, Steve Hulbert, Dan Price, Dan Jordan, Jamie Jordan, Jordan Pinder, Ricky Hulbert, Sam Jordan, Joe Stradling . Subs; Dan Kovacs, Will Stead, Mark Robinson (used) Zayn Alime, Jamie Bartlett (unused)
United have now won two and lost one of their opening three league games.
Above: United celebrate Ricky Hulbert’s goal.
