Tuesday 7th. September. Hellenic Premier League. Westbury United 1 – Shrivenham 2
HOW Westbury lost this match is a tale of hitting the woodwork three times, missing numerous chances, coming up against an inspired opposition goalkeeper and bearing witness to the visitors’ fine example of how to finish!
To be fair to Shrivenham they created more than just a few chances and home keeper Mark Bowden was in just as good form as his counterpart Liam Keville.
The first half was very open and end to end with United going close on so many occasions this report writer lost count! However, on a very warm evening it was Shrivenham who got in first and opened the scoring through Jonathan Peachy’s crisp strike.
Then it was a story of Sam Jordan getting into goal scoring positions but not finding the net. On three occasions he was either off target or found Keville. Further opportunities went begging for Will Thomson and Dan Price.
Bowden did superbly to deny Scott Garrett with a right-handed save then Meadow Lane was shocked on 26 minutes when the visitors doubled their lead with Garrett’s fine finish after he burst through the middle.
The hosts went all out to get back in the game; Keville denied Callum Demkiv in a one-on-one situation, Ryan Bole saw a 35 yarder crash off the crossbar and Demkiv’s low ball after a pacey run eluded everyone in the box. The action continued until half time with Bowden keeping his side in it with a good save from Garrett. That save was vital because moments later Demkiv raced through and confidently slotted past Keville to make it 1-2 at the break.
Westbury seemed set to draw level early in the 2nd half but again they couldn’t find the net! Ben Griffiths latched onto Demkiv’s pass but his powerful effort rebounded off the bar, with Joe Stradling headed wide, Thomson was narrowly off target from 20 yards and Keville got down low to his right to turn away an Ashton Shanley free kick.
Shrivenham had a spell of pressure midway through the half and Bowden had to be at his best to save from Brad Hirst. Then a corner kick was flicked onto the home crossbar by a defenders’ head before Bowden got a vital touch to the resulting corner.
United brought on Francois Allen into a 3-man front line and he, Demkiv and Jordan all went close to snatching a deserved point. Demkiv was the unlucky 3rd home player to strike the frame of Keville’s goal while Allen had an attempt cleared off the line.
There was still time for the visitors to rifle a long ranger against the bar but ultimately Westbury seemed to run out of ideas in the closing stages.
Star man; Mark Bowden. Team ; Mark Bowden, Steve Hulbert, Ryan Bole, Jake Hutchings, Dan Price, Will Thomson, Ben Griffiths, Joe Stradling, Sam Jordan, Callum Demkiv, Ashton Shanley. SUBS ; Francois Allen, Josh Timbrell (used)
Report by Andy Brown
