Sat. 16th February. Toolstation Premier Div. Westbury United 2 Cadbury Heath 1
This was a far harder match for Westbury than many recent victories as Cadbury had chances to take the lead and they then got back into it once 2 goals behind.
United had comfortably won the return fixture several months ago and victory on this occasion saw this excellent squad become the most successful Westbury United team ever, surpassing the Western League points tally of the previous best team who finished 5th in the Premier in 1994-1995!
After a slow start, top scorer Callum Demkiv had the first chance but saw his lob go off target. Soon after home keeper Ed Baldy saved well from Rob Moorhead then just a few minutes later, on 23, Ricky Hulbert latched onto Jamie Jordan’s ball and lobbed Matt Semple to put United ahead. The hosts got into their stride and a few fine moves went unrewarded as Jamie Jordan brought a fine save out of Matt Semple before trying his luck from range again, with the ball flying over.
Not to be denied, the hosts quickly doubled their lead when Ricky Hulbert played the ball to Dan Kovacs who turned his defender and finished excellently.
This had all the hallmarks of the aforementioned previous encounter, however on this occasion Heath were a much greater threat. Matt Huxley headed over, then Baldy saved from Ben Allen before the break. In between those chances Joe Stradling somehow missed the target from 10 yards after great play by Will Stead and Jamie Jordan.
The 2nd half got off to a slow start, with attempts limited to free kicks being blocked at either end; Stead and Ian Jeffery for Westbury, then Matt Huxley and Simon McElroy for Heath.
Stradling rustled the side netting as United searched for a clinching goal, but instead of seeing it through comfortably, things got very nervy when the previously excellent Jordan Pinder fouled McElroy, with the latter scoring from the resulting penalty on 77.
Heath came within millimetres of snatching a point when Sacha Tong rattled Baldy’s crossbar soon after and it took strong defending, led by Steve Hulbert, to win the points.
*Star Man ; Steve Hulbert Team; Ed Baldy, Jason Henley, Ian Jeffery, Will Stead, Jordan Pinder, Steve Hulbert, Jamie Jordan, Joe Stradling, Ricky Hulbert, Dan Kovacs, Callum Demkiv. SUBS ; Josh Ferguson, Jake Hiscocks, Ben Griffiths (used) Dan Jordan, Lewis Porter (unused).
