Sat 4th December. Hellenic Premier Division Westbury Utd 2 Brimscombe & Thrupp 1
WESTBURY welcomed Brimscombe and Thrupp to the Gooding Accounts Ground for what we believe is their first ever visit. With Brimscombe and Thrupp eyeing up second place in the Uhlsport Hellenic League – Westbury knew they had a tough afternoon ahead if results went their way.
This week has seen a small change to the Westbury squad, Francois Allen has left to go to Hellenic League rivals Calne Town and Dan Demkiv has departed to re-join Larkhall Athletic after their recent change in management; incoming saw central midfielder Ronnie Frost, formerly of Shaftesbury and Christchurch and highly rated young striker Harvey Flippance sign on. Westbury managers Lewis Porter and Ricky Hulbert are delighted with the evolution of their squad.
Westbury burst out of the traps with Frost adding a new dimension to the Westbury attack with a long throw, that was met with a spectacular bicycle kick by Dan Kovacs, which bounced off the cross bar. By the three-minute mark Westbury had taken the lead. An Ashton Shanley corner hit the outside of the near post and bounced clear. Steve Hulbert pounced on the loose ball and gave it back to Shanley for him to deliver again. Shanley’s cross was inch perfect for player-manager Ricky Hulbert to head home.
Straight away, Brimscombe and Thrupp had the chance for an equaliser, but Joty Welch’s headed effort went wide of the Westbury goal. About 11 minutes into the game and Westbury won a freekick which was delivered by Hutchings. Frost won the header, which he flicked into the path of Ricky Hulbert. Hulbert’s shot was well saved and pushed clear only as far as Frost, who skipped past a couple of chances and then lifted the ball into the path of Hulbert again. Hulbert fired the ball across the face of the goal for Stradling to score and make it 2-0.
Brimscombe and Thrupp had a couple of half chances, one shot/cross and another long-range effort which went over the bar. Westbury took a deserved 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
Brimscombe and Thrupp came out with a lot more purpose in the second half and by 51 minutes they had halved their deficit a cross in from the left was fired home by Eli Simpson. This gave Brimscombe and Thrupp a real lift and they proceeded to get on top of the game.
Westbury skipper Price and Hutchings were well protected by Frost and they stood firm to keep Brimscombe and Thrupp at arm’s length. It wasn’t until the 89th minute when a flurry of chances went to Brimscombe and Thrupp, but they couldn’t convert any and Westbury stood strong to take all three points in a real game of two halves.
Things don’t get any easier for Westbury as they welcome league leaders, Bishop Cleeve, to the Gooding Accounts ground on 18th December, followed by the big local derby versus high flying Bradford Town for a 1pm kick off on Boxing Day.
Star Man: Ronnie Frost Line up: Bowden, Griffiths, S. Hulbert, Frost, Price©, Hutchings, Shanley, Strad-ling, R. Hulbert, Kovacs, Biddiscombe. Subs: Cunningham (used) Timbrell, S. Jordan, James, Baldy
