Westbury’s performance was one of their best of the season so far but they still came away pointless from high flying Oldland!
They played some lovely football on a very boggy surface but were undone by their own inexperience which gifted 2 goals to their hosts!
With Charlie Heydon unavailable, Ben Forester took the gloves and made a fine early save from Tom Morgan. James Hounsell and Grant Gunning were superb throughout the match and it was they along with Levi Wood who were prominent in the early stages, one good move setting up a corner kick which led to Josh Ferguson shooting wide.
Home keeper Josh Dempsey made a wonder save on 27 minutes when a counter attack saw Ferguson set up Dan Moore and his strike was finger tipped over the bar! Barely a minute later Westbury forced another corner which Jordan Cain took, and Nathan Hallett-Young played the ball onto Marc Scammell who lashed in his 3rd goal of the season to make it 0-1.
The Abbots got into their stride and it took a goal line clearance by Gunning to prevent Matt Curnock equalising, however they did draw level on 39; strangely United employed three men in a defensive wall for a set piece wide on the right wing, and they could have done with an extra body in the middle, as Jordan Greenwood arrived to head Lewis Parker’s kick into the net!
Both sides could have led at the break with Paul Coles guilty of a bad miss at one end then Dempsey doing well again after Moore had another shot on target.
There was less goalmouth action after half time with play becoming very scrappy and tetchy for a long period. Oldland thought they had taken the lead but an effort was disallowed for offside; then at the other end Wood showed good pace and pulled the ball back to Ferguson who lifted it over the target!
Dempsey kicked poorly on the hour but Wood was unable to take advantage as his shot rolled wide and the hosts then took full control; Forester saved well from Josh Williams but was helpless when Hallett-Young clumsily gave away a penalty on 72 which was confidently netted by Dave Stone.
With Westbury shaken, Stone ghosted through to make it 3-1 with a brilliant finish on 79, but to their credit United got the bit between their teeth and went all out for a route back into the game.
It took some strong defending to deny them until the 88th minute when Mike Coll, on as substitute for the fit again Mark Young, took advantage of fine play by Jordon Matthews to produce a wonderful chip that made it 3-2, however they were unable to repeat the feat and went home undeservedly empty handed.
*STAR MAN James Hounsell. TEAM – Ben Forester, Mark Young, Grant Gunning, Nathan Hallett-Young, Marc Scammell, James Hounsell, Joe Cavalla, Josh Ferguson, Dan Moore, Levi Wood, Jordan Cain. SUBS – Jordon Matthews, Dave Macey, Mike Coll (used) Matty Mantay, Karl Freeman (unused).
