Saturday 24th August, Toolstation Western League Division One Cheddar 2 Westbury United 0 

AFTER claiming maximum points from their opening 3 matches, United have now lost 2 in a row with the 3-4 reverse at Almondsbury in midweek being followed by this frustrating defeat at Cheddar.

Midway through the 2nd half and with his team trailing by a single goal, Mark Young had a penalty saved and somehow put his rebound header over the bar.

Star man on the day was Cheddar’s right winger Callum Ham and it was he who opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a fine finish after beating the offside trap. Ham created further chances with United keeper Lewis Porter making 3 good saves.

Westbury had chances and always looked dangerous in attack, Simon Millard having an early effort defected away, Wayne Wheeler volleying wide after good play by Nathan Hallett and Millard forcing home keeper Jason Woodcock into a smart save.

United were the better side after half time and again it was their front pairing who looked dangerous, Millard having another shot blocked with Jake Cooper firing his rebound wide before Wheeler showed good skill to work space for an attempt that drifted wide.

Ham came close to doubling Cheddar’s lead but sent several free kicks into the side netting and it was Westbury who seemed set to take control around the hour mark ; Millard and Lee Salter combined to set up Hallett whose header nestled into the net but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Then a few minutes later Hallett was upended in the box and a penalty awarded ; Young struck the kick well but Woodcock got down low to save the ball only for Young to miss his rebound header when it seemed easier to score!

That knocked the stuffing out of United and the rest of the game petered out but for Cheddar’s clinching goal on 71 ; Ham took advantage of some sloppy United play and crossed into the box to the unmarked Will Colwill who tapped it in.

TEAM – Lewis Porter, David Whyte, Gavin Filkins, Dan Dominy, Matty Jones, Lee Salter, Ally Bradley, Jake Cooper, Wayne Wheeler, Simon Millard, Nathan Hallett

SUBS – Matt Friendship, Mark Young, Joe Murray (used) Sam Walker, Matty Bown (unused)

Home matches in next fortnight:

Westbury will seek to return to winning ways with their next two fixtures being at home. Firstly they entertain Roman Glass St George in the league on Saturday 31 August (3pm) before hosting Ashton & Backwell United in the FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round on Saturday 7th September (also 3pm).