WESTBURY United faced Bishops Cleeve in a frankly ridiculous match at Meadow Lane’s Platinum Hyundai Park where both sides led twice but it ended all square.
Early on, Jake Hutchings denied Leroy Odeiro with a goal line clearance. On 16 minutes, Westbury were given a penalty when Harvey Flippance broke through and was fouled by visiting keeper Lewis Clayton; Ryan Bole’s well struck spot kick was excellently saved by Clayton and Bole fired the rebound over the bar.
Bole made amends a few minutes later by sending in a fine set piece which was headed across goal by Sean Keet and finished via the underside of the crossbar by Flippance to open the scoring. There were chances at both ends in the 23rd minute as Keet cleared Ethan Dunbar’s cross, and from the resulting corner, Ben Starr counter attacked and saw his 25-yarder saved by Clayton.
Cleeve equalised in fortunate style on 32 when Dunbar’s cross from the right eluded everyone and found the far top corner. Bole regained the lead for United on 42 when he scored a long-range skidding free kick from wide on the right and it remained 2-1 at the break. Dunbar almost scored again before the break but Hill made a fine save from the striker’s fiercely struck left footer.
The visitors drew level again straight after half time; Jonny Hill made a superb double save but he could do nothing to prevent Ben McLean netting the third shot. Play was end to end but all attacks were breaking down until the hour when Toby Holland ran in unchallenged from the left and found the net from the edge of the box to put Bishops Cleeve ahead for the first time.
Westbury went in search of a leveller of their own and, after Clayton had denied Callum Demkiv, the keeper spilt another Bole free kick which allowed Jasper Jones to make it 3-3. Into the closing stages both sides were seeking a winner and Ross Langworthy broke clear before cleverly lifting the ball over the advancing Hill to put Cleeve 3-4 ahead.
However, the same combination snatched a point for the hosts when Jones smashed Bole’s delivery into the net! The action still wasn’t over though as right at the death Hutchings made another vital block then Hill saved the rebound.
Star man: Ryan Bole.
Team: Jonny Hill, Jake Hutchings, Ryan Bole, Emmanuel Adepitan, Sean Keet, Dan Demkiv, Ashton Shanley, Harvey Flippance, Ben Starr, Jasper Jones, Bevan Cross. Subs: Callum Demkiv, Ricky Hulbert, Dean Loxton (used), Wiil Thomson, Lewis Porter (unused).
Report by Andy Bown.
