Sat. 11th August. FA Cup Extra Prel. Round Westbury United 3 Cribbs 0

Westbury will host Saltash at Meadow Lane on Saturday 25th August after this battling victory on a wet afternoon. The triumph brought an end to an unbelievable opening week, which also saw two league wins and £2,250 prize money for this result!

United have keeper Ed Baldy to thank for several smart pieces of work when the score was 1-0. After being denied an equaliser, Cribbs’ heads dropped and the hosts went on to score twice more.

Full of confidence after the previous results, Westbury played some brilliant football from the off, however the first chance fell to Cribbs for whom Charlie Aldom somehow missed the target from close range after a fine move.

Dan Kovacs thought he had scored after being set up by Ricky Hulbert, however the referee decided there had been a handball in the build up.

Not to be denied, Kovacs netted his 6th goal already this season with a header at the end of a beautiful move between Jamie Jordan and Ian Jeffery on 16 minutes.

Westbury had further chances before the break with Joe Kirkpatrick firing over, then another goal was disallowed for offside, this time it was Jamie Jordan who was ruled against at the end of an incisive move by Callum Demkiv and Ricky Hulbert.

At the other end, Cribbs’ finishing was restricted to wayward long-range efforts by George Brimson and Joe McKenna.

After taking a single goal lead into the break, home skipper Steve Hulbert nearly made it 2 early in the 2nd half but his header from Jamie Jordan’s corner was cleared off the line; from the resulting flag kick Kovacs actually failed to find the net with a header.

Baldy did excellently to twice deny Sol Wanjua-Smith, on both occasions after rare poor defensive play by the home centre backs. In between those situations, Jordan Pinder arrived on the end of another great move, but saw his shot go narrowly wide!

Cribbs were definitely disheartened at not being able to draw level and Westbury took full advantage.

Ricky Hulbert and Callum Demkiv combined again, this time to set up Jamie Jordan whose strike went over, although he could have set up the well-placed Pinder.

Substitute Francois Allen brought a fresh lease of life to the home attack and brought 2 magnificent saves out of Archie Watts, firstly with a close range header from a Ricky Hulbert cross, then with a fierce left footed attempt.

However it was Watts who was at fault for the decisive goal 10 minutes from time, when he allowed Steve Hulbert to glance in Jamie Jordan’s set piece.

Allen nearly scored with a 20 yarder at the end of a patient passing move, but it was Jamie Jordan who stole the show with a brilliant quick free kick to make it 3-0 seconds before the final whistle!

Star Man: Ed Baldy