The sun was shining and not a rain cloud in sight as Westbury arrived for their first ever visit to Bristol Telephones’ BTRA Ground. The welcome from Bristol Telephones was non-existent, maybe due to some bad blood left over from the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
The game kicked off on time at 3pm, and Westbury got straight into their stride, with early chances for Mark Robinson and Ricky Hulbert, which were dealt with by the Telephones goalkeeper.
The first ten minutes was all Westbury, with Telephones reduced to only a couple of half chances when they managed to get a quick breakaway. It was this tactic that Westbury employed to get their first goal. Telephones were having a good period of possession in the 14th minute, their striker was protecting the ball from Westbury Captain Dan Price about 25 yards from the Westbury goal, when Price managed to nick the ball through the players’ legs. Instantly the ball was sent forward where Ricky Hulbert was racing into the open space ahead of him, and the Telephones goalkeeper came racing out of his penalty area, bizarrely carrying another football. He opted to throw the football at the advancing Hulbert but missed, and Hulbert raced passed him and finished into the empty net for Westbury to take a deserved lead.
The second came after 32 minutes, when a quick corner by Jamie Jordan caught the Telephones defence off-guard, and he played a smart pass to an unmarked Steve Hulbert who was just inside the penalty area on the right-hand side. Steve controlled the ball and kicked it in the net.
Five minutes later Westbury were at it again with some excellent football on the right-hand side. Robinson and Ricky Hulbert exchanged a couple of one and two touch passes, releasing Robinson high on the left. Robinson’s cross was perfect for the late arriving Jamie Jordan to drift in and apply the finish to make it 3-0.
It was nearly four before half time when Ricky Hulbert won a freekick on the right-hand edge of the box. Jake Hiscocks stepped up and fired a low shot goalward, but the keeper managed a very good save.
Westbury had a couple of good early chances in the second half, but Telephones started to grow in the game and showed signs of getting back in the game. The only chance Westbury had in this fifteen minute spell was another corner from Jordan delivered to Steve Hulbert. This time it was a header that crashed off the bar, bounced and then was caught by the keeper. The assistant referee was well placed and insisted that the ball hadn’t crossed the line even though a few Telephones defenders and the Westbury players were sure it did. Not longer after, Telephones won a free-kick, it was well delivered from the left and their attacker glanced a header past Lewis Porter in the Westbury goal.
This lifted the spirit of the Telephones team as they had something to play for. In a spell which was totally opposite to the rest of the match, Telephones began to grow in confidence. Westbury defended well and kept them at bay until they got the breakthrough for their fourth goal in the 75th minute. An overhit corner arrived to Hiscocks on the edge of the area, he passed the ball into the inside right channel to Robinson, a rash challenge was made and the referee awarded a penalty. Dan Kovacs stepped up and he sent the keeper diving to his right, but sent it to his left, to make it 4-1.
Four minutes later the Telephones keeper was involved again. Robinson received the ball, this time he was on the left-hand side of the penalty area near the byline. The keeper came racing out and threw himself feet first at Robinson with a tackle that could have been a lot worse had Robinson not jumped. The referee awarded another penalty, up stepped Kovacs to bravely strike the penalty to the keeper’s right this time and make it 5-1.
The injury to Robinson and the 5th goal resulted in Westbury making a triple substitution. Then Jordan Pinder and Mattie Mantay with fresh legs against a worn-out Telephones defence, both had a couple of chances to make it six, but they managed to keep them out.
Westbury Team: Lewis Porter, Dan Jordan, Leon Greenland, Steve Hulbert, Dan Price ©, Matt Jones, Jamie Jordan, Jake Hiscocks, Ricky Hulbert, Dan Kovacs, Mark Robinson. Subs: Mattie Mantay, Joe Kirkpatrick, Jordan Pinder (used).
Westbury Star Man: Mark Robinson
Greg Coulson
Club Secretary
Westbury United FC
