WESTBURY came from two goals down to win 5-2 with an excellent performance in extra time to beat Christchurch FC and progress to the first round proper of the FA Vase.
Christchurch turned up full of confidence, they are flying high in the Wessex League Division 1 and quickly showed why as they took an early two goal lead inside the first 16 minutes.
Westbury started to get a foothold in the game with good runs from Leon Greenland and both widemen, Jamie Jordan and Liam Milburn, starting to torment their full backs. Jordan had Westbury’s best chance of the first half one minute before the break, the Christchurch keeper was caught in no-man’s land between his front post and the edge of the 18yard box and Jordan managed to lift a shot over him but the covering defender cleared it off the line.
The Kirkpatricks made a couple of changes on half time, Mark Robinson and Martin Johnson were replaced by Dan Kovacs and George Bendle. After only four minutes of the second half Kovacs made his mark pulling a goal back.
Seven minutes later, Westbury were firmly on top with Kovacs and Bendle causing the defence all kinds of trouble. Kovacs was dragged down by the defender for what looked like a penalty but the referee decided that the foul had taken place outside of the area. But Jake Hiscocks sent his free kick around the wall and past the keeper to make it 2-2.
The game was picking up pace and excitement as 90 minutes approached, Jordan had a strike that was just wide after some good strong work by Hiscocks on the edge of the box and one of the Christchurch strikers got himself into the inside right channel and unleashed a powerful which Lewis Porter in the Westbury goal saved well and held on to. One minute before full time the Christchurch captain and central defender was sent off for his second bookable offence, this time hauling down Bendle off the ball as Westbury were counter attacking.
Extra time started with Westbury looking to take advantage of their extra man, a quick throw was taken to Bendle who crossed the ball for Ferguson, his header went just wide. Then a Milburn corner which was delivered to the back post was headed back across the goal by the Westbury captain Dan Price, and Steve Hulbert with three defenders around him somehow managed to force the ball over the line for Westbury to take the lead. Three minutes later, Kovacs was fouled again, this time it was in the area and he coolly slotted it home to make it 4-2.
Westbury’s fifth goal started with a Price headed clearance out to Jordan, he passed it to Bendle who delivered it to Kovacs who fed Josh Ferguson to finish.
A great performance by Westbury to come back from 2-0 down and progress into the next round of the FA Vase. Westbury have a home tie in the next round against United Services Portsmouth, to be played on 21st October. Star Man: Dan Kovacs.
