Sat. 24th Nov. Toolstation Premier Div. Cadbury Heath 0 Westbury Utd 2

Prior to the match, joint manager, Neil Kirkpatrick, wished for a routine 2-0 win and his team gladly delivered, with one of the most dominant 2-0 wins ever witnessed. 

New signing, Dan Dem-kiv, was thrust straight into the starting lineup alongside his brother, top scorer, Callum. Francois Allen also got a rare start due to the absence of Ricky Hulbert and Dan Kovacs. Will Stead also started on the bench due to illness and Steve Hulbert missed out due to serving the last game of his three match suspension.

It was Cadbury Heath who started brighter; after three minutes Leon Mahoney, playing at left back, nipped in and cut out a Westbury pass, he advanced down the left and delivered a pinpoint pass which his team mate could only volley over the bar. 

By the ten minute mark Westbury started to find their rhythm, winning a free kick that Jamie Jordan took, but it was well defended. By the 18 minute mark the Demkiv brothers were starting to link up. Francois Allen and Josh Ferguson set up  Dan Demkiv, who turned the defender and scuffed his shot into the bottom corner past a wrong footed goalkeeper to make it 1-0. 

The Westbury domination continued, with debutant Dan Demkiv at the heart of most of the attacking moves. It was that man who ran clear down the left wing on the half-hour mark to deliver a cross. Joe Stradling had timed his run into the box well, but wasn’t quite tall enough to meet the ball with his head. 

Two minutes later, the referee played a good advantage after Joe Kirkpatrick was fouled. Jamie Jordan crossed to Joe Stradling to finish, unfortunately the assistant referee raised his flag for an offside. 

Just before the 40-minute mark, Kirkpatrick fed Callum Demkiv whose over-hit cross found his brother Dan on the opposite flank; he throws a few step overs to deceive his defender and cuts inside to deliver a cross from the left, Francois Allen rose and flicked the ball home to make it 2-0 to Westbury. The score at halftime was 2-0.

Westbury made a change at halftime, apparently Dan Demkiv has been ill all week, so had to be replaced by Will Stead; it’ll be interesting to see him at full fitness. Joe Stradling was working hard, helping his defence and getting involved in every attack. On 55minutes he drove into the left hand side of the box. From a tight angle his shot come cross deceived everyone, Allen retrieved the ball on the right hand side and delivered a cross. Stradling threw himself though the air for a spectacular volley, but a defender managed to nick in to head away before he could meet the ball with his right foot. 

After the hour mark, Callum Demkiv broke free and steamed into the box. Although he was going away from goal, the defender still felt the need to bundle him over and the referee awarded a penalty, Jamie Jordan stepped up and that’s all that this reporter is going to say about the penalty, the game remained at 2-0.

Five minutes later, Jamie Jordan thought he had managed to grab the third, a Will Stead shot was parried by the goalkeeper into the path of Jordan who slotted it home, but his movement was a little too early and the assistant referee raised his flag for another offside. 

Westbury carried on their dominance, the back four of Joe Kirkpatrick, Dan Jordan, Jordan Pinder and Ian Jeffery protected the goal well, meaning that Ed Baldy didn’t have one save to make all afternoon. 

Next up for Westbury are high-flying Clevedon at home on Saturday 24th.

Star Man: Joe Stradling.

League table – see p31