WESTBURY United racked up a thumping 6-0 away win, on a glorious summer’s afternoon at Bristol Road.
Westbury arrived at Portishead in fine form, having not conceded in over 270 minutes. This resilience was the platform to allow the midfield and attack, to punish the home side time & time again.
With an unchanged side form the impressive away win at Bishop Lydeard, Utd started the afternoon with intent and purpose.
After just 3 minutes, good work from Steve Hulbert, who had his best game yet for Westbury, allowed Jamie Jordan to rifle one just wide. This set the tone for the first 45, with chance after chance for the visitors.
Finally, after a dominant spell in control of the ball, Utd were awarded a penalty when Joe Kirkpatrick was scythed down just inside the 18yd box. Up stepped Mark Robinson, who confidently smashed the ball straight down the middle for a deserved 1-0 lead.
Westbury were really flying now and Josh Ferguson powered through the midfield and offloaded the ball to Ricky Hulbert wide right. Ricky set himself well and delivered an absolute pin perfect cross to the back post, where an eagerly awaiting Jamie Jordan was unmarked and met the ball with a bullet header into the far corner.
More chances followed, and it was more a case of when Westbury would score again, rather than if they would. Sure enough on the half hour mark, Josh Ferguson and Ricky Hulbert combined again and put Joe Kirkpatrick into space on the right wing. Joe composed himself and delivered a defence’s worst nightmare, a ball into the corridor of uncertainty. The Portishead number 4 had no choice but to try and deal with it, and ended up putting it into his own net.
3-0 up in 30 minutes and still the chances were coming. Mark Robinson could have scored again had he made better contact with Ricky Hulbert’s fine ball. Minutes later and after working himself into space, Jamie Jordan clipped the ball down the wing to Ricky Hulbert, who easily drove past his marker. He delivered an unselfish square ball to his strike partner Mark Robinson, who happily tapped in for his second of the afternoon.
The referee brought the half to a close, and the Portishead lads looked glad for the break.
Utd made an immediate substitution for the second half, with Grant Gunning replacing Dan Jordan, who had felt a slight pull. This meant a slight re shuffle with Jordan Pinder dropping into Centre Back, and Grant moving into Right Back where Pinder had played the first half.
No change on the pitch though with Westbury on the attack straight for the off. A Jamie Jordan corner, clearly rehearsed in training, was delivered onto the right foot of Steve Hulbert, who smashed a volley goal bound, only to see the keeper make his best save of the game.
The very next minute and more industrious play from Steve Hulbert and a perfectly weighted lay off, allowed Josh Ferguson to find the target with a clinical finish top right, 5-0 Westbury
Portishead were now dead and buried, but instead of throwing in the towel, and with 2 quick substitutes, they started to really have a go. Both lads brought on were 6ft plus and put themselves about. In a crazy 2 minutes, the big number 6 Sam Trueman was substituted and then whilst leaving the pitch said something to the assistant referee on the far side. Whatever was said prompted him to call the referee over, and Trueman was shown a straight red card even though he was now off the pitch.
Utd made 2 quick changes with Adam Mercer replacing the fine Joe Kirkpatrick, who rightly picked up man of the match, and Martin Johnson coming on for Ricky Hulbert.
The second half never lived up to the excitement of first half, but Westbury never looked in danger. Despite Portishead having much more of the play second half, Utd limited them to long range shots and Lewis Porter in the sticks had little to do.
Ironically against the run of play, Westbury ended the afternoon as they started by scoring a 6th goal. Another good delivery from a corner by Jamie Jordan, was flicked on at the near post and fell to Martin Johnson middle of the goal, 5 yds out. Martin despatched the ball into the net and final whistle blew from the resulting kick-off.
A first half dominated in every way by the White Horse Men, ultimately won this game, and clinical finishing from 4 different goal scorers made for a very enjoyable away day for all at Westbury United.
Westbury Team: Lewis Porter, Jordan Pander, Leon Greenland, Steve Hulbert, Dan Price, Dan Jordan, Jamie Jordan, Joe Kirkpatrick, Ricky Hulbert, Mark Robison, Josh Ferguson. Subs Used: Grant Gunning, Adam Mercer, Martin Johnson. Subs Unused: Dan Kovacs Star Man: Joe Kirkpatrick.
