Tue 21st Mar. Wiltshire FA Premier Shield S/F Westbury United 1 Swindon Supermarine 2
WESTBURY United gave it their all but it was Swindon Supermarine that progressed to the final of the Wiltshire FA Premier Shield when the two teams met last week at the Royal Wootton Bassett Town FC ground, the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.
Westbury turned on a top performance that everyone can be proud of but it wasn’t enough to beat Swindon Supermarine, a team comfortably playing two leagues above. Westbury were on top in the early exchanges and were keeping the Supermarine attack quiet.
However, in the 19th minute, Supermarine showed their class as their attack clicked into gear in their attacking third; a burst of quick passes ended with Williams playing into Phillips for Phillips to finish and make it 1-0.
It only took three minutes for Westbury to get back level, with Harvey Flippance heading home the equaliser in a crowded penalty area, to make it 14 goals in 18 appearances since joining the club.
Westbury had a flurry of chances, with Demkiv having a shot blocked and Stradling and Shanley firing shots over the bar. A couple of long throws from Frost were causing trouble in the opposition box and Stradling was giving the Supermarine midfield nightmares with his pace and constant pressure. The first half ended 1-1.
Westbury continued their high energy game in the second half. Thomson had a 20-yard effort that went just wide and Flippance tested the keeper’s handling with a powerful left footed effort from outside of the area. As the half went on, Supermarine started to come into the game but the Westbury defence of Bowden, Biddiscombe, Hutchings, Price and Steve Hulbert were working well and keeping the chances to long range efforts.
It was the 87th minute when Supermarine scored their second, the first time of the evening that Westbury hadn’t effectively cleared their lines. The ball bounced around in the penalty area and Supermarine captain Luddite’s two attempts, the second was low near Bowden’s right-hand post. Bowden got to it and thought he’d saved it, only for the linesman to inform the referee that he saw the ball cross the line and the goal was awarded.
Westbury did all they could to get back into the tie, and in the final moments of the game, Sammy Jordan burst into the right-hand side of the area and fired his shot across the face of the goal, just missing the far post.
The game was won and lost with fine margins. The referee blew up for full-time and Supermarine advance to the final to face Corsham Town who beat Salisbury Town in the other Semi-final.
Star Man: Joe Stradling. Team: Bowden, Biddescombe, S.Hulbert, Frost, Price (c), Hutchings, Stradling, Thomson, Shanley, Flippance, Demkiv. Subs, R.Hulbert, S.Jordan (used) D.Jordan, James, Baldy (unused)
Report by Greg
Coulson, club chairman
