Shortwood shock Westbury!

Sat. 2nd March. Toolstation Premier Div. Westbury United 0 Shortwood United 1

A shocking result at Meadow Lane as Shortwood won for the first time this season! In truth, Westbury never got going, which was strange given the opportunity to maintain their top 2 position.

The visitors showed their intention by starting brightly in a scrappy first half. Both Will Stead and Dan Price were at fault in a nervy minute, which ended with Ed Baldy racing back to push Price’s defensive header away from danger. Soon after, the impressive Scott Tustain went close with a 20 yarder that clipped the crossbar.

Westbury got going midway through the half and Tustain had to get back to clear a Kovacs effort off the line.  Josh Ferguson and Joe Stradling began to threaten and Ferguson found the side netting with a fine strike. Shortwood keeper Adam Clark then held onto Callum Demkiv’s curling attempt.

The closest the hosts came was when a spell of sustained pressure led to Kovacs hitting the post with an overhead shot. 

Towards the break, both teams had chances to score, Ferguson hitting a long ranger that Clark did well to save then, at the other end, Lee Bowles shot wide.

Westbury blitzed their opponents early in the 2nd half, doing everything but score in a series of pacy attacks featuring Jordan Pinder, Jamie Jordan, Ferguson, Stradling, Kovacs and Demkiv, while Price headed wide at a corner.

Clark had to be at his best to parry a fierce strike by Stradling who had found space on the left. Then the sucker punch came on 67 when Tustain and Bowles combined, with the latter producing a composed finish past Baldy.

Westbury went all out for an equaliser, adding Ricky Hulbert to the attack, but they simply couldn’t break down the determined visiting defence and, with desperation setting in, Westbury were caught on the break and Lewis Bainbridge almost made it 0-2 in the 95th minute but his shot hit the post, rebounded to set the home side into attack where Demkiv lashed the ball wildly off target.

Team; Ed Baldy, Jordan Pinder, Jason Henley, Will Stead, Dan Price, Dan Jordan, Jamie Jordan, Joe Stradling, Josh Ferguson, Dan Kovacs, Callum Demkiv. Subs; Ben Griffiths, Steve Hulbert, Ricky Hulbert (used) Joe Kirkpatrick, Lewis Porter (unused).

Above: Dan Price clearing the Westbury lines against Shortwood.