An enthralling match at Meadow Lane where every player from both sides gave their all, this was Westbury’s third win in a week and lifted them up into 4th place in the league.
Bitton started at a pace and it took strong defending by Westbury to keep the score at 0-0. Karim Rendall headed over, Harrison Kyte shot into the side netting and Josh Egan somehow missed the target from inside the 6 yard box.
At the other end, Sam Jordan met Steve Hulbert’s accurate delivery but headed over.
Bitton played some quick passing football and Kyte linked up well with Kevin Camarso, who forced Ed Baldy into a save.
Play tightened up for a while after the frantic opening and it was the visiting defence who had to work hard to see off Joe Stradling and Callum Demkiv.
The opening goal came in spectacular style when United’s Ryan Bole scored a left footed free kick from a wide position on 24 minutes.
Sam Burgess in the Bitton goal did well to save from Sam Jordan after fine play by Demkiv, then Sam Jordan was excellently tackled by Alex Grimshaw!
As the team in the ascendancy changed again, Dan Jordan threw himself into the path of Camarso’s goalbound shot, then Matt Jones and Jason Henley did similar from the resulting corner.
Play switched again 5 minutes before the break and Jamie Jordan, Steve Hulbert, Stradling and Henley were all involved in a move that led to a corner. Jones got on the end of Jamie Jordan’s flag kick to make it 2-0.
Bitton piled on the pressure from the start of the 2nd half and went close through Alex Grimshaw, whose header was cleared off the line to Matt Groves whose rebound was blocked.
Soon after, Rendall squared the ball to Egan who forced Baldy into a save; then Egan set up Groves who cleverly worked an angle for a shot which Baldy claimed.
Bole tried his luck from another set piece but this time his 35 yarder flew inches wide and play quickly switched to the other end, where Mitch Tippins hit a long range attempt of his own which crashed off the crossbar!
Ricky Hulbert had a chance to seal victory but after receiving the ball from Demkiv, he dragged his effort wide. Bitton got a goal back on 70 when Rendall set up Tippins, whose finish took a touch off Jones before finding the net.
Demkiv and Ricky Hulbert combined again and this time the striker’s shot was closer, but still just over the bar.
Westbury’s upturn in form was exemplified by Stradling who covered every blade of grass to ensure his side kept their lead and he almost set up a clinching goal, but Burgess denied Demkiv.
The visitors tried everything to find a late equaliser but were met by more strong Westbury defending, including another good save by Baldy to deny Kyte.
Bole almost had the final say with another free kick from a wide position which Burgess saved.
*Star man; Joe Stradling. Team; Ed Baldy, Jason Henley, Ryan Bole, Steve Hulbert, Matt Jones, Dan Jordan, Joe Stradling, Jamie Jordan, Ricky Hulbert, Sam Jordan, Callum Demkiv. Subs; Jordan Pinder, Will Stead, Mark Robinson (used) Joe Kirkpatrick, Callum Ham (unused)
Pictured: Matt Jones, scorer of Westbury’s 2nd goal, on defensive duty.
