Two out of two for United

Sat. 11th Jan. Toolstation Premier Odd Down (BATH) 0 Westbury United 2

Westbury made it two wins out of two in 2020 with a short trip to bottom of the league Odd Down.

They were forced to make several changes to the squad after several players had been struck down with colds and the flu. The windy conditions meant that any ball over ten feet in the air was a gamble as the wind was swirling overhead. 

Odd Down started well and didn’t look like a team who are sat bottom of the league, but the Westbury front three of Callum Demkiv, Ricky Hulbert and Louis Wilkins were all lively from the off, each of them having an early shot on target. 

On the half hour mark Ricky Hulbert was fouled just to the left of the penalty area approximately 20 yards out, Jamie Jordan’s freekick was superb but the Westbury head could only guide it out for a goal kick. A few minutes later Demkiv took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring two quick goals. His first was a spectacular drive from 25 yards that deceived the keeper as it flew into the top corner. His second came instantly, Westbury won the ball back from the Odd Down kick off and before anyone could blink, Demkiv was in again, this time at point blank range at a tight angle to the left of the goal. He powered his left footed shot low and hard past the keeper, to make it 2-0. 

Odd Down nearly halved the deficit just before halftime, but the superb Steve Hulbert was on hand to clear off the line. 

The second half ebbed and flowed without much goalmouth action until another Jamie Jordan freekick was swung in on the hour mark, Pinder slid in at the far post but couldn’t apply the finishing touch. It was that man Pinder again just before 80 minutes; he wriggled into some space outside of the penalty area but his shot was too high to trouble the keeper. 

The final score was 2-0, which in the circumstances was a fantastic result as a few of the lads were still feeling the effects of being bedridden for a few days during the week. 

Star Man: Steve Hulbert. Lineup: Baldy, Salter, Henley, Griffiths, S. Hulbert(c), D.Jordan, J.Jordan, Pinder, R. Hulbert, Demkiv, Wilkins. Subs: S. Jordan, Croad (used) Smith, Porter (unused).