Sat. 8th Oct. Southern League Division One South Westbury United 3 Sholing 2
AN incredible match at Meadow Lane where Westbury came from 0-2 down to end Sholing’s 100% record with a thrilling victory!
After a quiet start the visitors opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Fatah Makhloufi’s deep corner found the unmarked Owen Roundell-Prince who smashed the ball into the net.
United grew into the match and Matty Morris whipped in a set piece that flew across the face of goal with no touch by any player in the crowded six-yard box.
Soon after Charlie Walton headed straight at Ryan Gosney then he had another opportunity but fired over.
Sholing’s Charles Wagstaffe hit a looping long-range attempt which took a deflection and went wide. At the other end Morris and Walton were prominent again and Morris saw his effort blocked.
Home hopes were dealt a huge blow on 36; Lewis Porter (in goal due to Mark Bowden and Ed Baldy being unavailable) made a howling error trying to clear a hopeful ball forward which allowed Lee Wort an easy finish to make it 0-2.
Makhloufi and Dan Mason went close to extending their side’s lead before the break but it remained 0-2.
Sholing started the second half as they had ended the first with Porter making amends for earlier mistake by catching Byron Mason’s header then superbly tipping Wagstaffe’s fierce left footer over the bar.
Gosney made a comfortable save from Joe Stradling and in an episode of route one football Gosney’s long ball found Wort who rifled inches off target.
Having nearly gone 0-3 behind Westbury found hope in spectacular style on 58 when Morris spotted Gosney off his line and scored a wonder goal from the halfway line.
The visitors were aghast moments later when a goal was disallowed allowing United the chance to settle into their stride; Morris had a shot saved by Gosney and from the resulting corner Harvey Flippance bundled the ball in to equalise.
Morris and Walton were all over Sholing and, after Walton had shot wide from a Morris pass, the pair combined again and this time Walton swivelled then hit the ball home to put the hosts ahead.
United almost added a fourth goal through Walton’s 18 yarder and Flippance’s lob, however it was in defence that they excelled.
Every player to a man including the back 4 of Jake Hutchings, Aaron Cockerill, Dan Price and Ryan Bole all made vital interceptions during 11 minutes of added time.
