Tuesday 18th January. Wiltshire Premier Shield Quarter Final Westbury United 4 Swindon Town 0
A STUNNING evening for Westbury United at a foggy Meadow Lane as they swept aside a youthful Swindon side.
The opening period of play was even, both sides played attractive football and the respective defences did well to see off attacks. Joint manager Lewis Porter, playing in goal due to Mark Bowden being injured and Ed Baldy’s unavailability, made his only save of the evening in the 10th minute to deny Bell.
Westbury caused numerous problems to the Town defence with set pieces and throw ins; two throws by Ronnie Frost led to Dan Price and Jack Biddescombe going close. Swindon defender, Winchcombe, went on a long run but his efforts were wasted when the striker he passed to was flagged offside.
As in the televised FA Cup match versus Manchester City when City scored, (and in a clear club footballing policy) Town attempted to play across their back line as well as out from defence. This nearly cost them when goalkeeper Idem’s poor kick was not punished. This style of play would be punished later on.
Westbury got on top after the half hour, as another Frost throw led to Idem saving from Price. Then, in a remarkable passage of play, Ashton Shanley’s free kick found Harvey Flippance whose effort was brilliantly saved by Idem, and then Callum Demkiv’s rebound was somehow cleared off the line by Winchcombe.
United then forced several corners, and from one of Shanley’s deep free kicks Frost headed back across goal where Steve Hulbert got the final touch to make it 1-0 at half time. With the fog worsening the rare sight of an orange ball greeted the 2nd half. And what a half it was for Westbury!
They got straight on top, incisively attacking, and getting fully rewarded for their efforts. Flippance had already gone close twice with Idem in close attendance before he got the 2nd goal on 54 minutes with a quality touch and low shot into the bottom corner.
If that was great, then a few minutes later it became amazing as Swindon gave the ball away cheaply to Flippance who laid it onto a plate for Demkiv who applied a composed finish to make it 3-0. Town were restricted to hopeful long-range attempts and when they did get into dangerous positions the home defence were on top form.
Demkiv took a touch, turned, and rifled into the net on 69 minutes but it was disallowed for offside. Then a brilliant move on the right involving Biddescombe, Ben Griffiths and Flippance set up Demkiv for a skiddy cross that evaded everyone in the box. It really was all Westbury now, Joe Stradling played a clever ball into the box where Price had remained after a corner but his header dropped just wide.
The final goal was scored on 80 minutes as Biddescombe sent in a corner which was met by Frost’s head and Flippance prodded it over the line.
Kanu and Cowmeadow tried their luck from distance but didn’t threaten Porter’s goal. United went close to adding a 5th through Stradling and Flippance however it stayed 4-0.
Star Team: Westbury United (No player deserves to be singled out)
Team: Lewis Porter, Ben Griffiths, Steve Hulbert, Jake Hutchings, Ronnie Frost, Dan Price, Ashton Shanley, Joe Stradling, Harvey Flippance, Callum Demkiv, Jack Biddescombe. Subs: Will Thomson, Josh Timbrell, Kurt James (used) Dan Kovacs, Ricky Hulbert (unused)
• In the Semi Final: United will face Swindon Supermarine FC away at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground at Royal Wootten Basset on 22 March, kick off at 7.45pm.
