United up to second

Wed. 7th October Toolstation Premier Westbury United 2-0 Keynsham Town

A REALLY pleasing evening at Meadow Lane as the squad produced another excellent all round performance that lifted United into second place!

The pitch looked immaculate despite well over 100mm of rain in the last week, great credit goes to the ground staff for that.

Some of the football played by Westbury was lovely to watch but it must be noted that Keynsham played well too and the home defence had to deal with some spells of pressure.

The first half was fairly even and quite tight early on with crosses at both ends being well marshalled by the respective defences.

Joe Stradling was a constant threat to Town and looked like creating chances every time he got the ball and ran with pace, one such move led to a corner from which Sam Jordan had a header cleared off the line.

The midfield trio of Jordan Pinder, Ben Griffiths and Will Thomson knitted together a number of fine moves while Keynsham looked likely to produce attempts through Jordan Metters and Matt Brown.

It was Brown who forced Mark Bowden into his only save of the first half when he had to parry away a shot from an acute angle.

Keynsham were on top around the half hour with Dan Price, Scott Gregory, Jamie Jordan and Jamie Gregory all having to work hard to deny them. Then Nathan Curnock broke forward and hit a long range shot just over the bar.

Another Stradling run saw him fouled on the edge of the box and Griffiths’ free kick went inches past Ash Clark’s left hand post. Clark then saved well from Sam Jordan after Pinder had played him in.

Visiting midfielder Cam Ricketts had two shots that flew wide but also could have seen a red card, the referee booked him for just one of three poor challenges either side of half time.

Westbury took control of the match within 10 seconds of the restart! The ball was played to Mark Robinson and he scored with a lovely low finish from just inside the box.

Robinson nearly doubled the lead soon after but found Clark in fine form, Sam Jordan’s rebound was cleared off the line again!

Bowden showed good hands to save a Metters free kick in the wet conditions then United played some continued brilliant football.

Steve Hulbert and Josh Ferguson replaced Pinder and Thomson, Ferguson brought an extra skilful dimension to the attacks which was added to by the ever impressive Jack Biddescombe.

A bit of lazy play allowed Town to think they might draw level, Brown’s run across the box led to Jamie Noble shooting wide. Then from another Keynsham attempt Ferguson counter attacked and brought a save out of Clark.

A second goal always looked likely and, after Stradling had narrowly missed, it duly arrived on 88 when Clark’s save from Ferguson fell into the path of Sam Jordan whose fine finish made it 2-0.

The last action of note produced the save of the match when Clark tipped Biddescombe’s curler over the bar.

STAR TEAM ; Westbury United (impossible to single out any one player)

TEAM ; Mark Bowden, Jamie Gregory, Jamie Jordan, Scott Gregory, Dan Price, Jordan Pinder, Ben Griffiths, Will Thomson, Sam Jordan, Mark Robinson, Joe Stradling

SUBS ; Steve Hulbert, Josh Ferguson, Jack Biddescombe (used) Ricky Hulbert, Dan Jordan (unused)