Weds. 14th Nov. Toolstation Premier Div. Westbury Utd 1 Chipping Sodbury 1

Home keeper Ed Baldy and his opposite number Tom Sheppard excelled in the closing stages as Westbury maintained their unbeaten run.

On a perfect evening the match took some time to get going; United were relatively untroubled in the very early stages, while the visiting defence were on top form, heading clear ever aerial ball and blocking numerous shots!

Jamie Jordan had a few attempts off target, while any set pieces taken by himself or Ian Jeffery were well marshalled.

Sodbury stunned the home crowd by taking the lead on 10 minutes. Liam Pullen cut in from the left and forced Baldy to turn his effort wide, then from the resulting corner, Jake Thomas was left completely unmarked allowing him to head into the net!

James Kenway and Dan Dempsey made a series of blocks when Westbury got forward, although for a change the front three of Dan Kovacs, Ricky Hulbert and Callum Demkiv were quite subdued.

Sheppard made a few routine saves from Jamie Jordan and Will Stead.

The visitors could have doubled their lead when a static home midfield allowed Sam Jenkins to get a shot away, but the ball went wide. United got some sustained pressure going towards half time, but Kovacs, Joe Stradling and Ricky Hulbert all had attempts blocked.

Several more last-gasp blocks kept Sodbury ahead before the break, with Jamie Jordan and Demkiv the unfortunate attackers on these occasions.

Things could only improve after half time and that they did, but not before Baldy had saved from Pullen, only for Harvey Baker to blaze over from close range.

Westbury deservedly drew level on 54 and it was Stradling, their best outfield player on the night, who headed into an empty net after Sheppard could only half punch Sayers Ibrahim’s long throw. Ricky Hulbert had to leave the pitch with concussion after being injured in the build up to the goal.

Rather than letting their heads drop, Chipping Sodbury went straight on the attack and this time Dan Jordan and Jordan Pinder had to defend well.

The pace of Demkiv and Stradling began to create openings, but both saw fine crosses into the box come to nothing. Demkiv’s eluded both Kovacs and Stradling, while Stradling’s led to a shout for a handball which wasn’t given.

Pullen curled a fine free kick just over the bar, then forced Baldy into a fine save moments later. At this point, United were rattled and Jenkins let fly from 25 yards, only for Baldy to make the save of the evening.

Substitutes Josh Ferguson and Francois Allen put together a great move which ended with Ferguson drilling inches wide, then at the other end, Baldy did brilliantly again to save from Pullen.

With a draw looking likely, United carved out a wonderful late opportunity but, after being set up by Kovacs, Allen was denied by Sheppard in a one-on-one situation, with the final whistle blown immediately after.

*STAR MAN ; Ed Baldy. TEAM ; Ed Baldy, Sayeed Ibrahim, Ian Jeffery, Will Stead, Jordan Pinder, Dan Jordan, Jamie Jordan, Joe Stradling, Ricky Hulbert, Dan Kovacs, Callum Demki. SUBS ; Josh Ferguson, Francois Allen (used) Grant Gunning, Lewis Porter (unused.)