BOTH teams deserve great credit for producing an entertaining match in spite of a howling and gusting gale that got worse as the match went on!
United were incredibly unlucky to lose with Nathan Hallett’s superb goal all they had to show for a determined performance at the 3rd place team and it took an awful penalty decision to seal victory for Wellington!
The hosts’ left winger Luke Redrup scored twice in two minutes early in the match, firstly rifling a 25 yarder into the top corner after Westbury were slow to clear their lines on 12 minutes and then a minute later Redrup cruised past debutant Joe Edwards and into the box before finishing cleverly.
United then took control of the play and home keeper Jake Viney made a fine save to deny Wayne Wheeler. Hallett was in great form on the left wing and sent in several fine crosses that went unrewarded; Viney had to be quick to claim one such effort before an attacker could put it in! Viney then excelled again to parry Lee Salter’s swerving set piece.
Wellington counter attacked on 39 and Redrup came close to a hattrick with Shaftoe saving his first shot and the rebound hitting a post and bouncing away from goal!
Westbury and Hallett in particular got their much deserved goal a few minutes later; Shaftoe’s long kick sent Hallett running and he unleashed an unstoppable low drive that flew past Viney and into the net! The wind continued to worsen after half time and United continued to press their hosts back, at one stage pinning them in their own half for minutes on end without reward; Wheeler’s 20 yarder that was saved by Viney being their best opportunity.
The penalty kick incident occurred on 68; Alex Piper stumbled and went to ground in the box and the referee decided that Matt Friendship had committed a foul! Piper stepped up and scored the spot kick to make it 3-1.
Upset at their misfortune, Westbury took time to get going again and Shaftoe had to be smart twice to prevent further goals by advancing to excellently tackle Piper at the edge of the box then to parry another flying shot by Redrup. There was still time for Viney to be forced into another save and this time it was Marc Lanfear who was denied by the home keeper.
*STAR MAN – Nathan Hallett (Westbury United).
