What an upset at Meadow Lane with Southern League Premier leaders Totton, who included former professionals Charlie Austin and Scott Rendell in their line-up, well beaten by a young, determined Westbury!
To a man, starting 11 and substitutes, in every position, the whole home squad put in a great shift and outplayed their vastly more experienced opponents for large parts of the match.
United striker Joe Beardwell brought a great save out of Josh Gould with a header early on when he got on the end of Marcel Lewis’ cross. The Stags knocked the ball around with ease but found it hard to break down the organised home defence. Sam Magri shot wide then Rendell set up Adam Tomasso whose effort clipped the post.
Westbury keeper Jonny Hill made two fine saves to deny Declan Rose midway through the half, the first low to his right and the other a left fingertip over the bar.
Totton had to be strong in defence when Bevan Cross and Ryan Bole went on driving runs, however an even better run from right back Aaron Witchell led to Cross getting in one-on-one with Gould and he produced a composed finish to open the scoring on 43.
The visitors stepped up their pressure towards the break but, led by captain Bole, the hosts kept their lead intact.
To their credit Westbury didn’t sit on their slender advantage and they almost doubled it straight after the break but Beardwell’s pull back was cleared.
Totton caused their own downfall on 56; a mix up resulted in a corner from which Will Taylor scored directly to make it 2-0.
Unbelievably United then went 3-0 up on 64 when Gould saved from Charlie Walton but Lewis rifled in seconds after.
With a such a line-up, it was a surprise the Stags took so long to threaten any kind of comeback. Rendell nodded in on 85 to reduce their arrears and they almost scored again on three occasions with Tomasso shooting wide twice then Hill produced a wonderful save at the end.
Westbury earned a place in the 2nd Qualifying Round for the first time in 21 years and will be confident facing another Premier League South side, Plymouth Parkway, this Saturday, even though it’s away from home.
Star men: Westbury United – the whole team! Team; Jonny Hill, Ryan Bole, Aaron Cockerill, Joe Beardwell, Aaron Witchell, Charlie Walton, Bevan Cross, Joel Smedley, Will Taylor, Dan Restorick, Marcel Lewis. Subs; Steve Hulbert, Sean Keet, Ed Butcher, Will Thomson (used) Ashton Shanley, Ricky Hulbert, Ben Ashfield (unused)
Report by Andy Bown; pictures: Martin Pearce
