A family atmosphere was evident at Meadow Lane with children from the Westbury Youth FC teams being mascots for both sides.
Westbury, with Sam Clift energetic and influential in midfield, held their own in the 1st half against promotion candidates Cribbs, and the outcome could have been much different had Brett Partner’s volley found the net instead of the crossbar just before the half hour. However unlike recently they were unable to produce a good 2nd half and the visitors completed victory.
Much of the play in the opening period was scrappy and both defences worked hard to prevent clear cut chances. Cribbs winger Ash McGrane found the side netting while United’s Gary Tugwell fired wide from outside the box.
Home keeper Callum Hotine did excellently to keep the score at 0-0 when Dominic Graffagnino latched onto a quick break only for Hotine to save his shot then show bravery in a goalmouth scramble.
A lovely move looked to have paved the way for Westbury to score on 27 minutes but, after fine play between Tugwell and Marc Lanfear, Partner looked certain to score but could only find the crossbar with his volley! The visitors stepped up their pressure after the break and their opening goal came on 50 minutes when United gave the ball away in midfield allowing Tom Bradley to cross and Tom Morgan to head into the net.
Cribbs were now dominating play and Graffagnino, Morgan and McGarne all failed to hit the target. They nearly paid for wasting those chances when Tugwell’s mishit cross was equally mishit by defender Chris Kite which forced keeper Matt Turner into a smart save.
McGrane doubled his sides’ lead on 66 when his low shot deflected into the net and, with the game petering out apart from Partner forcing Turner into a save, Dave Gilroy’s header completed Cribbs’ 0-3 win.
*STAR MAN – Sam Clift. TEAM – Callum Hotine, Jake Herd, Grant Gunning, Ryan Elliott, Josh Maguire, Sam Clift, Matt Mead, Gary Tugwell, Jordan Mathews, Marc Lanfear, Brett Partner. SUBS – Joe Cavalla, George Ingram (used) Callum Cooper, Nathan Hallett-Young (unused).
• Westbury United Reserves suffered a 4-1 defeat at Swindon based side Southbrook in the Wiltshire Premier League. The defeat leaves them in 15th position. This weekend they entertain Trowbridge Town at Meadow Lane, 3pm KO, before they play at home again the following weekend when they entertain current league leaders Ludgershall Sports, 3pm KO.
