CHEDDAR completed a league double over Westbury by coming from behind to claim a deserved victory at Meadow Lane. As in the previous encounter earlier in the season it was visiting winger Callum Ham who was a constant threat.
Both teams put long weather enforced breaks behind them to produce an open game of football. Home keeper Alex Shaftoe made early saves to deny Alex Brandrick and Hal Davison and at the other end Sam Talbot did well to prevent Marc Lanfear with Joe Murray putting his rebound wide.
United opened the scoring on 17 minutes; Ally Bradley, one of several home players to have excellent matches, won the ball on the halfway line and played it to Lanfear whose low 20 yard drive found the corner of the net.
The visitors had a host of chances before half time but a combination of home keeper Alex Shaftoe with several more saves from Davison, Ricky Bennett and Ham as well as poor finishing kept the score at 1-0.
However Cheddar were level within 2 minutes of the restart when Adam Jones found himself unmarked and able to pick his spot from 10 yards to make it 1-1. Cheddar then twice thought they had taken the lead; Adam Jones had a goal disallowed for offside then the same player was certain his attempt had crossed the line but Marc Scammell had got back to clear the ball!
Westbury had good chances of their own; Scammell and Lanfear combined to set up Mark Young but superb work by Talbot prevented him from scoring then Joe Murray put another close range opening wide after good work by Young.
The winning goal came with 10 minutes remaining; Sam Jones took advantage of being allowed a clear shot at goal from 25 yards and although Shaftoe got a touch his parry couldn’t prevent the ball finding the top corner.
*STAR MEN – Ally Bradley (Westbury United) & Callum Ham (Cheddar FC)
TEAM – Alex Shaftoe, Ryan Elliott, David Whyte, Matt Friendship, Nathan Hallett-Young, Ally Bradley, Mark Young, Marc Scammell, Marc Lanfear, Joe Murray, Dan Hurkett
SUBS – Matt Dyer, Charlie Walton, DJ Wheeler (used) Matty Bown (unused)