WESTBURY ended 3rd place Welton’s 12 match unbeaten run in a thriller at Meadow Lane.
This match saw United lead 3-0 before Rovers almost snatched a point! Midfielder Dan Hurkett had another outstanding match for the hosts.
There was no sign of the goal rush that was to come after a battling 1st half in which Westbury led 1-0 from just the 3rd minute, when Nathan Hallett’s corner was headed by Mark Young to Nathan Hallett-Young, who cleverly flicked the ball into the net.
Play was even for the rest of the opening period with both sides having spells of dominance. Welton went close through Tom Smith, Paul Banks and Anthony Conradi, all of whom were denied by good saves by United keeper Rob Brown. When they had a chance to attack, Westbury went close through Young, whose free kick flew across the 6 yard box with nobody attacking it!
Play continued to be even after the break with Brown saving well from Byron Lismore’s 25 yarder and again when Banks shot weakly.
United had their best period of the game and King did well to save from Joe Murray before the striker raced into the box and fired a fine strike that clipped the crossbar!
There was then a crazy spell of four goals in seven minutes! United went 2-0 up on 69 when super work by Young set up Hallett who finished well. Then substitute Wayne Wheeler rolled back the years with his first touch a few minutes later ,by scoring a 20 yard free kick that beat visiting keeper Andrew King.
Simon Millard came close to making it 4-0 immediately after, but saw King save excellently and Welton pulled themselves back into the game straight on 75, when Chris Peck arrived unmarked to score at a corner kick. Then, with Westbury unsettled in defence, Paul Banks latched onto a loose ball at another corner to thrash the ball past Rob Brown.
United dug deep to see out the game that saw them win a 3rd consecutive home match for the first time in two years, although it took Brown to ensure his team claimed the points by denying Dan Cottle in injury time.
*STAR MAN – Dan Hurkett (Westbury United). TEAM – Rob Brown, Ryan Elliott, Dan Precup, Matt Friendship, Nathan Hallett-Young, Marc Scammell, Simon Millard, Dan Hurkett, Joe Murray, Mark Young, Nathan Hallett. SUBS – Charlie Walton, Wayne Wheeler, Ally Bradley (used) Adam James (unused).
