Sat. 7th March. Toolstation Prem. Division Shepton Mallet 2 Westbury 1
Westbury travelled to Shepton Mallet knowing that they would have to perform well to get anything from the match, Shepton had only lost once in the league since the beginning of December and that was to league title hopefuls Bradford Town.
Shepton started quickly and pinned Westbury in their own half for pretty much all of the first ten minutes, but Westbury stood strong and kept themselves organised to keep Shepton from getting any meaningful shots on target. Westbury started to get a foothold in the game but Shepton were still looking dangerous, a good save was required from Lewis Porter on the 15-minute mark to keep the score at 0-0.
By the half hour mark Westbury were starting to look like the most likely to score, with the front three of Sammy Jordan, Ricky Hulbert and Callum Demkiv being regularly joined by Joe Stradling from midfield. The chances were starting to be created and the Shepton back line were demanding more from their midfield to stop the chances from being created. Even though the score was still 0-0 at half time, it was a very entertaining game, with both teams having good chances and both keepers having to make some good saves.
It was a pretty even start to the second half until just after the hour mark when Westbury skipper, Steve Hulbert, tried to shield the ball back to Porter in goal but the Shepton striker, Jack Fillingham, managed to get his leg around Hulbert and scuff the ball past the stranded Porter into the net.
Joe Stradling had a looping shot that ended up on top of the net and Ryan Bole had a great chance, but couldn’t connect cleanly to get the ball on target before Shepton got their second. It was a good move which ended with the ball being worked out to the left for a first time cross and Fillingham was there to apply the finish, to bag himself a brace and put his team 2-0 up. Pinder replaced Bole and Wilkins replaced Ricky Hulbert with 15 and 8 minutes left, with both players involved in the action straight away. In extra time Westbury made their late flurry count, a cross from Stradling across the edge of the 18 yard box was met by the head of Steve Hulbert, his header was superb and the keeper could do nothing to stop it from hitting the net. Westbury had a couple of decent half chances in the last couple of minutes, but couldn’t manage to find the equaliser.
Star Man: Ben Griffiths. Line-Up: Lewis Porter, Lee Salter, Jason Henley, Ben Griffiths, Steve Hulbert©, Dan Jordan, Joe Stradling, Ryan Bole, Ricky Hulbert, Callum Demkiv, Sam Jordan. Subs: Jordan Pinder, Louis Wilkins (used).
