WESTBURY extended their league winning run to six in a row with a 3-1 win against Oldland Abbotonians on a bright, sunny spring afternoon.
The first half was a scrappy affair but in the second half Westbury came alive, lead by the excellent Ricky Hulbert on his debut.
Westbury were without their captain due the hamstring injury that had caused him to be taken off at half time in the last game. Grant Gunning came in to start his fifth game of the season at right back, and Jordan Pinder was moved alongside Dan Price in the centre of the Westbury defence.
George Bendle started on the bench, replaced in the starting line-up by new signing Hulbert. Jake Stephenson was away so Mattie Mantay also got a start, alongside Joe Kirkpatrick in the centre of the park.
Injured captain Matt Jones said, “My leg was feeling ok until I had to lift something heavy at work on Thursday, it tweaked my hamstring again so I’m not going to risk it. We don’t have a fixture now until the 8th April so I can give it plenty of rest to make sure I’m fit for the end of the season.”
The first half started well with Hulbert giving the defenders an immediate taste of what he was going to be serving up all afternoon. On 15 minutes Hulbert broke down the right and delivered a dangerous cross that the Oldland number 3 nearly headed into his own net.
Oldland were employing a direct style of play, looking to quickly get the ball forward at every opportunity and it was creating opportunities for them. They had two or three good chances to take the lead but none of them managed to hit the net.
The first goal came for Westbury; Kierran Ramsey rolled the ball out to Gunning in the right back position, Gunning took his time and let the ball settle before delivering a lovely pass forward to Martin Johnson who charged down the right wing and delivered a cross that was a little bit behind Hulbert. Hulbert managed to contort his body to head the ball back across the goal and into the net.
Straight from kick-off Oldland’s Davies dribbled forward and hit a shot from thirty yards that managed to deceive Ramsey and end up in the net to instantly get the score back level.
Just before half time, Ramsey aimed a huge kick forward and Jamie Jordan brought the ball down in the Oldland box, shifted the ball to his right and hit a powerful shot that smashed off the bar. The first half finished 1-1.
Westbury burst out of the changing room for the second half. Leon Greenland delivered a cross from the left which somehow evaded both Johnson and Jordan, neither of whom could apply the finishing touch.
Oldland had a couple of chances before Hulbert smartly managed to get his body in between the ball and the Oldland goalkeeper who had to go through Hulbert to try and clear the ball – the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Jordan Pinder to send the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1. Westbury took control of the match and were on top of the game.
Their third goal came on the 82nd minute, when an Oldland corner was well cleared by Greenland. The ball was passed by someone into the path of Hulbert who had beaten the off-side trap – he rounded the keeper and managed to finish into the empty net. A few minutes later Hulbert was substituted to a standing ovation and Otis Young was introduced.
The final 3-1 score line was well deserved for Westbury, who were very good in the second half. No game for the first team next week but the reserves do host Warminster Reserve on Saturday so please come along and support the lads as we try to take three points off our closest rivals.
Team: Keirran Ramsey, Grant Gunning, Ferris Lamrabet, Dan Price ©, Jordan Pinder, Mattie Mantay, Jamie Jordan, Joe Kirkpatrick, Ricky Hulbert, Martin Johnson, Leon Greenland. Subs: (Used) George Bendle, Otis Young, Sean Brereton, (Unused) Carl Crabtree, Stephen Fox. Star Man: Ricky Hulbert.
