WHAT A NIGHT! UNITED MAKE HISTORY WITH CUP WIN

Tues 9th May. Wiltshire Premier Shield Final Swindon Town 0 Westbury United 3

WESTBURY United lifted the Wiltshire Premier Shield at Swindon Town’s County Ground with what has become their trademark – a hard-working all-round team performance with everyone playing their part which led to a fantastic result – and the club’s first cup win since the Second World War.

Swindon chose to field a young side on their home ground and at times they played some lovely quick passing football. However, the youngsters couldn’t match up to Westbury’s experience and team spirit built during a fine first Southern League season.

The whole Westbury United team deserve praise; Jonny Hill kept a deserved clean sheet, Steve Hulbert was reliable as always and netted the clinching goal from the penalty spot, Ryan Bole excelled on the left wing and scored a trademark goal, Aaron Cockerill was strong and solid, Dan Price led by example, and Jake Hutchings went about his work in a typically calm manner.

As well as this, Ashton Shanley worked his socks off, Joe Stradling covered every blade of the pitch and scored the second goal, Harvey Flippance dominated his markers, provided an assist and was fouled for the penalty, Charlie Walton was named man of the match for a barnstorming performance, Gary Higdon fully deserved a goal and assisted the first two, Emmanuel Adepitan came off the bench to shore up defensively, Toby Cole gave fresh impetus in attack, Jack Biddiscombe took over at full back late on, and Ben Griffiths continued his comeback from injury.

Town actually started the match quickly and zipped the ball around on the wet surface, however United opened the scoring in their first attack on nine minutes as Higdon played the ball to Flippance who drove forward and found Bole whose left footer flew into the net!

It was nearly 0-2 but a looping header hit the crossbar before Stradling doubled his side’s advantage on 22 as Higdon showed persistence to keep the ball wide on the right then fed it across to Stradling whose fine strike took a deflection.

Swindon got some more fine passing going, this time chances came with Flynn Hamilton and Harvey Fox going close. Bole had the chance to strike a free kick but uncharacteristically sent it well over the bar. Flippance and Walton combined in attack with Finn Tombes doing well to deny them. From the resulting corner Walton headed narrowly off target.

Town had several chances to pull a goal back as half time approached as Hamilton fired just wide then Hutchings’ timely challenge stopped Joel McGregor in his tracks. Price’s well-timed tackle on George Cowmeadow prevented an opportunity then Hill did well to catch Cowmeadow’s cross. It was nearly 0-3 immediately before the break; however Cockerill couldn’t quite get the ball over the line at a corner.

United flew out of the blocks after the break and thought they had added a third when Stradling nodded in after the ball came back off the crossbar but it was disallowed for offside.

Not to be denied, they poured forward again and Flippance was fouled, and a penalty awarded which Steve Hulbert dispatched confidently! At 0-3 the atmosphere was one of disbelief mixed with a strange comfort that this was actually happening!

In many of their league and cup victories this season Westbury have held slender leads with hard work, this hard work was on show again as Hill made a fine save to deny Hubbard and preserve his clean sheet while Price and Hutchings ensured Swindon didn’t get a sniff of a route back into the game.

The closest the hosts came was when George Alston’s header rebounded off the bar and a follow up attempt was blocked. At the end of another fine move Dani Gonzalez headed wide.

Not content with 0-3, United almost added a fourth on several occasions as Higdon tried a backheel which was saved by Jack Copland, Higdon and Cole broke forward two-on-two but were unable to beat the defenders, and Price wasn’t quite able to head in at a corner and then, with time running out, Cole burst through and sent a strike just wide. What a night for Westbury United!

Team: Jonny Hill, Steve Hulbert, Ryan Bole, Aaron Cockerill, Dan Price, Jake Hutchings, Ashton Shanley, Joe Stradling, Harvey Flippance, Charlie Walton, Gary Higdon. Subs: Emmanuel Adepitan, Toby Cole, Jack Biddiscombe, Ben Griffiths, Sam Jordan, Ricky Hulbert, Ed Baldy (unused).

Report by Andy Bown.

• The Wiltshire Premier Shield is a cup competition for the highest placed clubs in Wiltshire from professional to Step 5, including Swindon Town from League 2.