Sat 11th December, Hellenic Premier Division Lydney Town 1 Westbury United 5
WESTBURY United managers Lewis Porter and Ricky Hulbert were delighted to finally be able to name Harvey Flippance in their starting line-up; he’s a player they have tracked for a while, and they are delighted to have finally got their man.
Westbury started the stronger of the two teams, with Joe Stradling hitting the cross bar before the 20-minute mark and Ryan Bole forcing a very good save from the Lydney Town goalkeeper as he powered a free-kick on target. But it was Lydney Town who took the lead on 29 minutes, when a cross was swung in from the right and met by the head of Lydney Town striker, Brad Kear, to head home and make it 1-0.
It took only 9 minutes for Westbury to draw level; an Ashton Shanley corner was headed into the net by Westbury United skipper Dan Price. A few minutes before half time, Westbury took the lead. Some great wing play by Jack Biddiscombe created space for a cross – this was met by Flippance to score on his debut and make it Lydney Town 1 Westbury United 2 at halftime.
Any chance that Lydney had were gone by the 52nd minute when their number 2 made a bad challenge and was given a red card and sent for an early shower by the referee. Ten minutes later, Price was on hand to score from another Shanley corner and make it 3-1 to Westbury. On the 70-minute mark Biddiscombe set off on a great run but was fouled, Bole delivered the free kick into the area, which was cleared, but only as far as Joe Stradling, who fired home a goal of the season contender that crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net for Westbury’s fourth of the afternoon.
Lydney had a great chance to pull one back on 74 minutes; a cross came in and was met by an attacker for a shot on goal, but Price was on hand to throw his body in the way to prevent them getting a second. Ricky Hulbert and Flippance both had good chances to get Westbury’s fifth goal, but it was Biddiscombe who wrapped up the game when a loose ball fell at his feet for him to guide into the bottom corner.
A very good day at the office for Westbury United who need to keep their performance levels high as their next two games are at home against league leaders, Bishop Cleeve, followed by the local derby against in-form Bradford Town that kicks off at 1pm on Boxing Day.
Star Man-Dan Price. Line-up: Bowden, Hutchings, Bole, Frost, Price (c), Shanley, Griffiths, Stradling, Flippance, Kovacs, Biddy. Subs James, Timbrell, Jordan, R Hulbert, Baldy.
Report by Greg Coulson,
