Sub- Chance

After an emphatic  9-0 win last Saturday the boys seemed in high spirit and raring to go against newly promoted Welland.

Welland  got  the  game under way and it was Clayton who  immediately  won possession for Westbury and spread the ball wide to the advancing brown who’s long ball into the box beat the  Welland  defence, but  Thompson just couldn’t get on the end of the cross. Only a couple of minutes into the game and Westbury had all the pressure with both Clayton and Charlwood going close but it was the home side who netted first when they broke down the Westbury left side and hit a hopeful ball towards goal that took the cruellest of deflections which was enough to wrong foot Alfie Whitehouse.

This changed  the rest of the 1^st half with Westbury having to depend more on the defensive players  to keep us in the game with Harris and partridge having to be on top of their game to keep the Welland players at bay, but  with  Harry Charlwood  assisting them both and Whitehouse pulling of some fine saves  it gave us some hope of getting back into the game.

Sub – Chance on for Thompson

Westbury desperately needed an outlet to take the pressure of the defence, so the introduction of Ryan Chance  gave us the opportunity to get the ball wide to him, and let him run with the ball into the welland  corners to allow the rest of the team to move up the pitch and re-organise. This proved effective on a couple of occasions with Ryan Chance going close  after a fine run and Tai Brown hitting one just over the bar after a great ball was played up the line from Ryan Harris. Unfortunately  this was to be a 1^st half to forget after good defensive work by Charlwood  forced  the welland striker wide, but  the striker managed hit another hopeful ball high into the box which caught the Westbury boys by surprise and Whitehouse had to back pedal and managed to get a hand to the ball but unfortunately couldn’t quite hold on to it and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Sub- Thompson on for Charlwood

Tai brown tucked into the centre of the park and Thompson moved to the left, but the remaining five  minutes remained the same with Westbury being limited to the occasional break from Ryan Chance and Haydon Clayton whose pace was proving to be a much needed let out for the boys.

Half time - Welland  2-0 Westbury

After a much needed break the boys got back out there and started with confidence and self belief  with the midfield trio Thompson, Brown and Chance all battling hard and winning their respected battles, and with Haiden Clayton making some intelligent runs and creating space allowed Tai brown to power through the Welland defence and getaway a low hard shot which was superbly blocked by the goalkeeper,  but Brown’s momentum carried him on for the rebound and cleverly went for accuracy over power and placed the ball into the corner of the Welland goal.

This gave the boys a real lift and settled them down to play the way they do best. The next  5 minutes were spent with Westbury knocking the ball around with some crisp precise passing, opening up the Welland defence on a number of occasions allowing Clayton, Thompson and Chance to have strikes on goal but were either saved or put just wide.

Sub- Charlwood on for Clayton

Tai brown moved up front  and Harry Charlwood back into the middle of the park. Browns height and strength proved effective straight away by managing to hold the ball up allowing the midfield to press up the pitch, where we played out another  five minutes of the game and the occasional break away by Welland was mopped up by Partridge, Harris and Whitehouse. 

After relentless pressure Westbury got the breakthrough they had been patiently building up to, when Charlwood won the ball in midfield he passed it out wide to Chance who whipped in a great ball to Tai browns feet who’s lay off to Thompson was hit first time but blocked well, Thompson who’s back was to goal then flicked the ball up and spun, hit the ball on the volley with his weaker left foot and Smashed it into the back of the net.

Sub- Clayton on for Harris

With confidence high we threw Westbury’s striker back on and moved Brown into his 4^th position of the game, alongside partridge at the heart of defence. Clayton wasted no time settling back in with a great run down the right wing and cut the ball back to the advancing Thompson whose shot went just wide of the post. With the final whistle only two minutes  away  Westbury had to do some defending of their own and all the boys, although starting to look tired dug in and defended well, but Wellands final break down the right side managed to unlock the defence, and when the ball came across the Westbury goal  landed at the feet of the Welland striker who hit the ball to the far bottom corner of Whitehouse’s goal, Whitehouse managed to get his fingertips to the ball, but could only knock it into the oncoming winger who, unchallenged slotted the ball into the goal. Although very disappointed  the boys brushed themselves down managed one last attack before the ref blew the final whistle.

M.O.M- Tai Brown.... showed great versatility playing defence, midfield and striker  today. Proved his true value to the team with great defensive work, tireless midfield running and great holding play when  up front, topped off with a good goal to kick start  the second half comeback. Well done Tai

Management thoughts.......... After a  below than average display in the first half, you boys listened to everything  Steve and I had to say at half time and took it to the field in the second half. The defensive players worked tirelessly  to keep the score line within reach at all times whilst the offensive players never stopped believing that they can get us back in the game. A draw was the least you boys deserved, however take nothing from the Welland boys they took their chances well and defended superbly at times.  Remember to keep your heads up and believe in your own and team mates abilities and all will be ok.