Off on our travels again this weekend this time not too far, just down the road to, yes you guessed it, another new team in our league, Worcester Raiders. A difficult one to call this, it may look on paper a bit like the team we played last week, no wins, but they have played harder teams, so will be interesting to see how it pans out, and whether the team can keep the winning run going.

Whistle blew and the game got underway, straight away Westbury oozing with confidence surged forward down the wing with Sinclair, cross to Lister shot was straight in the face of the Worcester player, and fell to Sinclair who’s shot hit the post, back out to Russell who finished calmly, 0 - 1 already! From the restart it was all Westbury again Russell off on a trademark run down the line forcing a corner, which was drilled in by Hood, the ball fell to the left foot of Russell off a Worcester defender, off the post, again Westbury like last week are dominating even in this early period of the game.

Worcester are looking to catch the Westbury defence on the hop with the 2 pacy front men, but as always Howl who when called upon has been superb in goal was out like a shot and cleared the ball up field.  

More Westbury pressure, this time a through ball from Price to Sinclair, who took the shot early, but was just wide. Worcester can’t get out of their half, Sinclair and Russell are linking up well and again Russell got a shot off under pressure but just over the bar.

Things are just not falling for the team at the moment they are creating wonderful chances with lovely passing from the midfield, to the wide players and back in again, just how football should be played, the defensive duo of Price and McNab, after a successful pairing last week are looking just as solid this week even though they have two quick attackers to deal with.  In fact it was the quick Worcester number 7 who broke free and was off like a rocket but Price was with him and forced him wide and the attempted cross was well wide, excellent play by Price.  Howl with his goal kick spotted Sinclair in space, who with a lovely first touch was one on one with the keeper, and slipped it past him 0 – 2, very well taken.

Worcester came back into the game after conceding the 2nd goal and were pushing hard, Hood and Lister in midfield are positioning themselves well to break up the play and distribute the ball wide, Lister got free down the line and slotted a lovely ball across the box nobody could get on the end of it, but Russell chased it down and kept it in, back to Hood who crossed to Sinclair 0 - 3 a well worked goal, any team would have been cut a part with passing and movement like that.

A couple of changes McNab off Woodland on and Sinclair off Middleton on, Middleton was in the thick of things straight away with a lovely flowing move between Lister, Hood and Middleton, but the Worcester defence shut the door. Again Worcester broke the defensive line and despite Price’s superb effort to get back and get a tackle in, the Worcester player slipped the ball under the hand of Howl, it was a well taken goal, and against the run of play, but a warning to Westbury, 1 - 3.

Woodland fresh from the sand in Weston last week was keen to get back to the day job, and set off on his Ferdinand run from defence, he got the cross in, but again no one could get a foot on it, well played though gave the Worcester team something to think about.  Time nearly up in the half, Russell, took it down the line, cut back to Lister who had a sweet shot that forced a good save from the keeper for a corner, nothing resulted from the corner and the Ref blew for half-time.

Half Time 1 - 3

After the first half, the travelling and dedicated supporters, not the ones still in bed, had high hopes, but also a cautious eye on Worcester, as they do have a couple of handy players. I think the Worcester half time team talk was along the line of a Mike Bassett team talk, as they started brightly and purposely, pushing forward and got a shot off that was blocked by Hood throwing himself at the ball, then Woodland blocking a shot followed by Price, thankfully nothing broke the Westbury defence, well done lads.

Russell got a wonderfully weighted ball off to Middleton but the Worcester defender, with the managers voice still ringing in his ears closed him down in double quick time. A high deflected ball was brought down by Lister who got the pass up to Hood, as he did he was caught late by the Worcester player, forcing an unplanned change, so Sinclair on in his place.

Russell slipped the ball to Middleton, and it was Worcester’s turn for last ditch defending, Middleton, Russell and Sinclair all had shots blocked, finally it was Middleton who got the last touch as the ball rolled over the line 1 – 4, well done they never gave up.

McNab on for Price, straight away McNab was called upon, and his strength was needed as he stole the ball from the Worcester player and passed in up the line.  Russell to Hood, back to Russell finally back to Hood 1 – 5, well taken goal from a well worked move. Lister back on for Russell, and almost his first touch Lister slotted the ball to Middleton 1 – 6, so well taken.

Almost straight from the kick-off, Westbury scored again with a well taken move, Lister to Hood to Middleton, who kept calm and took a well placed shot 1 – 7 but Westbury hadn’t finished, they had the bit between their teeth, Sinclair broke free hammered it home for his hat trick 1 – 8, and a final flurry a Woodland cross finished with a Russell goal 1 - 9.
 

Full Time: 1 - 9

MOTM:  Middleton – A hat trick today and well deserved, at times was playing in a battlefield, but kept his head and worked the positions and space well, good game today, well done.

Another rugby score line, wow in two weeks as well, some teams don’t even see that in a season.  The difference today was obvious; we had a team, playing with each other and for each other. Westbury are looking so good at the moment, as a team, they need to keep it up.  No league matches for two weeks now, then a much tougher game against Evesham on the 7th.

Managers Comments

Another great performance, excellent passing and team play, you have scored 19 goals in two games but remember, this is a team effort and not conceding a goal or making a last ditched tackle is just as important as scoring goals. If you focus on passing the ball, holding your positions and continue to work as a team you will keep being successful, keep it up.