After last weeks disappointing performance the loyal traveling fans are looking for the team to up their game today and steady the ship. We know that our opponents today were very strong contenders in this division last year and are a force to be reckoned with.

The weather is dry and bright and the Malvern hills are clearly visible in the distance. Westbury, urged on by an extremely animated coaching staff look more confident than they have for a while and do not seem intimidated by the opposition.

Bowen is missing from the line up today having been sent for some high altitude training.

Substitutes – Walters, Price, Middleton

L & B start the game and we are away. Straight from the off L & B are on the money. They are just that little bit quicker to the ball and their positional awareness around the pitch is putting Westbury under pressure. L & B create a fine chance with a well hit shot from 15 yards missing the near post. Howl had it covered. L & B continue to press with a lot of the play concentrated in the Westbury half of the pitch. Sinclair has dropped back to help and, quick to spot a developing attack sprints 20 yards to cut off the attackers options. Heads come together and both players are down. Lucky there are no major injuries and both are back up before the stretcher makes it on to the pitch.

L & B continue to threaten and win a corner. The resulting spot kick is easily mopped up by Woodland who quickly clears. The Westbury fans sense that this is balanced on a knife edge and that the team having weathered the initial L & B attack are starting to see some of the ball. McNab clears another well constructed L & B attack, hiking the ball long towards Sinclair who cannot get on the end of it before the keeper has it to hand.  Russell sprints forward forcing a throw in which is squandered and McNab and Hood are forced to combine to shut down the L & B attack, conceding a corner. A rare poorly taken corner from L & B allows Lister and Sinclair to break on the left but the attack breaks down. The Westbury fans are at fever pitch. McNab and Howl are called upon to fend off another attack from L & B.

Westbury persistence pays off as they win a free kick on edge of the box. The ball flies in low to Russell in front of goal but he cannot put a foot to it before it runs wide, unlucky lads. Sinclair sends a beautifully weighted corner in to Woodland who could not convert the opportunity. The coaches are almost hoarse on the touch line. Howl pulls of the save of the day pushing the ball over the bar at full stretch in the top corner. Well saved.

Lister off Middleton on.

Westbury play is still a bit patchy but you cannot fault the effort and spirit. Hood takes a shot from 20 yards but pushes it wide. Russell tests the keeper from the edge of the box. McNab fancies his chances and sends a long one from the half way line over the bar.

Half Time No score

McNab off, Sinclair off, Price on, Walters on.

Price justifies the change at half time showing his usual calm on the left of defense to jink past an attacker and clears to Russell. The fans begin to sense that Westbury whilst not playing their best football could keep a clean sheet and even steal a goal. But, a momentary lack of concentration and L & B make Westbury pay as they fire one into the back of the net past the keeper’s outstretched fingers.

One goal to nil. Advantage L & B.

Westbury restart and straight away press forward. Middleton takes a knock and is replaced by Lister. L & B seem to have lost a little bit of their composure in the last few minutes. Westbury are digging deep – trying to pull back to level pegging. A scramble in the L & B goal mouth as the keeper spills the ball but there is no one there to punish the mistake. Westbury win a corner and Hood’s cross in is millimeter perfect for Woodland who has an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time, the headed ball has the keeper beaten but takes the paint of the wrong side of the goal post, you cannot get much closer than that. Twelve minutes left to play. Westbury continue to play with their heart on their sleeves, not elegant but determined, not pretty either.

Woodland is launching testing throw-ins almost half the length of the pitch for Lister and Walters to get on the end of. Russell finds himself on the end of a particularly well directed throw-in and forces a great save from the keeper, on another day that would have been in the back of the net. L & B bolster their defence sensing the danger to their narrow lead.

Russell off Middleton on.

Hood chances a massive lob but there is no one to pick it up.

Lister off Sinclair on

A scramble in the Westbury goal mouth sees the ball break to Woodland, he powers up the pitch and fires a shot just wide, keeper had it covered. End to end stuff now. Both teams slugging it out to the end. Middleton tries a shot but it did not have enough on it. The whistle goes for the end of the game.

Final score L & B 1 - Westbury 0

Managers’ Comments
A much better performance, whilst there wasn’t much football on display, the work rate was vastly improved on what we have seen over the last couple of games. Keep working hard and the football will improve and the results will come.

Man of the Match could have been awarded to a few different players today but it was an easy decision to give the award to Woodland for his committed challenges and fantastic work rate making sure that the L & B strikers never had an easy day, well done.