8th January 2011 Substitutes: Price, Walters (Absent Bowen) Dry with a hint of sun though bitterly cold as there is a fierce wind blowing. After an extended break over the festive period the team is back in the thick of it with a postponed Cup game today to blow away the cobwebs. Lets hope the lack of training has not affected the players fitness though a couple look like the festive period has seen one too many mince pies consumed. The fans are urging the ref to get the match underway as soon as possible as extremities start to painfully ice up. Westbury are quickly into their stride, at times the commentator has trouble keeping up as the ball flies from one foot to another. They do not seem to be able to put a foot or a ball wrong. The pitch though is a touch wet and sticky, hardly surprising after the last few weeks weather, and at times players on both sides are wrong footed as the ball behaves somewhat randomly. This is of particularly importance for the goalies who will need to keep their wits about them. Early chances fall to Hood, Russell and Woodland as Westbury quickly take control of the game with some confident passing and some good movement off the ball. The pressure pays off, as Middleton is able to grab the opener from a goalmouth scramble. 1 – 0 to Westbury. McNab clears the restart and finds Sinclair in the danger area but the goalie is quickly out and puts the ball out of play before he can make his move. Corner, Hood floats the ball in to Woodland whose shot runs wide of the near post. Westbury win another corner and another follows as the shot is pushed wide. The team is really looking lively today. None more so than Lister who is refusing to let anything go, massive work rate. Hood and Lister combine to tear open the Newtown defense and sensing the danger the defender has no option but to floor Lister. Free kick. Looked bad but he is back up in a jiffy – keen to get on with the game. Hood lines up a long-range effort but puts it over the bar. Unlucky. The Newtown goalie miss-hits the dead ball and it falls to Middleton who combines well with Russell in a one two – unlucky not to add to the score line. Sinclair and Woodland combine in a neatly executed move which Lister converts. 2 – 0 to Westbury. Once again the Newtown goalie fails to put enough length on his clearances and Russell picks up the loose ball, firing it back with interest. Middleton charges in hoping to pick up on any spilled ball and collides with the keeper. He goes down. The ball disappears into the back of the net. Middleton is up again but looks to be carrying an injury. 3 – 0 to Westbury. Russell Woodland whacks one in. The goalie can only palm it away to Sinclair who fires it straight back. But it is straight at the keeper and he gratefully scoops it up. Russell Off Walters on, Woodland Off Price on. It is bitterly cold and some of the players despite their exertions look like they are slowly freezing solid. Walters is on a break but tries too much and is closed down before he can release the ball. Middleton breaks forward and wins a corner. Sinclair steps up and sends a perfect ball to Middleton but he is unbalanced and cannot manage to turn the ball towards the net. Sinclair picks up the goalies free kick, passes to Middleton who jinks neatly round his man and touches the ball neatly into the back of the net. 4 – 0 to Westbury Newtown press forward from the restart but Price is not going to let anything past and forces the attacker wide and off balance. The shot is harmless. Half Time – Westbury 4 Newtown Sports Colts 0 Newtown take the restart but immediately Price is at their feet and passes neatly to Hood who lays it off to Sinclair but the shot needs more on it and is easily taken by the goal keeper. Walters and Middleton combine in a nice move but the finish lets them down. Newtown press forward and steal one back against the run of play. Difficult bounce on the ball caught out Howl. Westbury 4 Newton 1 Westbury seem to have forgotten that football is a team game as a succession of lone efforts break down in the Newtown 25 yard box. The players off the ball are working hard to find a space but no one is passing the ball. Westbury win a free kick 30 yards out. Hood hits it hard and on target. Quick thinking the goalie drops to his knees to block the ball then scoops it up. Well taken. McNab off Woodland On Newtown win a free kick on the edge of the box. Well blocked by Price. Middleton Off Russell On Newtown win another free kick and take it quickly. Westbury are caught sleeping and Newtown are unlucky not to have another goal. Need to stay alert all the time guys. Sinclair passes to Lister but he cannot put the ball in the net. Woodland launches a long throw in straight to Lister but he is stood right next the keeper who steals the ball from under his nose. Price Off McNab On Howl launches a long ball that lands perfectly for Lister. He drives forward into a scrum of Newtown players and, refusing to give up on anything, manages to come out the other side still in possession of the ball. A neat touch finishes off a determined effort Westbury 5 Newtown 1 McNab passes to Sinclair who passes to Russell but the finish was not what he would have hoped for. Unlucky. Sinclair off Middleton on. Russell toe pokes another away in the dying seconds after a neat one two with Lister. Final score Westbury 6 Newtown 1 Man of the match – The team. Managers’ Comments A great all round performance today with plenty of positives to write about – the passing, control and movement was fantastic and as we have said all season if you work hard and play as a team the goals will come. Great performance today, well done. As a result of the all round team performance, it would be impossible to single out an individual player, so the Man of the Match was awarded to the whole team.