Substitutes: McNab. Lister, Bowen, Walters

The coach driver was late this morning and the team looks a little unsettled. Lets hope it does not put them off. Dry and sunny but someone forgot to turn on the heating, very cold. It is bitter. The reporter lost the use of his fingers and struggled to record the events of the match.

Westbury start the game and almost immediately Price is involved in a crunching collision, going down like a sack of spuds. There is a sharp intake of breath from the away stand. Luckily he is only dazed and is soon back on his feet. Westbury win a corner and Sinclair does the honours with a fantastic ball. Woodland is inches from making contact but cannot stretch any further.

Both teams appear tentative though it may just be they are so cold they cannot move. United break forward. Three on one but they cannot make the advantage count. Howl clears. The ball falls to Sinclair who tries to muscle his way through the defense but there is no-where to go. Westbury are not their usual selves today. They are working hard but not to great effect. Positional awareness needs improving and their passing is not as accurate as we know they are capable of.

Colts try a long range effort and the ball seems to have a mind of its own as it spills from Howls grasp and finds its way into the back of the net.

1 - 0 United

Russell breaks on the left and nearly breaks the cross bar with his shot, unlucky.

United win two corners on the trot but struggle to find the back of the net. Westbury break and force a corner. Sinclair takes but there is no – one on the end of it. United are extremely quick on the break and Westbury seem to struggle a bit when they are caught on the back foot. Westbury are leaving huge holes at the back and only by defending in numbers are they keeping themselves in this.

Russell combines with Woodland but is pounced on in front of goal as he lines up his shot, unlucky. United test Howl just as the whistle blows for half time.

Half Time United 1 Westbury 0

Price off McNab on

Russell off Walters on

Middleton off Bowen on

Sinclair off Lister on

Westbury start the second half battling hard and putting 100% effort in but it is not terribly pretty. They are winning the ball but are not creating any real chances. Their normally pin sharp passing seems to have deserted them today and everything looks laboured. The pitch is bumpier than we are used to and the grass is long and wet but all the same…. United continue to press forward very quickly when the opportunity presents and grab a second goal when Westbury fail to clear their lines. Lister and Bowen combine to test the United goalie in the dying minutes but he does not have to work too hard. The referee blows for time.

Final Score St Johns Colts United 2 Westbury Celtic Juniors 0.

Managers’ Comments
After the great performances from recent matches, today’s game was a little disappointing, we seemed to be lethargic and were second to almost every ball, sometimes we accept that we can have a bad day at the office!

On a positive note, Bowen put on a great display and showed the rest of the team his desire and Walters who not only ran his socks off but also displayed great control and commitment, a well done both, you have now set the bar that we want you to achieve every week.