11th December 2010 Substitutes: Sinclair, Walters, Price, Bowen Dry with a hint of sun though bitterly cold as the fans assemble on the mound for what we hope will be a win to break our run of bad luck Westbury are a bit tentative at the start and Newtown are quick in the ascendancy after 7 minutes with a well taken corner from the far side of the stadium which is turned past Howl and into the back of the net. The goalie did not really have a chance. Westbury need to tighten up on their marking at the back. 0 - 1 Middleton breaks down the middle getting past the defender with a nice move but he is quickly closed down before he can get his shot in. Newtown are quick to the ball and with their striker almost man-marking our goalie they are on the offensive at every opportunity. Westbury seem to be just that little bit slower today and are being made to pay in one on one situations. Westbury win a corner but there is no one on the end of a well flighted ball from Hood and Newtown push it out of play. Throw in Westbury but the advantage is lost. Newtown launch a long shot and Howl is nearly beaten as the ball is wet and very slippery. He reaches the ball easily but cannot hold and has to dive quickly to ground finally bring the ball to hand and calm the fans frayed nerves. Newtown definitely have better of the play at the moment creating a series of positive opportunities in front of goal but Howl has upped his game and keeps the ball out of the net despite coming under prolonged pressure. Sinclair breaks on the left passing neatly to Lister but the ball takes a deflection and runs wide for a corner. Hood steps up to take it and launches it into a crowded penalty area. Middleton gets a neat touch on but there is no one to finish it off. McNab tries his luck from the half way line but the ball flies over the cross bar. Unlucky. Westbury are caught napping as Newtown break quickly but Howl is good for it and mops up the loose ball. Dangerous. McNab put a throw in to Middleton who passes to Lister but he has no where to go. Hood Off Price On Woodland muscles his way past three players in the middle of the pitch and fires a screamer at the top corner. The goalie can only touch it wide for a corner. It is too long and flies out for a throw in. Westbury break again through the middle but Woodland slips in the poor conditions and the play breaks down. Westbury are playing well together in this period of play but seem to lack a decisive finish in the last third of the field. Half time Westbury 0 – 1 Newtown – we are certainly not out of it if the team keep trying. Middleton Off – Lister Off – Bowen On - Sinclair on Immediately from the restart Bowen gets a chance to lob the ball over the keeper (good thinking) but puts it over the bar. Newtown are immediately back on the offensive and a quick one two sees the ball in the back of the net. Howl could do nothing. 0 – 2 Newtown The team are a little slow to regain field position and mark up from the dead ball situations, they need to stay alert all of the time or they will continue to get caught. Newtown win a corner and narrowly miss adding a third. Pay attention guys. Woodland off – Hood on Newtown break but Price and Howl are quick to close them down. Howl sends a long one to Sinclair but he is too slow and is caught on the ball and play breaks down. Westbury win a throw in but Newtown recover possession and immediately move the ball forward catching Westbury flat footed and the ball is in the back of the net before we can say, 0 - 3 Newtown Westbury are not giving up and win a corner. Can we do something with it? Position in the danger area is not brilliant and there is no one to pick up the incoming ball. Missed opportunity. Bowen picks up the loose ball at the far post and shoots but it runs wide. McNab tries again with a long range effort but the goalie was never troubled. The ball is launched to a free player on the right wing who spots Howl off his line and sends a long range effort into the back of the net. 0 - 4 Newtown Bowen makes a one man effort striding almost the length of the pitch but his final touch is too much and the goalie beats him to the ball. Russell breaks into the penalty area but cannot find a way through, Hood picks up the clearance and fires one into the mellee but it runs wide. McNab off - Lister On Sinclair, Bowen and Lister combine well in the middle of the field, the guys are still giving all they have but once again fail to close the deal. Russell launches a shot. The goalie is completely flat-footed but manages to get in the way of the shot and denies Westbury a consolation goal. Newtown break but Price is tenacious and refuses to let his man by. There is an exchange off the ball and Price, injured, is reluctant to leave the pitch. Finally Middleton takes his place. The final whistle blows. Westbury 0, Newtown 4. Man of the Match Lister Managers Comments A good performance today and although the score line suggests something different we all know better, we are pleased that you played ‘our way’ and ignored the striker who was permanently camped in our penalty box. Keep working hard and the results will come. There were several players who performed well today; Sinclair for his control, Bowen for his desire and work rate, and Price for his committed challenges but remember not to take matters into your own hands and leave the decisions to the ref! Today’s Man of the Match was awarded to a player who worked hard for the team and showed great vision and commitment, well done Lister, a great performance.