Fresh out of luck

The Season So Far:

These 2 sides both compete in the Trowbridge and District League which is a feeder to the Wilshire Senior League. Freshford are in Division 1, while Westbury reserves play in the second tier. Before the curtailment of the season, Westbury were unbeaten and flying high in first position after having played 7 games. In the level above, Freshford were 4th, having won 3 and lost 3.

So far the visitors have played a couple of friendlies in the post-season and not had the best of times: losing 3-1 to Warminster United and 5-0 to Calne Town reserves. Naturally they’ll be looking to turn things around against Freshford. Speaking of today’s home side; I was only able to find details of one friendly result – a 6-2 loss at home to Hilperton United.

Despite there being a division between these 2 teams, I’m anticipating a close match given the poor friendly results so far for both sides, and Westbury’s impressive run last ‘season’.

The Visit:

Freshford is a picturesque village between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon, beside the Rivers Frome and Avon. It is served by a small train station with a decent number of services stopping and therefore making it easy enough for me to get to this match. Browns Park is at the top of the village, just off the Warminster Road which heads into Bath, and opposite a posh-looking hotel. Sharing car parking facilities and wonderful views of the surrounding countryside with a couple of tennis courts, it proved to be one of the more pleasing-to-the-eye venues I’ve watched football at recently. The ground is very basic, even for this level of football without so much as rudimentary dugouts for the subs and coaches. This must make being a substitute a miserable experience during inclement weather! On the near side there is an extended grassy area where the coaching teams and replacement players gathered. The remaining sides of the pitch are surrounded by level grass.

Fortunately today the weather was, for the most part at least, dry and sunny if not particularly warm. The game took a while to get going despite a couple of early chances shared between the sides – Westbury’s keeper turning over a shot from the home number 9. The visitors then breaking away from the resulting corner and forcing a corner of their own after a one-on-one effort was deflected wide. On 16 minutes the visitors should’ve taken the lead with their number 11 scuffing a finish straight at the home keeper when very well placed. On the half hour mark the game did come to life, albeit for the wrong reasons – the referee doing well to keep things relatively calm after a late tackle led to a brawl involving the majority of both sides. Westbury had another good chance on 37 minutes but their striker seemed to be caught in two minds and sided-footed his volley straight at the grateful goalie. There was time for a chance for each side before half time – Freshford’s number 17 beat the offside trap but his snap shot was off-target; the orange-clad keeper gathering regardless. A back post header from the away number 10 flew just wide with a few minutes remaining of the half and that was it, nil-nil after the first 45 minutes.

4 minutes into the second period and Westbury came agonisingly close to scoring – number 11 again finding himself one-on-one and this time could only hit the post – the home defence managing to block the ensuing follow-ups. A couple of minutes later and Freshford were awarded a penalty for a foul in the area. Number 9 sent the keeper the wrong way with an emphatic spot kick into the bottom corner. It became apparent that Westbury were now playing with 10 men. At first I was unsure if the culprit from the penalty was red carded or if someone was injured and Westbury out of subs, but soon after they did make a change so I can only assume there was a red card shown. (I was later informed by the Freshford United Twitter account that the Westbury player was sent off for dissent, so thanks to them for the information.) 3 minutes later the visitors were claiming for a penalty of their own but their number 7 was told to get to his feet by the assured referee. The home side started to make their one man advantage show, and on 65 minutes a great cross-field ball was skewed over by number 17. Another shot 4 minutes later was straight at the keeper. With a quarter of an hour remaining the Westbury keeper was called on again – Freshford’s number 7 controlling a blocked shot from a team mate, but found that his own shot was also half-blocked and fell kindly for the goalie. With 8 minutes remaining the visitors managed to create a chance of their own – their number 17 with a good shot which was well saved, parried into the path of the onrushing number 6 who it hit but at such point blank range that he was unable to guide it on target. It looked like a worse miss than it was. Freshford looked like they would be able to wind the clock down and claim victory, however deep into injury time their number 17 powered home a header to force the draw. This was celebrated as though it was a league fixture and reflected the competitive nature of the match.

I had a great time at Browns Park – a decent game of football in lovely surroundings. I’m sure I’ll be back soon given how easy it is for me to get here!