Go West.

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Intro

These two teams have met twice in the league already this year, with Westbury coming out on top both times. Currently in 7th position (out of 12), Westbury’s last game (due to being handed a walkover, and then a postponement) was in fact a 2-1 away win over Highworth.

Today’s visitors to Redland Lane are a place lower than their hosts in the league, and in their last match lost 5-2 to Durrington. Their standout result so far this season is probably their 6-1 win over Calne Town back in September, while a result to forget was their 4-0 defeat to strugglers Bath Athena.

The league strikes me as somewhat unbalanced with the top 4 teams – Corsham Town (who at the time of writing have scored 100 goals, and conceded just 4 in 16 games), FC Chippenham, Durrington and Bemerton Heath Harlequins seemingly streets ahead, and regularly inflicting heavy defeats on their opponents.

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The Ground

Redland Lane is just across town from Meadow Lane, home of Southern League Westbury United. A good sized car park lies alongside the basic changing facilities, and while there is a tea hut it was sadly not open today. While it doesn’t have a huge number of features to boast about, it does serve an important purpose – providing somewhere for football to take place!

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The Match

It was the worst start possible for the visitors as their number 8 turned the ball into her own net from a low cross. Highworth’s number 18 latched onto a ball over the top but Westbury keeper Jade Whale saved with her feet. The away side did equalise on 20 minutes as Whale beat the ball away but only as far as Kirran Kaur who finished well. An audacious effort from the Westbury number 8 from out wide almost restored the hosts’ lead a few minutes later, but dropped just wide. Shortly after, another outrageous attempt nearly embarrassed the Highworth goalkeeper – this time Millie Light with the lob which hit the post. It fell to the Lauren Trim but her effort also hit the woodwork and Highworth were able to clear the ball. Controversy struck just before the half-hour as the visitors appeared to take the lead – an effort from a long throw seemed to hit the post and was subsequently turned home by Highworth’s number 11. Their joy was short-lived as the referee ruled the goal out, stating that the ball in fact bounced back off one of the wheels of the goal rather than the post.

A good effort from 20 yards from Highworth’s number 7 was the first of the 2nd half, but it was Westbury who retook the lead on 55 minutes. Some battling attacking play allowed Millie Light to beat the keeper to the ball and find the net from a tricky angle. The away team almost had an instant response but Kaur scuffed her shot wide with perhaps too much time in the box. And they were made to pay just seconds later as Macey Light (presumably sister of Millie) sent a fantastic lob over the visiting keeper into the far side of the net to make it 3-1. On 66 minutes Highworth’s number 11 almost found a goal back but her shot flew just too high. Westbury more or less but the game out of reach with 12 minutes remaining – Alice Bevan sending a curling corner into the danger area which was fumbled by the keeper and nestled in the back of the net. 2 minutes later a Highworth corner was half-cleared, the follow-up shot was well struck but hit the underside of the crossbar and was claimed by Whale. The visitors did get another goal back on 84 minutes – a really good volley on the turn from Michelle Rich. A drop ball soon after almost made for a very interesting final few minutes – Westbury were caught napping as Rich crossed to number 7, but the shot was just over.

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The Photos

The full gallery of match photos is also available HERE