Suddenly it all comes right for Westbury
3:56pm Monday 6th October 2008
Wells City 0, Westbury United 3
AFTER their stuttering start to the season, everything finally clicked into place for Westbury with a comfortable three goal victory at Wells City in the Toolstation League First Division on Saturday.
Mark Pearce continued his remarkable goalscoring form since being brought into the side as a forward, while Nick Ridout found the net from the penalty spot after a foul on man-of-the-match Ashley Groves.
On a wet and windy afternoon both sides played attractive football on the excellent playing surface and it was Groves who inspired his team with an energetic midfield performance.
Pete Ayton had a chance after just ten seconds but his effort was saved by Luke Langson. Nick Evans also made an early save when Levi Marlow struck a skidding shot from outside the box. An excellent move involving Ridout and Wayne Wheeler set up Tarick Yachou but his ball across the face of goal went to waste with nobody attacking the box.
Marlow thought he'd put Wells ahead after 17 minutes. Francis Rolli and Nathan Truckle combined with the latter's left wing cross being headed against the bar by Marlow and the ball then hit Evans before going in, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Wheeler, Pearce and Yachou created several chances before Pearce opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Wheeler played a lovely ball in to Pearce on the edge of the box and he took a touch before finishing confidently into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
More openings followed for Westbury as Pearce was denied by a last gasp clearance by Craig Rimmer before latching onto Yachou's cross and hitting the ball just wide.
Wells threatened to draw level in the closing stages of the half with Evans saving Rolli's low 20 yarder, Barry Saunders firing a fierce effort inches over the bar and Marlow shooting narrowly wide when well placed after good work by Rimmer.
There was no less action after the break, but encouragingly Westbury's defence held firm while their attacking play had more threat then in earlier games.
A superb move between Ayton and Pearce set Groves running into the box in the 49th minute when he was fouled by Saunders and a penalty awarded. Ridout scored with ease from the spot to make it 0-2.
Ayton and Wheeler went close as a third goal looked likely, while Saunders found the side-netting and Rimmer saw a strike deflected wide in two rare second half Wells attacks.
Yachou had shot from 25 yards before he was involved in a counter-attacking goal that clinched victory in the 68th minute. Groves played the ball to Yachou who fed it onto Pearce and his immediate low strike flew past Langson and into the net for his ninth goal in eight games.
Westbury's confidence was flowing and further openings followed, with Wheeler trying his luck twice but seeing the ball drift off target, Ayton bringing a save out of Langson and Matty Smith appealing for a penalty after rounding the goalkeeper and claiming he'd been brought down in the area.