10:06am Monday 2nd November 2009
AFTER their first league defeat againstWells City a few days earlier, Westbury United did well to earn a point in a tough match at Portishead - and will feel they should have won on the day.
The first half was a very tight, hard-fought one with very few chances for either side as defences dominated.
Home captain Cleve Holder saw two headers go close, one forcing a fine save from Nick Evans in United’s goal.
At the other end Westbury’s good approach play went unrewarded with poor final balls, the closest they came being a weak effort by Rhys Schell after a lovely move between himself and Matty Smith.
The second half got off to a great start for Westbury when Dan Kovacs extended his fine run of goalscoring by putting his side ahead on 51 minutes.
He latched onto a through ball by Smith and fired a shot beyond James Hailwood and into the corner of the net.
With confidence flowing, United could have doubled their lead with Nathan Hallett and Kovacs making Hailwood save efforts at the end of fast breaks.
Portishead made a few attacking substitutions and one of them scored the equaliser on 66 minutes, Oliver Trevanthen arriving on the end of a Holder cross and getting the final touch with Westbury’s Mark Young unable to clear the danger.
After Smith had sent a 30-yarder narrowly wide, the returning Luke Smith got in a blocking tackle to deny James Hughes as he threatened to put Town in the lead.
Further chances came at both ends with Hailwood saving Kovacs’ powerful header, Lee Brice sending a free kick just wide and Dan Dominy rifling over after a Wayne Wheeler corner.
Westbury: Nick Evans, Sayeed Ibrahim, Mark Young, Dan Dominy, Luke Smith, Tom Robinson, Bobby Mitchell, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Rhys Schell, Nathan Hallett. Subs: Nick Ridout, Aaron Billett, Wayne Wheeler (all used).
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