Match Report: Westbury United 2-1 Exmouth Town

An injury-hit Exmouth Town fell to a third successive Southern League Division One South defeat, as they were beaten 2-1 away to Westbury United.

Matt Wright put Town in front with a superb header, but two Leighton Thomas goals turned the game around in the second half.

It was the hosts who started marginally the.stronger team and winger Bevan Cross almost put Westbury ahead on the 10th minute mark after his curling effort cracked the post from distance.

Westbury continued to grow into the game and the Wiltshire outfit troubled the town goal again five minutes later when forward Thomas forced Matt Wonnacott into a smart save at his near post to keep the scores level.

This proved to be a wake up call for Exmouth, who started to find success down the right-hand side with Alex Cairo and Iestyn Harris linking up well in particular.

This link-up paid dividends in the 25th minute when the pair worked together to release Ethan Slater whose peach of a cross was guided into the top left corner by the head of Wright to put Town a goal to the good.

Town took control of the rest of the first half and frustrated the hosts with their strong defensive shape, leaving no gaps for Westbury to play through and Town went into half time deserving the one goal lead.

Westbury came out in the second half with a point to prove however and won a penalty within one minute of the restart. Josh Jenkins stepped up for the penalty but his effort was superbly saved by the in-form Wonnacott to keep Town ahead.

The hosts hit the post from the resulting corner and had Town on the ropes with a few last ditch defensive efforts keeping Town’s lead intact.

Just a few minutes later, Thomas was presented with a golden chance which was headed over the bar from inside the six yard box to keep United scoreless.

Town’s luck soon ran dry though, and Thomas finally got his goal when he diverted a strike past Wonnacott from six yards out to deservedly draw Westbury level.

The hosts remained on top after the goal and looked the most likely to score a winner in spite of towns resilient defending. This came to fruition in the 71st minute
when Westbury won the ball high up the pitch and released Thomas who slotted home to double his goal tally for the day.

Town looked fatigued after a busy schedule and struggled to create any chances to claw their way back into the game.  Westbury looked the most likely to get the fourth goal, with talisman Thomas missing two gilt edged chances to seal his hatrick in the dying embers of the game.

Exmouth will hope to get back to winning ways against bottom of the league Slimbridge AFC at the Search4Local stadium this Saturday.

Line-Up: Wonnacott, Harris, Cann, Knowles, Landricombe, Shipton (High, 81), Slater, Johnson (Kraus, 65), Chastey (Battle, 89), Cairo, Wright.