Tuesday 25th April 2023 will be a date that Tom Willoughby’s Heytesbury sidewill never forget. Arriving at the Gooding Accounts Stadium, Westbury for the final of the PAH Accounting sponsored A&B Cup they knew that they were just 90 minutes away from making their own piece of history.
Standing in their way of becoming the first team in the 125 year history of the Gooding Accounts sponsored Trowbridge & District League to complete a never before achieved quadruple were Westbury United Reserves who they had already narrowly beaten twice this season.
The 93rd final of the competition which was first won by Woolley Grange way back in 1922 may not have produced a goal fest, but on a perfect evening for football, the crowd at Meadow Lane were treated to a keenly fought affair, in which it took special goals, that saw Heytesbury come from behind to claim a 2-1 triumph, which completed the final part of a deserved quadruple of the Division One title, Wiltshire Junior Cup, Knockout & A&B Cup success.
Both teams made lively starts with Westbury having the first real chance that saw Mark Robinson head a Jack Sterling cross over the bar in the 5th minute. Almost immediately at the other end, Westbury keeper Dan Blackwell had to be alert to tip Reece Collyer’s 25 yard effort over the bar.
On 9 minutes, Heytebury’s Callum Hotine headed a great chance against the bar, while at the other end Jack Booth’s 14th minute effort from 20 yards, flashed the wrong side of the post.
Heytesbury thought they had taken the lead on 19 minutes, moments after Liam Gibbens had gone close. Jake Wright turned the ball home, only for his effort to be rightly ruled out for an earlier foul.
Heytesbury were starting to get on top of their opponents, but it took them until the 35th minute to test the Westbury keeper, who spilled a Collyer strike before scooping it up ahead of the incoming Jake Wright who then missed a glorious opportunity to make it 1-0, his close range header finding the hands of keeper Blackwell.
Keeper, Blackwell then keep Westbury in the game with two fine stops, the first saw him at full stretch to keep out a Myles Woodward strike, the second on 43 minutes saw brilliantly keep out a Ben Howlett penalty to keep the final goalless.
Westbury United Reserves keeper Dan Blackwell saving Ben Howlett’s penalty
The second period began with Westbury on top, but without creating any real openings, but once again it was Heytesbury who had an excellent chance to take the lead, a pin point corner from Collyer found Jake Wright who really should have tested the keeper with a header that sailed over the bar.
Heytesbury were then made to pay for not taking any of their numerous chances as Westbury took the lead which on their second half showing was deserved, the goal may not have been great, but on 59 minutes Jack Sterling was on hand to bundle the ball home after Heytesbury failed to clear their lines.
Jack Sterling and Finn Young celebrate the opening goal for Westbury United Reserves
Westbury went close to making it 2-0 in the 65th minute, with Doug Dickson’s free kick just falling wide of the mark.
Heytesbury knew they had a battle on their hands and they raised the tempo of the game with Jake Wright’s trickery seeing him cut through the Westbury defence and on 68 minutes, Heytesbury were back on level terms and the dreams of the quad were back on. It was that man Wright who planted the ball beyond a despairing Blackwell, but the goal was all about the buildup that saw Heytesbury move the ball brilliantly before Wright applied the killer finish that the move deserved.
If Wright’s goal was the catalyst for the Heytesbury revival, what followed 5 minutes later was incredible, out of nowhere and from about 35 from goal Kieran Green unleashed a sublime drive that arrowed beyond keeper Blackwell and into the bottom corner to put Heytesbury 2-1 up.
Kieran Green celebrates his stunning winning strike for Heytesbury
On 83 minutes, Green went close to adding a third for Heytesbury with only the frame of the goal denying him what would have been another spectacular finish, his free kick from 25 yards had the keeper well beaten, but the bar came to his rescue.
With time running out, Westbury had one last throw of the dice, and were inches away from taking the game to extra time, a deep cross to the back post from Olly Sterling picked out Matty Hall whose header came back off the bar and with that went Westbury’s hopes of getting back in the game.
Heytesbury were able to see out the remainder of the game until the referee blew the final whistle to send their jubilant players and supporters wild as they sealed what in the end was a hard fought victory to cap what has been an incredible season for Tom Willoughby’s men.
Both teams received their mementoes from Phil Hendy who represented sponsors PAH Accounting. Heytesbury’s captain Dan Dicks collected the Cup and team mate Jake Wright won the Player of the Match award.
Heytesbury celebrate their quadruple success, pictured with the Division One Winners Trophy, Knockout, A&B and Wiltshire FA Junior Cup
A&B CUP SPONSORS PAH ACCOUNTING