Striker Matt Mead socred his first goal of the season for the First Team, but Westbury's seven match unbeaten run came to an end in a physical encounter at Shepton Mallet.

Mead was in the team due to Dan Kovacs being absent because of illness. The match was marred by a serious foot injury to Westbury's Luke Smith (the injury was not caused by a bad challenge), which led to a 20 minute delay while an ambulance was called to attend : Westbury's hard working defender was taken to Bath RUH.

After home forward Lucas Ward had set up Greg Dycer for the game's opening chance, which was wasted, Mead notched the opening goal on 10 minutes : excellent work by Ashley Groves and skill by Wayne Wheeler led to the latter playing the ball into the box where Mead arrived to sidefoot into the net.

Wheeler himself went close to making it 0-2 with a 20 yarder that flew wide while Ward came to the fore by forcing Nick Evans into a diving save. Shepton's wingers, Ben Lacey and Ren Turnock, were a constant threat and Lacey's pinpoint cross found Dycer who headed inches wide.

A scrappy period of play with attacks breaking down and defences on top was ended by a great piece of play by Lacey : he broke down the left and fizzed a cross into the danger area where Ward arrived to powerfully head in the equaliser on 42.

Midfield workhorse Bobby Mitchell, whose previous goal came at this Shepton last season, almost repeated the feat on the stroke of half time but Owen Dunn made a good save.

For some reason matches between these two teams have become local-derby-like in their intensity, which should make next Tuesday's (31 March, Meadow Lane, 7.45pm) quick return fixture an interesting one.

The second half was a full blooded affair with challenges flying in and several yellow cards shown by the referee.

Turnock set up Francis who struck the ball wide on 47, but ten minutes later there was action at both ends as United went close to regaining their lead before the home side notched what turned out to be the winner : Nathan Hallett worked an opening and his cross found Wheeler who saw Dunn save an overhead kick.

The keeper launched a counter attack with Ward forcing Evans into a save but the ball fell kindly for Francis and he finished with ease.

Westbury felt they should have had a penalty on 70 when Mark Pearce was pushed over by Lee Smith when trying to get on the end of Groves' chip into the box, however the referee turned down the appeals and the nearest they came to another goal was when Hallett put the ball wide from a Pete Ayton set piece.

The injury to Luke Smith came with five minutes remaining, forcing Westbury to play the remaining time with ten men because all substitutions had been made.

It was Shepton who came closest in that time with Ayton clearing Francis' 20 yarder off the line and Evans saving from Dycer in a one on one situation.

TEAM - Nick Evans, Sayeed Ibrahim, Luke Smith, Bobby Mitchell, Nick Ridout, Lee Morgan, Ashley Groves, Matty Smith, Matt Mead, Wayne Wheeler, Tarick Yachou

SUBS - Nathan Hallett, Mark Pearce, Pete Ayton (all used)