JOINT Westbury United boss Neil Kirkpatrick praised his side’s tactical performance in his absence during Saturday’s comfortable three-goal FA Cup victory over Saltash United.

Dan Kovacs put Westbury ahead on the stroke of half-time before second-half efforts from Josh Ferguson and Francois Allen secured the home side’s spot in the first round qualifying.

Despite missing the game due to a wedding, Kirkpatrick admitted his side’s performance wasn’t made easy by a determined Saltash outfit that pushed the Toolstation Premier Division side in the opening 45.

He said: “It was a superb result for us against a very good side. It was pleasing that we managed the game well and made some tactical changes in the second half that paid dividends.

“Saltash but ourselves under pressure in the first half so our response was something we can take from the game.”

Westbury were hit throughout the 90 minutes with injuries sustained to both Dan Jordan and Kovacs.

While Jordan’s injury shouldn’t keep him out for too long, prolific goalscorer Kovacs is feared to have picked up an Achilles injury.

Kirkpatrick said: “We had to change shape, but we played well in the second half and deserved the victory in the end.

“Dan Jordan won’t be out for too long but Dan Kovacs has a heavy blow just above his Achilles – he has seven goals in six games, so we don’t want to be missing him.”

Meanwhile Westbury have been drawn away to Premier Division rivals Bitton for the first qualifying round, a match which comes after this weekend’s trip to Cowes Sports in the FA Vase – a team Kirkpatrick knows little about.

“We don’t know an awful lot about them, except that they are doing well in the Wessex Premier Division,” he added.

Bradford Town were unfortunate to concede late on to Southern League Paulton Rovers to lose 1-0 at Trowbridge Road in their preliminary round tie.