WESTBURY United boss Neil Kirkpatrick felt weekend defeat at Shepton Mallet was harsh on his diminished squad.

The Meadow Lane outfit went down 2-1 on the road in Somerset with a number of players unavailable.

After a goalless first period, a Jack Fillingham brace gave high-flying Mallet a two-goal advantage.

But Westbury battled on and nabbed one back when Steve Hulbert sent a header across goal and into the net.

Try as they might there would be no leveller, which Kirkpatrick believed would have been well earned.

“It was probably a bit harsh on us really, we probably deserved a point,” he said.

“We went with a number of players missing but played really well.

“The difference was we limited them to very few chances, but they took a couple that came their way and we didn’t.

“Generally I was really pleased with the way we played.”

Kirkpatrick’s enforced changes could well have spelt trouble.

However, he was pleased with the reaction from his charges upon going two-goals down.

“There were a couple of people playing out of position and what have you, and we could have rolled over then,” he said.

“But the lads stuck to the task and we had them on the back foot then.

“Both defences were probably on top during the game, but we certainly created a couple more chances than they did.”

Meanwhile, last week it was announced the Western League were denied their request to extend the season by a week by the Football Association.

Compared to some clubs in the division Westbury are not in too bad a position in terms of their remaining fixtures.

However, Kirkpatrick felt the FA’s decision was “short-sighted”.

“It doesn’t really affect us because we’ve looked after and invested in our pitch so we’ve got games on,” the Westbury chief said.

“We’ve only got three or four midweeks for the rest of the season so we’re fine.

“Another week wouldn’t have hurt to extend it to May 2, it would save maybe long distance trips.

“Maybe teams should look at what they’re doing with their pitches first, but equally I understand.

“I think it’s a very short-sighted decision that they haven’t extended it by one week, but I’m concerned about us. I’m not too worried either way.”

Elsewhere in the top flight, Bradford Town had their weekend game at home to Cribbs rained off.