THIRD Division sides Westbury Town and Westwood Social Club met for the third time this campaign when they locked horns at Meadow Lane, Westbury on Tuesday evening in the final of the EJ Shanley & Son-sponsored Spring Cup.

And like the previous two encounters which were won by Westbury, Andy Cousins' side lived up to their billing as favourites as they claimed a resounding 6-1 win in some of the worst conditions ever seen at a cup final, torrential rain making conditions difficult for both sides.

Fifty-year-old Neil Yates' 26-year association with Westwood was recognised on the night as he was handed the armband to lead the villagers out for their third final appearance in four years.

But unfortunately for Yates, his team didn’t perform in the first half as Westbury cut them to shreds to open up a 5-0 interval lead.

Westbury were on the front foot from the off and nearly took the lead on four minutes as Ryan Earny’s 25 yard free kick was well saved by keeper Martin Cowdrey.

Cowdrey was in the thick of the action two minutes when he punched Daryl Maxwell’s rasping drive to safety.

The opening goal wasn’t long in coming. Jamie Howse picked the ball up 20 yards out and unleashed a spectacular strike beyond Cowdrey leaving him rooted to the spot on eight minutes.

Westwood were all at sea as they tried to keep out their rampaging opponents, who saw Scott Walford and Ryan Mead both go close before Howse doubled their lead in the 17th minute with another fiercely-struck shot that keeper Cowdrey was unable to hold on to.

When Westwood did manage to get forward they came up against Ryan Earny and Mike Chapple, who kept things tidy in the heart of the Westbury defence.

Daryl Maxwell should have added a third for Westbury on 25 minutes, but the club’s top scorer contrived to miss a sitter when it looked easier to score. Maxwell atoned for his miss in the 37th minute when he chipped the ball over Cowdrey’s head from 18 yards to make it 3-0.

If the game wasn’t already over as a contest it was on 44 minutes when Howse completed his hat-trick to make it 4-0 with another well-taken goal from 18 yards.

Less than a minute later Westbury added their fifth with Scott Walford finding the back of the net after a defensive mix up. Westwood were much better in the second half and had their first real shot on goal in the 50th minute with Rich Jones blasting over.

At the other end Mead looked all set to add a sixth for Westbury until a timely intervention from Ben Cowdrey.

Westwood pulled a goal back on 53 minutes. Charlie Rawlings was hauled down in the area and Nick Gleeson scored the resulting penalty - but it nothing more than a consolation.

Substitute Luke Smith had a chance for glory with his first touch of the ball but with just the keeper to be he fired harmlessly into Cowdrey’s grateful arms on 55 minutes.

Smith made up for his miss in the 66 minute when he pounced on a defensive error to fire in from 16 yards for 6-1. Westbury pressed looking for more goals. Tim Coombes was crowded out before he could get a shot off and Maxwell saw his effort blocked after he was set clear with a delightful dinked ball from Laurence Brill.

On the stroke of full time Maxwell had a goal disallowed for offside but it made no difference to the outcome as Westbury’s first-half goal blitz saw them picked up their first ever piece of silverware.

Referee Neil Taylor, along his team of David Harding, Adam Osbourne and Neil Hawker, the players and supporters of both clubs were a credit on the night.

The trophies on the evening were presented by the League’s assistant secretary Colin Kennerson, on behalf of sponsors EJ Shanley and Son.

Town’s hat trick hero Howse received the player of the match award.

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