NEIL Kirkpatrick expects the next month to be pivotal for his promotion-chasing Westbury United side after they extended their winning run to seven matches last Saturday.

An 80th-minute header from captain Dan Price secured three more precious points for the Toolstation First Division leaders away to Almondsbury, although they survived a scare when the hosts’ Dan Lane saw his shot come back off the post in injury time.

Boss Kirkpatrick said: “The first half was probably our worst 45 minutes of the season and we thought it might just be one of those days.

“To be fair to the boys, we stepped it up in the second half. We were dominant and it was just good to get out of there with the points.”

Westbury were denied the chance to extend their lead over Keynsham Town at the summit to five points on Tuesday evening when their match at Radstock Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Up next is a pair of home fixtures against two fellow members of the division’s top six, with in-form Devizes Town visiting Meadow Lane tomorrow and third-placed Roman Glass St George doing likewise on Tuesday night.

Devizes are unbeaten in their last seven matches and were 1-0 winners at Calne last Saturday. Westbury will be without the unavailable Steve Hulbert and are waiting on the fitness of Jamie Jordan.

Kirkpatrick said: “The boys will be up for it on Saturday. It’s usually a bit of a feisty game against Devizes and we will have to be on it.

“We’ve got 16 massive games left and I think the next month will determine out season.”

Corsham Town were handed a 1-0 home defeat by Bristol Telephones on Saturday before losing 3-2 at Malmesbury Victoria in midweek despite goals from Tony McElhone and Robbie Tripp.

James Vincent netted for Warminster Town in their 1-1 home draw with Chippenham Park, with Matthew Mead replying.