Pitch Battle - Warminster Town vs. Almondsbury UWE

Scenic backdrop at Weymouth Street

The good news this weekend was that the rainfall had eased off however the rain threat was promptly replaced by ice. I set off for Wiltshire hoping to see Amesbury Town against Fleet Spurs in The Wessex League but this was postponed while I was looking for the bus stop in Salisbury Town Centre. I therefore had to return to the station and travelled one stop to Warminster in the hope that their Western League First Division with Almondsbury UWE would go ahead. This was of course my second Western League game in as many weekends following on from Keynsham last week. Almondsbury come from just outside of Bristol with the UWE part of their name coming from their partnership with The University of Western England. Almondsbury had won the reverse fixture 4-1 on Halloween. Both sides were in mid table and Warminster were looking to build on their Boxing Day victory over close neighbours Westbury on Boxing Day. 

Kick off at Weymouth Street

The pitch is very heavy and it wouldn't have been a surprise if it had been called off but fair play to all for getting the game started. The pitch causes the first moment of concern for Almondsbury when a Warminster cross gets stuck in the mud in the area but the defence is able to clear the danger. Warminster have started full of confidence and it takes a great save from the Almondsbury keeper when the Warminster forward is played in. They come even closer to the opener as a header from a corner kick is headed on to the top of the cross bar. It is however the visitors who take the lead. From a free kick, the Almonsbury player gets a strong header in to make it one nil to Almondsbury. Warminster hit the top of the bar for a second time with a shot from inside the area. They get the equaliser when the winger breaks down the right flank and his cross is put into the net from close range. Despite all their hard work, the half ends on a down for Warminster. Two players come together with the Warminster player putting his hands in the face of the Almondsbury player which results in the sadly inevitable red card. 

Seconds before the Warminster equaliser

Warminster win an early free kick in a decent position at the start of the second half but the Almondsbury defence is able to head it away. Almondsbury then get themselves into a good position but the ball gets stuck in the mud. Shortly afterwards the Almondsbury attacker is able to trick his way through the defence and unfortunately he ultimately shoots wide of the target. Warminster are then able to catch Almondsbury on the break and it takes a brilliant saving tackle to prevent him getting a shot in. The game is now really opening up and it is the turn of Warminster to put in a great saving challenge at the crucial moment. The away side then score what would prove to be the winner. The forward is played in on the right wing and he makes no mistake to make it 2-1. Warminster try desperately to get the second equaliser but Almondsbury see out the rest of the game to seal the three points.

Almondsbury attack in the first half

Trains direct from London to Warminster are fairly infrequent and so the best bet is to catch a train to Salisbury from Waterloo and change there for a train to Warminster. The journey takes around two hours. Weymouth Street is then a steady twenty minute away. On The High Street with the sports channels and a couple of ales on hand pulled is The Old Bell. A bit further down the road is the fantastic Organ Inn which is a former CAMRA rural pub of the year and had a great selection of beers. Then a bit off The High Street, if you don't walk straight past the narrow its on is The Pestbury Sports Bar which has both sports channels on big screens and puts on free food during televised games. The clubhouse also had the sports channels on a big screen and had the usual selection of drinks. 

Another view of the stand