Veteran Bown hopes for a change of luck (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Veteran Bown hopes for a change of luck

THE FA Vase has never been the luckiest of competitions for Matty Bown and as he enters the twilight of his career, he knows time is running out for him to change the record.

As Westbury United prepare for tomorrow's second qualifying round vase match at Hellenic League Division One side Pewsey Vale, Bown, 35, is quietly confident this could be the season he enjoys some long awaited progress.

While not going as far as to say Westbury could win the competition, he does believe manager Paul Brickley has built a squad capable of giving most teams a problem and sees tomorrow's clash as a "winnable" tie.

He said: "At all the clubs I have been with I have never really enjoyed any success in the Vase. I though we would do well at Paulton a few years back but we ended up losing in the first round.

"It is probably one of the biggest regrets of my career so far and I know that if I want my record in the competition to change it will have to happen quite quickly.

"The FA Vase is a brilliant non-league competition. It is a great chance for the likes of ourselves and other sides from the Western League."

Bown has been a jealous spectator in the past as former Western League sides Chippenham Town, Tiverton Town and Taunton all reached Vase finals, the last time being in 2000 when Chippenham lost 1-0 to Deal Town.

"Western League clubs have a great track record in the competition," said Bown. "Teams from our league have shown in the past that we can more than hold our own and I think that should give us all confidence.

"It would be great if a Western League club could go all the way again this year. It has not happened for about five years but there is no reason why it can't.

"If Westbury could get through a few rounds then it would be great in a variety of ways. It would give us lots of confidence as a team, it would generate some money into the club and would attract some more supporters.

"All you need is a bit of luck and a good draw and you can find yourselves going quite a long way in the competition. Look at what Devizes did a couple of seasons back."

After a disappointing season last time round, manager Paul Brickley has created a new-look squad for this year's Toolstation League Division One season and Bown is excited by their unbeaten start to the season.

He said: "Things have changed dramatically for the better here. The atmosphere around the place and the team is completely different to how it was and we are benfitting from that.

"We are still unbeaten in the league and only got knocked out of the FA Cup in a replay by Premier Division Melksham Town.

"We showed in that match that we have no reason to fear sides in the division above and if we can compete with Melksham, who are near the top, we are confident we compete with most teams in the competition."