A FORK of lightning midway through the second half on Wednesday night proved the brightest moment as a Nick Beales free kick secured a win for the hosts in a dour match.

Credit must go to Western League new boys Biddestone as, after a nervy first 10 minutes, they scrapped for every ball and effectively stopped their highly fancied opponents getting their usual attacking game going.

Westbury will know if they are to have realistic title ambitions they will have to improve on this

performance but after failing to capitalise on a dominant display on Saturday they will just be relieved to have picked up their first win of the season.

Westbury manager Derek Graham admitted his side were not at their best but said the result was the most important thing.

He said: "I am delighted with the result but not the performance and on Saturday I was delighted with the performance and not the result. I know which I prefer.

"It is the way football goes sometimes and although we didn't create very much, I don't think they ever looked like scoring.

"We were without Jerad O'Pray tonight and tried a new 3-5-2 system but it didn't really work. It is early in the season and maybe we are trying things we shouldn't be.

"We have Dawlish tomorrow and we know we will have to step it up for that match."

In comparison Biddestone manager Gary Skidmore was happy with his side's display as they continue to find their feet in the Western League.

He said: "I was worried in the first 10 minutes because they dominated but we settled down and did alright.

"We were a hard team to beat last season and we want to do that again this year. Where we are struggling is that bit of finesse up front and I think that is improving all the time.

"We have a tough match at Willand on Saturday but after that we have games against teams that are probably more our level."

Westbury started brightly on Wednesday as they threatened to take complete control of the match.

Striker Toby Colbourne volleyed wide on three minutes but it was not long before the deadlock was broken.

After a foul by Andy Wileman on Colbourne, Beales fired a 30-yard free kick into the top corner of the net, although young goalkeeper Chris Snoddy will be disappointed not to have stopped it.

This proved to be the best moment of the match as, despite incessant pressure, Westbury failed to create many more clear-cut chances.

Any chances that were created fell to Colbourne but he was wayward with his finishing as Biddestone began to work their way back into the game.

Biddestone defenders Ollie McAninch and Jack Nicholas led by example as they cut out the attacking threat of the hosts.

After the break, Biddestone enjoyed their best spell of the match and on 55 minutes McAninch's volley represented his side's first attempt on goal.

With 13 minutes remaining substitute Luke Denham spurned the visitors' best chance of the match when he fired over after good work by Will Edwards.

A minute later, Wayne Wheeler looked to have doubled Westbury's lead but his 20-yard strike was brilliantly tipped wide by the impressive Snoddy.