WESTBURY United joint-manager Neil Kirkpatrick said his son – and the other half of the club’s management team – Joe had nothing to worry about in the end as a second-half blitz from their side led to a 4-1 win away at Chipping Sodbury in the Toolstation League Premier Division at the weekend, writes JONATHAN LEIGHFIELD.

Due to Neil being on holiday, Joe took the reins on his own for Saturday’s clash, with United falling 1-0 down at half-time.

But a red card for the home goalkeeper shortly before the half turned the tide in Westbury’s favour and goals from Jamie Jordan, Dan Kovacs, Marcus Price and Callum Demkiv completed their comeback.

After being filled in on how the match unfolded, Neil Kirkpatrick described a game in which Westbury failed to adapt quick enough and if not for a game-changing decision from the opposition goalkeeper, United’s mammoth unbeaten league run could have come crashing to a halt.

Kirkpatrick Senior said: “We were 1-0 down at half-time and didn’t really get going in the first half against a very strong wind and the rain.

“It was a game where you had to play the elements as well as the opposition, and we didn’t really do that in the first half.

“We went in at half-time and used that opportunity to get ourselves reorganised.

“Their keeper had just been sent off shortly before half-time for bringing down Callum Demkiv outside the box. That helped us and we came out of the traps flying in the second period.

“Jamie Jordan scored a superb goal to level up. From then on, it was one-way traffic for the rest of the half.

“Dan Kovacs put us ahead, Marcus Price – on his return – has got the third and Callum Demkiv got the fourth.”

Kirkpatrick admitted he was surprised that his son omitted himself from the starting XI, but said that United’s ability to deal with change successfully has stood them in good stead for when they are not at full strength.

He said: “Joe left himself out, which surprised me because he’s played really well over the past couple of games, while Steve Hulbert came back in and played in centre-midfield.

“We had a few other players out injured or suspended so we had to shuffle the pack a little bit, but we were rewarded at the end of it.

“It was a pleasing result, especially considering the changed line-up and the squad adapted well.

“The players are all buying into it and once we’d levelled the scores on Saturday, Joe said it was just one-way traffic until the end.”