WESTBURY United manager Neil Kirkpatrick was left feeling relieved after his side secured a hard-fought 2-1 win at home to Cadbury Heath on Saturday in Toolstation League Premier Division.

United had played their Wiltshire Senior Cup semi-final three days before, losing 4-1 in extra-time to Swindon Supermarine, and Kirkpatrick was wary of a sluggish return to league action.

Despite initial concerns, Westbury put themselves two ahead after goals from Ricky Hulbert and Dan Kovacs inside half an hour.

Simon McElroy replied for Heath late on to set up a gruelling final period for the home side, but they managed to hold on for the win and are now only three points behind leaders Willand following their 2-0 loss to Plymouth Parkway.

Kirkpatrick said it would have been understandable if his side had dropped points on Saturday but was left feeling thankful to his players for giving everything in order to secure another three points.

He said: “It was a very tired performance – there were a lot of heavy legs out there on Saturday, which is what we were concerned about going into the game.

“It would have been an easy one to drop points in, so we’re delighted we just about did enough to get the win.

“It was just a case of hanging in there and trying to do the basics right. We did that well in the first half and got ourselves 2-0 up, but they threw caution to the wind and made it a nervous final 15 minutes.”

Once again, Westbury relied on two-thirds of their clinical attacking trio to score the goals that claimed all three points – Ricky Hulbert scored his 16th of the season while Dan Kovacs netted his 17th.

They are still some way behind Westbury top-scorer Callum Demkiv though, with the young striker having netted 29 goals from 37 games.

Kirkpatrick lauded the trio for their attacking prowess while admitting they give the team more than just goals.

He said: “Callum Demkiv is our top scorer this season and when he hasn’t scored, the other two have always chipped in.

“There are very few occasions when at least one of them isn’t firing – they’re all top players. If one isn’t scoring, he’s probably helping make them.

“And they’re three different players, which is pleasing, because they’ve all got different key attributes and that helps us change the game however we see fit, if needed.”

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Wayne Thorne’s Bradford Town let a one-goal lead slip as they went down 2-1 away at Cribbs.