Westbrook and Barcelos on target as Puritans maintain winning run

The Puritans recorded their sixth consecutive Division One South & West victory with a 2-0 success at Kayte Lane, where new signing Michael Hopkins replaced the unavailable Miles Welch-Hayes.

United had the better of the opening stages, a good move involving Callum White and Zac McEachran ended with Barcelos shooting straight at Sam Gilder. United continued to dominate but the hosts went close when Shane Bumphrey crossed for Elliott Kennedy at the far post who failed to find the target with his header.

Despite the heavy conditions making good football difficult, United continued to look the more likely to make the breakthrough. McEachran fired just wide from 20 yards and on the half-hour point Mark Bell was off target with a long range effort.

United got their noses in front in the 38th minute when Bell’s free-kick picked out Westbrook sliding in at the far post and he knocked the ball home from close range.

After the restart, Bishops Cleeve came into the game more but Ricky Johnson shot straight at Gilder before Jordan Bryan shot just wide from the edge of the area.

The second goal arrived in the 58th minute when a good move down the right saw Bell release the overlapping White and his low cross found the incoming Barcelos who knocked the ball home from five yards.

Although it proved comfortable for United in the end they had a scare when deep a cross from Aaron Drake hit the top of Jack Harding’s bar before going over.