An excellent all-round team performance, with goalkeeper Nick Evans and defender/goalscorer Nick Ridout the outstanding players, led Westbury United to victory as they extended their unbeaten run to seven matches against promotion chasing Bradford Town.

Bradford had won 2-0 in the return fixture back in September, but on this occasion they found Westbury's defence (including Evans) in top form and it was Ridout who scored the only goal with a header midway through the first half.

The visitors threatened first when Booker Woodford went forward but an offside flag, the first of many against his team, denied an opening.

Shortly afterwards top scorer Matt Minnis' pace carried him into the box and he dragged an effort wide. Nathan Hallett received the ball from Ridout and took a touch before shooting, however former Westbury keeper Lewis Porter saved comfortably.

Hallett had to leave the pitch injured after just 12 minutes with Tarick Yachou replacing him.

After a scrappy period of play the goal came on 26 : Ridout stayed forward after a set piece and saw two efforts blocked, with the second going out for a corner. Matty Smith took the flag kick and Ridout ran in unmarked to head the ball into the net.

Yachou and Ashley Groves combined to set up Wayne Wheeler but he struck wide from 20 yards and, having kept their deficit to just one goal, it was Town who came very close to drawing level before the break.

Woodford sent Minnis clear and it took a fine Luke Smith tackle to prevent him shooting, then Nick Ross broke on the left and crossed to Woodford who touched the ball on to Minnis and, looking certain to score when inside the six yard box, he saw Evans pull off a superb save! Wheeler took the ball from Dan Kovacs and hit an angled drive straight at Porter early in the second half, but there was little other action for a long period as offsides stopped Bradford in their tracks as well as the work rate of midfielders Groves &

Bobby Mitchell and defenders Sayeed Ibrahim, Ridout, Luke Smith and Lee Morgan to prevent chances being created.

As Town pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser the play became very open : Dave Percival went on a 50 yard run before being tackled by Luke Smith before Matty Smith found himself one on one with Porter with the keeper standing up long enough to make a save.

With time running out a frantic passage of play saw Matty Smith run past Liam Milburn only to be denied again by Porter and, with the ball scrambled away and hit upfield, Minnis got into the box and Evans made a great save before getting up to instinctively parry Steve Roddy's rebound to keep Westbury's lead intact!

Another former Westbury player, Jerad O'Pray, who had been quiet all afternoon had the final chance deep into injury time as he volleyed a few feet wide from the edge of the box.

Westbury manager Paul Brickley said: "The game wasn't a classic and personally I feel Bradford probably deserved a draw.

"But speaking to supporters from both sides aftewards, most of them thought we deserved to win.

"We created more chances but they had two clear-cut chances at the end. Our keeper made two superb saves to win it for us."

*STAR MEN - Nick Evans & Nick Ridout (Westbury United) Matt Minnis & Lewis Porter (Bradford Town)

WESTBURY TEAM - Nick Evans, Sayeed Ibrahim, Luke Smith, Bobby Mitchell, Nick Ridout, Lee Morgan, Ashley Groves, Matty Smith, Dan Kovacs, Wayne Wheeler, Nathan Hallett

SUBS - Tarick Yachou, Matt Mead (used) Nick Mead (unused)