Match Review
Saturday 24th October 2026
Pitching In Southern League
Division 1 (South)
Shaftesbury v Westbury United
‘Rockies ‘ look to upset promotion chasers’
By Avril Lancaster
Relaxed ‘Rockies ‘ looking to upset the applecart on Saturday.
📸 Photo- Simon Eckley
Shaftesbury go into Saturday’s Pitching In Southern League Division 1 (South) game with promotion challengers Westbury United in the knowledge that since becoming a member of the Southern League we have a 100% record against the Meadow Lane club.
Westbury United received a setback to their hopes witn Hartpury FC winning in Wiltshire on Tuesday, though they will see that as a minor setback and will arrive with high expectations of victory on Saturday hurling the history books into the hedge at the same time.
With games coming up against Westbury United and Weymouth will see them both installed as favourites. However we have won two in a row and key defenders James Ward and Sonny Pike recently returned to the side. It would be folly to underestimate us even against quality opposition now.
For sure former Shaftesbury striker Leighton Thomas, last seasons match winner for us on October 15th 2025 is on fire for the ‘Whitehorsemen ‘. They have defeated Hungerford Town 1-0, ran the champions elect Weymouth close at the Bob Lucas Stadium and are looking to reach Step 3 now.
Shaftesbury manager Jim Milligan has installed a belief back into us in that we fear no one. Harry Morgan has scored four goals in two games and is back to his best. Brett Pitman with five goals in seven games will be no respector of reputation. Cameron Murray along with Jack Hoey will be key in the engine room. Hoey made his 82nd appearance for Shaftesbury on Saturday and scored his first goal of the season.
Brett Pitman will be hungry to add to his tally as high fliers Westbury United arrive in North Dorset on Saturday.
📸 Photo – Simon Eckley
We know every player will give their absolute maximum effort against a team we have very much enjoyed good fortune against and will arrive in town confident thst they can end that record. They recently signed Lewis Graham a defender from Larkhall Athletic and have players such as Dan Restorick, Bevan Cross, Eben Mortimer-Taylor and Joshua Jenkins in their artillery looking to cause damage.
Shaftesbury v Westbury United
Form Guide
Shaftesbury
Willand Rovers (H) D 1-1 Pitman
Sporting Club Inkberrow (A) (PISLS1) L 1-3
Murray
Tiverton Town (H) (PISLS1) L 1-4 Pitman
Slimbridge AFC (H) (PISLS1) W 5-4
Morgan (3), Pitman, Burbidge
Bristol Manor Farm (A) W 2-0 Morgan, Hoey
DLLWW
Westbury United
Exmouth Town (H) (PISLS1) W 2-1
Thomas (2)
Bristol Manor Farm (A) (PISLS1) W 4-1 Thomas (2), Cross, Wakefield
Weymouth (A) (PISLS1) L 0-1
Hungerford Town (H) (PISLS1) W 1-0 Mortimer- Taylor
Hartpury FC (H) (PISLS1) L 0-2
WWLWL
Shaftesbury FC 1888 v Westbury United
2024/25
30/11/24 (A) (PISLS1) W 2-0 Nixon, Bailey
15/03/25 (H) (PISLS1) W 5-2 Santos DAbadia, Rogers, Nixon, Jackson-Collis, Hoey
2025/26
15/10/25 (H) (PISLS1) W 1-0 Thomas
18/04/26 (A) (PISLS1) W 2-1
Holmes, Hoey
Pld 4 Won 4 Drawn 0 Lost 0 F 10 A 3
GD + 7 (Points Available 12/12).
Fun Facts – The original Shaftesbury FC played their first ever FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round tie in 2005-06 at Meadow Lane against Westbury United. It didn’t go too well however as we lost 4-0 as a Sydenhams Wessex League Division 2 side against the Toolstation Western League Division 1 outfit.
Leighton Thomas proved to be the match winner just over a year ago in Shaftesbury’s 1-0 win at Cockrams last season. With Toby Holmes being in front of him selection wise Leighton has got a regular starting spot and is firing on all cylinders in Wiltshire.
They played for both – Leighton Thomas, Jack Witcombe, Jonathan Hill