THE same squad inconsistencies that have hurt Westbury United’s Toolstation Premier Division campaign returned to haunt Neil Kirkpatrick on Saturday as Bitton came from behind to grab a 2-1 win.

Ryan Bole put Westbury ahead with only six minutes on the clock, but Bitton drew level less than 10 minutes later from a set-piece.

Though Ricky Hulbert and Callum Demkiv caused problems for Bitton, the hosts scored their match-winning goal shortly after the hour-mark had passed.

Westbury failed to reply to Bitton’s second and returned home with no points to their name while Dan Jordan became the latest player to enter the treatment room after he tweaked his hamstring – Jordan isn’t expected to be back in the first team for five weeks.

Reacting to Saturday’s loss, Kirkpatrick admitted his squad didn’t do enough to win the game.

He added: “Bitton are always up there, they’re a big, strong and competitive side.

“Their equaliser looped up and dropped in the top corner – probably the only way they would’ve scored from that chance.

“It’s been the story of our season really. Their second was preventable too, but Bitton just about shaded it though a draw may have been fair.

“We’re not making one or two changes a game, it’s more five, six or seven – there’s no consistency.

“That’s not the players’ fault, but being unable to put a consistent squad out has really hampered us.”

Defeat was Westbury’s third in their last four games, but Kirkpatrick could be boosted by the return of defender Matt Jones when United travel to Cadbury Heath on Saturday.

Will Thompson and Joe Kirkpatrick are also in line to return to United’s ever-changing starting XI.

It’s not all doom and gloom at Meadow Lane, though. Kirkpatrick pointed towards the club’s one-goal defeats to promotion hopefuls Bradford Town and Plymouth Parkway in recent weeks as fine examples why his team shouldn’t be too downhearted.

He added: “Only twice we have failed to turn up this season, and one of those occasions was against Cadbury Heath when we lost to them in December.

“Very fine margins are hurting us at the moment – Bitton, Bradford, Plymouth and Exmouth are all up there and there has been just a goal in those games.

“It’d be lovely to field the same starting XI and I want competition for places, but we’re not getting that because we’ve always had those injuries.”

Bradford Town were also in Premier Division action at the weekend. Their 1-4 triumph away to Clevedon Town kept them top of the division.

Tyson Pollard, Matt Morris, Charlie Maddison and Dean Griffiths found the back of the net for the Bobcats.