Westfields bowed out of their second cup competition in the space of 4 days when they were beaten 2-1 at Edgar Street in the Second Round of the HFA County Challenge Cup against Hereford FC.

Westfields, the County Cup record-holders, worked hard against a strong Hereford side but paid the penalty for 2 poor mistakes which conceded the Hereford goals as Westfields slipped out of the competition.

After a goal-less first half, which didn’t spring to life until 5 minutes before the interval when both goal keepers made important saves at the feet of oncoming strikers to keep the score lines blank, the game sprang to life in the second half when Hereford took the lead with a bizarre own goal when former Hereford player Jamie Bird headed into his own net following a Hereford corner.

This did not help matters as Westfields then frittered away a couple of good opportunities when Dan Stoneman and Richard Greaves both had opportunities to put the sides level and then Westfields found themselves 2 goals down when a defensive mistake by Luke Sylvester on the half-way line allowed Victor Sodeinde to race away the whole length of the Hereford half and slot the ball coolly past the advancing Matt Apperley to put Hereford 2-0 ahead.

Westfields then came back into the game and pulled a goal back when, after good pressure from free kicks and corners, Westfields pulled a goal back through overlapping full-back Sean Powell to set up a frantic final 10 minutes in which Jamie Bird wasted 2 great opportunities with shots from too far out and a barrage of free kicks and corners were cleared by the big Hereford defence.

Westfields now have to concentrate on their league form and on Saturday they travel to Chipping Sodbury before returning to allpay.park on 4th December with a home match against Shrivenham.

By admin