Hereford FC were knocked out of the HFA Cup this evening by Westfields. It wasn't even the final of the competition, it was the first round.
Peter Beadle decided on giving several senior players, including Ryan Green, Danny Greenslade and Mike McGrath a night off and dropped Billy Murphy, Keiran Thomas and Martin Horsell to the bench.
Goalkeeper Joslain Mayebi made his debut for the Bulls on a night he might prefer to forget. Also called into the starting eleven were Harry Franklin and Callum Sainty.
Both teams started quite brightly and Hereford had several chances to score the opening goal. Callum Sainty had a decent effort well saved by Keiron Blackburn before Jamie Bird put a free-kick high over the bar. Lance Smith also had a chance with just the keeper to beat.
But Westfields also had chances and Mayebi did well to keep an effort out at the expense of a corner from former Hereford winger Jamie Molyneux.
A minute later Westfields took the lead. Mayebi tried to get the ball to Calvin Dinsley but appeared to mis-judge where Dinsley was. Keanu Cooper intercepted and his shot landed in the back of the net.
It wasn't long into the second half that Westfields doubled their advantage. Mayebi was caught too far out from goal and Molyneux took advantage.
Two minutes later, Westfields went 3-0 ahead when good work from Molyneux, playing on the right wing, saw him cross the ball to Cooper who made no mistake from six yards.
Beadle brought on Billy Murphy and Jennison Myrie-Williams and the changes did have some effect in that Hereford managed to reduce the deficit when Jordan Liburd got on the end of a Murphy free-kick on 75 minutes.
Three minutes later Moreria was given a straight red by referee Keith Morris after he looked to stamp on Franklin and then push Liburd.
There were a few efforts from Hereford towards the final whistle. One from Billy Murphy went very close. And Callum Sainty couldn't quite control the ball after a good run.
But this was Westfields' night. And deservedly so.
Hereford: Mayebi, Franklin, H. Smith, Liburd, Hall, Bird, Richards, Sainty, Dinsley, L. Smith, White.
Subs: Murphy, Myrie-Williams, Thomas, Swann, Horsell.
Attendance: 370.