Son of Eric watched Hereford defeat Westfields in the HFA County Cup on Tuesday Evening.
Hereford lined up with Liburd-Hines getting a start in goal, Fini showed his adaptability starting at right back, youngsters Bennett and Price played centre back with Andoh left back. The front of the team set up just like the first team with captain Klukowski sitting with Sheens and Fox further forward. Sodeinde played up front with Njie on the left and Ismael on the right. The crowd of 414 had about 50 noisy Westfields fans. Hereford started brightly with Ismael whipping in a cross deserving of a finish. Ismael looked a class above all evening with Westfields quickly getting two players on him and sometimes three. He showed several tricks, flicks and quality touches which made him Hereford’s chief creative force.
Westfield’s first danger saw Liburd-Hines coming out quickly to deny Bird. Liburd-Hines is very fast and came out quickly at times to deny Westfields. However, twice with the ball at his feet poor passing almost gave Fields opportunities. Slips like these may indicate why Gowling brought in a loan keeper when Hall was injured. Westfields played quite directly and did not offer the purer footballing challenge of Bromyard. They had a combativeness and teamwork which the disjointed Hereford team struggled to come to terms with. Hereford’s team was part youth team, part helping players who needed minutes and a chance for new boys to have a go. It was at times like watching a friendly.
In the first half there was little between the two sides with Greaves, Bird and Stoneman all showing well for Westfields. Captain Kane Kahaki is one of those wily centre backs who because they are always slowly jogging somewhere seem to pop wherever needed and Njie and Sodeinde failed to get the better of him. Andoh stood out as one of Hereford’s best players winning physical challenges and creating more than the midfield in a scoreless first half.
The game livened in the second half and Njie saw more of the ball. Njie has a decent first touch but too often failed to challenge the Westfields defence. His trademark move was to receive a ball out wide, turn into the middle of the park and play a cross field ball to Ismael. One of these balls was brilliantly backheeled forward by Zeli taking two defenders out. Njie is one of those players who appears to run a lot faster going forwards than when chasing back. When play broke down, he was often alone in space whilst teammates pressed. Njie’s disappointing defensive work made you appreciate how much Gowling, and Burr have improved McLean and Owen-Evans in their all-round game management.
Westfields were the more physical of the two sides with Sylvester and Summers booked either side of half time for robust fouls. Bird became Westfields chief threat sometimes shooting from distance when colleagues were better placed, and he was to open the scoring. Ismael’s first dead ball of the evening was poor but after that he sent in a series of delicious crosses. A corner driven just outside the six-yard box saw Bird rise and powerfully head the ball back from where it came and into the corner of the net with no chance of Apperley saving.
Hereford barely deserved their lead but now had Westfields pressing more and as the game opened up, they looked dangerous on the break especially when Ismael had the ball at his feet.
Powell, Davies, and Summers all used both fair means and the foul to stop Zeli. Ismael struggled to stay calm in the face of sustained targeting and he was booked when he gave back a little of what he had received. With Westfields players not backing down Gowling took him off and brought on Morris.
Westfields mounted bursts of pressure and when an attack was half cleared it bounced towards Sodeinde well inside his own half. Neat control saw him turn and start a foot race. Accelerating he raced into the Fields half as defenders desperately back pedalled. Getting towards the box Victor was easily winning the race and when Apperley came out to narrow the angle Victor almost casually stabbed the ball past him and into the far side netting. A goal in the style of Gareth Bale gave the faithful four hundred a memory to cherish.
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| Apologies For Poor Quality Of Picture |
Westfields pressed and a Stoneman cross was only partially cleared for left back Powell to hit a fine low strike from the edge of the box to pull a goal back. Hereford managed the game with Fini booked for time wasting. Marsh came on for Andoh who had a fine game. Derricot replaced captain Klukowski, with the arm band passing to Price. Westfields had two claims for penalties which the officials waved away. Of the younger players centre back Price looked the pick with good positional sense. He relished physically challenging much older players like Dara O’Shea once did.