HFA County Cup Semi Final: Hereford v Belmont
The fixture was reversed to preserve the Edgar Street pitch
Hereford made a blistering start with Sheree Smith and Emily Ewing finding the back of the net within the first five minutes.
From then on there really was no way back for Belmont. On ten minutes Amelia Griffiths made it 3-0, followed by Ewing with a fine effort from way out on the wing narrowly missing the target (13 mins) and on 16 minutes Matilda Harris put an effort in exactly the same spot, just wide.
Amelia Griffiths added to her total on 18 minutes with a great strike with the outside of her left foot. To their credit Belmont didn’t give up and kept battling for every ball.
Griffiths turned provider and sent Yssie Pearson through to make it 5-0 ( 28mins)
From the restart Hereford took control of the ball, Mollie Powis proving vital in the midfield battles, on 32 minutes Robyn Mear made it six.
After a rare adventure into Herefords half returning defender Katy Huntbach dispossessed the Belmont attacker and put a great cross field pass to Griffith on the wing who with one touch sent Sheree Smith on her way to make it 7-0.
Smith herself then sent a great cross from out wide to set Mear up to make it 8-0 ( 43mins) The half was rounded off by Smith with a solo effort to make a satisfying first half complete.
HT Hereford 9-0 Belmont
Changes were made in the 2nd half, Hereford interim coach Heather Martin rested players where she could.
By this point Hereford had taken the sting out of the game, the pace was slower but they still had complete control.
On 55 minutes Mear again found the net from a Griffith corner 10-0. Ten minutes later substitute Millie Taylor made it 11-0. And on 80 minutes Amelia Griffith capitalised on a goal kick straight at her to make it 12-0.
Despite the score line Belmont kept working and never gave up on any ball, it was a good game played in good spirit, watched on by a large crowd.
On to the Final which will be against either Ross Juniors or Hereford Pegasus.
Pictures from Belmont taken by Hereford Action Media are online, go to https://x.com/HFDActionMedia