Gloucestershire FA 3 Herefordshire FA 4

HEREFORDSHIRE Under-16 team finished the season on a high note with a splendid victory over Gloucestershire at Forest of Dean club Ellwood FC.

Ten of the Herefordshire squad are under 15 and will be available for next season's team.

This was an excellent football match with both teams playing good football and scoring high quality goals.

The home county scored midway through the first-half when the lively Matt Gardiner turned the Herefordshire defenders to beat Martin Francis from close range. Soon after Francis made two well-timed saves and saw a shot rebound off the base of the post.

Herefordshire drew level on the half-hour when Lyall Watkins hammered the ball into the roof of the net from a cross by Joe Arnold. Just before the break the home county took the lead for the second time, Mick Wilce's angled drive giving Francis no chance.

Within minutes of the restart the visitors had drawn level, Joe Arnold's low cross being touched in be the alert Lyall Watkins. Good work by Sam Gwynne saw Herefordshire take the lead when his cross found the head of Lou Catley who just beat the advancing keeper to the ball.

The lead was increased when, following a good move, Will Perkins was downed in the area. Perkins duly obliged from the penalty spot.

Gloucestershire were not to be denied, however, and scored a late goal through Carl Dix who bundled the ball in following a corner kick.

Herefordshire's performance throughout the game augurs well for next season.