Facilities may dent Weobley's Herefordshire League Premier Division ambitions (From Hereford Times)

Facilities may dent Weobley's Herefordshire League Premier Division ambitions

11:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport

WEOBLEY edged closer to a first Herefordshire Football League Division One title with victory over Holme Lacy, but may not be promoted to the Premier Division next season.

“We’d like to win the league but I don’t know whether we would qualify to be in the Premier Division next season,” said Weobley manager Lee Davies.

“I haven’t looked into promotion a great deal as it’s the first time we’ve ever been in this position. It’s great but I don’t want to get carried away.

“If the case is that we need changing facilities on the ground, we certainly won’t be going up this year as we won’t be in a position financially to do that,” added the manager.

“We hire good facilities at the sports hall just 500 metres away, so we don’t have any need to get them at the ground at the moment.”

Striker John Hawkes scored a brace and centre-back Paul Williams notched, to earn Weobley victory over an impressive Holme Lacy.

The home side dominated the first-half, with Ryan Nicholas being denied several times from giving Weobley the lead.

It was goalless at the break but an entertaining second period boasted five goals. Williams saw his header saved but was presented with a second opportunity when the ball fell at his feet, to lash home the opener.

Just two minutes later, Weobley doubled their lead when a defensive error allowed Zac Canning to capitalise, squaring the ball for Hawkes to fire in.

The lead was cut short when Jason Griffin’s shot was parried into the path of Ben Potter, who slotted the ball into the empty net.

And the visitors were level when Adam Day's through-ball found Cory Gammage, but despite the effort being saved, the rebound fell kindly for the Lacy player to walk the ball in.

Weobley’s Williams had several headed efforts from set-pieces troubling Tom Morgan in the Holme Lacy goal and Nicholas again couldn’t beat the keeper.

But in the 76th minute, a teasing corner wasn’t cleared and Hawkes was there to stab home the loose ball, as Weobley regained the lead.

The dangerous Steve Dixon should have sealed the game with a one-on-one but was foiled by Morgan and Nicholas saw his header cleared off the line.

Late-on, Potter had a chance to equalise for Lacy but his effort was well-saved by goalkeeper John Lewis.

“I thought we were the better side and the 3-2 scoreline was probably an unfair result for us,” said Lacy player-manager Ben Hince.

“At half-time I told them to keep it going. “The defence and midfield were doing a great job but we weren’t using the wings and corners enough as everything seemed to be going down the middle.

“I don’t think the league positions really showed today. “They’ve only lost one game this season but I think we should have at least got a point,” added Hince.

Weobley boss Davies added: “Holme Lacy are clearly improving. They played well and passed the ball nicely.

“After our two-goal lead, we got a bit complacent and allowed them back into the match but we managed to see it out.”

Referee John Bufton almost called the match off because of the deteriorating pitch conditions.

“It was lucky to get played by the end. I don’t think the pitch was playable come 90 minutes,” said Bufton.

“In hindsight I wouldn’t have played the match but both sides played in a very sporting manor.

“It can be quite difficult to referee a game in those conditions but both teams took that into account and played sensible football.”

And Davies added: “It was a tough game and the ref did well to get through it.

Lacy boss Hince admitted: “I’m surprised it was played but the ref did a grand job to keep it going. “Despite talks at half-time, we definitely didn’t want it to be called off.”