HEREFORDSHIRE Schools' Under-15 side crashed out of the ESFA PlayStation Trophy after losing 6-5 to Brierley Hill & Dudley in a dramatic game at Hereford Academy on Saturday.

The home side were at one stage 5-1 down, but battled back valiantly to almost take the game into extra-time.

The game came to life in the sixth minute when Callum Swain headed the visitors in front from a corner.

The away side then doubled their advantage 10 minutes later when Daniel Harvey headed the ball into the Herefordshire goal from another corner.

Herefordshire, rocked by the early goals, started to find some momentum and reduced the arrears midway in the first half when Adam Hockey, of Bishop's School, slotted the ball past Joe Collingridge in the Brierley goal.

But the mini revival was short-lived because the away side regained their two-gaol advantage two minutes later when Oliver Hartland breached the home defence with a good finish. And when Hartland scored again from a free-kick to put his side 4-1 up, it seemed the game was over.

Collingridge made a great save shortly after the break before Carrick Chaney made it 5-1 to the visitors.

Herefordshire reduced the arrears when Hockey was brought down in the box by Collingridge and a penalty was awarded.

Hockey stepped up to convert the spot-kick and when Olly Price, also of Bishop's headed home a corner in the 50th minute, it was game on.

John Kyrle's Matt McLeod then delivered an excellent cross into the box for Price to score again before Brierley capitalised on some poor defender to score through Tom Hunt to make it 6-4.

But when Hockey completed his hat-trick with 11 minutes to go, it was anyone's game.

However, Brierley held on and will face Oxfordshire's Vale of White Horse in the next round.

There was better news for the Under-16's, who beat Staffordshire 4-1 in the Midlands Counties Schools Football Federation at Leominster Town earlier this month.

Leading scorer James Hancocks (Bishop's) put the home side ahead before Kingstone High School pupil Greg Preece converted a penalty that he won.

A superb pass from Harry Franklin (Bishop's) then put Preece into space and his delightful chip beat the Staffordshire goalkeeper to put Herefordshire 3-0 up.

Staffordshire did pull a goal back, but Herefordshire had the last word with a close-range finish from Hancocks.