Mixed fortunes for all three Premier title contenders
2:51pm Friday 11th April 2008
THERE was no change at the top of the Hereford Times Herefordshire League Premier Division, with all three contenders losing a game during the week.
Sutton United lost 3-2 at Wellington Reserves, but still head the table by a point from Ewyas Harold, and they have also played a game fewer.
Both sides were well short of full strength for this local-derby fixture with the home side forced to give volunteer Tom Herbert his first start in goal. On the day his spirit and performance epitomised that of his side in the surprise win.
Wellington opened up a two-goal lead in the first half, with Kenny Styles converting both. Phil Glover pulled a goal back deep into added time at the end of the first half.
Injuries to Glen Day and Tim Palmer disrupted the leaders’ flow even further but they kept plugging away. Their problems mounted when Andy King bent a free-kick around the wall to extend the lead, but Glover pulled a goal back before the end.
Ewyas Harold gained a revenge 3-1 home win over Woofferton after losing to their rivals the previous weekend.
Rob Chandler outpaced the visitors’ defence to create the chance for Matt Pitt to give Harold an early lead. A much-changed Woofferton side equalised with an Aaron Bowden penalty, given when Bryn Watkins brought down Gary Mowen.
Nathan Scott held off fullback Steve Minton to fire the home team back in front and John Ferneyhough extended the lead after more good work by Pitt and Scott.
The second half failed to live up to the first. A Dave Chadd shot over the bar for the visitors and a fine save by Dave Cooper to deny Chandler, at the other end, were the closest the sides came to a further goal.
The two sides experienced mixed fortunes in midweek. Gareth Jones scored the only goal of the game, against his old side, when Woofferton beat Leominster Town 1-0 at Bridge Street Sports Centre. The Town side defended well and were in the game until the final whistle.
Ewyas Harold, however, came off second best when they lost 2-1 away from home to Ledbury Town Reserves.
Lads Club hammered visiting Leominster Town 7-1 at the County Ground, with only the Town keeper, Jon Jones, preventing the score from reaching double figures.
Lads Club were 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes, Ritchie Maturi lobbed the keeper after being played through by Dave Olive and then Luke Darlington’s low cross was turned in by Mike Olive. Liam Jones climbed high to head in number three.
There was no let up in the second half, first Ryan Daw met Jones’s low cross, then Jones scored from a corner, and back to another Daw header, as the score mounted to 6-0.
Alex Trevins scored a consolation goal for Leominster, but Darlington rounded off a fine performance by firing in the final goal.
Hinton paid the penalty for making a sluggish start to their home game with Bromyard Town Reserves, going down 5-3, after falling three goals behind inside the first half hour.
Despite their early defensive frailties, Hinton were forced to attack, and traded goals with the Reserves in an action-packed contest. John Morris completed a hat-trick for Hinton.
Colwall Rangers scored a late goal to give them a slightly flattering 3-1 home win over Bartestree.
Bartestree opened the scoring through Paul Monteath. Dan Herbert, whose physical presence caused problems all afternoon, tied the score with a header. Jamie Welch put the home side in front on the stroke of half-time.
Scott Tippings posed a constant threat to the home side with his runs down the flanks and crosses, but his colleagues failed to capitalise on them. At the other end, Kai Bond denied Welch on two or three occasions, but the striker had the last laugh, lobbing him for the third goal.
Bartestree were involved in an action-packed match at Wellington Reserves in midweek, the sides sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
A draw was a fair result, but there could have been more goals as both sides created good chances. Bartestree were perhaps unlucky not to gain a second half penalty.
Mark Langford turned and chipped the keeper from close to the bye-line to put the visitors in front before the break, Styles responded by firing through a ruck of players to equalise in the second half.
Ledbury Town Reserves made it two wins in a week, when they beat home team Kington Town 2-1.
Kington took an early lead when youngster Josh Watson finished off a neat movement. They looked fairly comfortable but contrived to give away two own-goals from long-range free kicks.