Featured match: Ewyas Harold 3 Fownhope 0 in Herefordshire Football League Premier Division (From Hereford Times)

Featured match: Ewyas Harold 3 Fownhope 0 in Herefordshire Football League Premier Division

10:17pm Saturday 24th March 2012 in Football By Ian Morgan

Ewyas Harold 3 Fownhope 0

EWYAS Harold maintained their push for the Herefordshire League Premier Division title despite having their skipper red-carded on the stroke of half-time.

Referee Alan Robinson had little option but to send-off the unfortunate Rob Cooper-Tompkins who was the last defender when he tripped Fownhope striker Matty Cole on the edge of the box.

Ten-man Harold pushed after the interval and deservedly took the lead from a 63rd-minute penalty after Fownhope’s Nick Price had handled a corner.

Stand-in skipper Nick Panniers sent Fownhope goalkeeper Leon Harwood the wrong way from the spot, much to the relief of Harold boss Dave Priday.

Title-chasing Harold doubled their advantage from a slick move in the 77th minute after fine work from Matt Norton, who cut the ball back to Tom Herbert.

Herbert neatly laid off the ball to substitute Louis Ferneyhough, who drove his shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Harold rounded off the scoring with four minutes remaining, substitute Shaun Smith tapping the ball into an empty net after Norton’s right-wing cross.

Harold, however, did not have things their own way in the second half.

Fownhope’s Davis’ curling free-kick struck the top of the Harold bar and the hard-working Dan Green hit the inside of a post with a header.

Earlier, Harold dominated the first half with substitute John Roache flashing a couple of half-volleys wide and Herbert looping a header which clipped the top of the bar.

Harold winger Pete Wood was full of energy in the opening 45 minutes and he sent a powerful header narrowly wide of a post.

Fownhope defended very well in the first half and battled well throughout which must give plenty of heart to joint-managers Harwood and Phil Andrews.

Ewyas Harold: Daniel Taylor, Jamie Wilding, Dan Morris, Rob Cooper-Tompkins, Owen Lloyd, Josh James, Pete Wood, Nick Panniers, Matt Norton, Tom Herbert, Richard Sevenoaks, John Roache. Subs: Louis Ferneyhough, Shaun Smith, Ryan Tabb, Danny Johns.

Fownhope: Leon Harwood, Rob Chambers, Will Gallagher, Dan Green, Darren Minett, Nick Price, Richie Bufton, Ryan Rowley, Jules Beck, Matty Davis, Matt Cole. Subs: Kieran Chambers, Rob Taylor, Roy Ovell, Phil Andrews.

Referee: Alan Robinson (Herefordshire FA).

Goals: Panniers 63, 1-0; John Ferneyhough 77, 2-0; Smith 86, 3-0.