Fields progress in County Cup with first-half goals

12:05pm Thursday 8th November 2007

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Sutton United 1 Westfields 2 WESTFIELDS progressed to the semi-finals of the HFA County Challenge Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 win at lower-graded Sutton United.

Westfields took advantage of two defensive mistakes from the Herefordshire League Premier Division high-fliers to open up a commanding 2-0 lead at the interval.

Lively striker Shaun Prince was recalled to the Westfields starting line-up and caused the Sutton defence early problems.

The city club took the lead on 25 minutes when defender John Hill delivered a fine cross and Jamie Cuss headed past the Sutton goalkeeper.

Westfields increased their advantage before the break, Alex Hunt slamming home from close range after an earlier shot had been blocked.

The visitors almost hit a third goal before half time but the hard-working Prince was foiled by a brilliant save from the Sutton goalkeeper.

The villagers came right back into the game after the interval but found Sparey and Hill in fine form at the heart of the Westfields defence.

But Sutton continued to press and deservedly reduced arrears in the 75th minute, Stuart New marking his first appearance of the season with a superb headed goal.

Sutton, spurred on by that goal, threw players forward in search of an equaliser that would have been merited from their strong second-half showing.

And the home side came agonisingly close to levelling the scores in the dying minutes.

However, recalled Westfields goalkeeper Jon Pugh pulled off a superb instinctive save to keep out a goal-bound volley from Phil Glover.