Westfields 1 Tipton Town 4

SEAN Edwards’ champagne did not have the sparkle he would have liked on Saturday night.

Perhaps the bubble had burst before the kick off when Westfields’ boss received a bottle of champagne and skipper Scott Jackson deservedly picked up the Midland Alliance Team of the Month award.

There was no sign of the honour being a hindrance for eighth-placed Westfields when Jamie Cuss put the in-form hosts ahead.

But the Hereford club's afternoon went flat after midfielder Anthony Robbins was sent off for a second booking in first-half stoppage-time.

A hat-trick from Tipton's 27-year-old Hungrian striker Jozsef Jakab fired the leaders to victory but they were helped by costly blunders from Jamie Moore and Gareth Thomas.

"Every time we've had an award like this we've then not won for seven games so that's why I didn't want it - and I tried to avoid picking it up," said Edwards.

"It's a great award for the players and I think I'll drink the champagne tonight – probably more in sorrow than celebration,"

he said.

"I honestly thought we were going to win today.

We expect to beat teams who are top of the league - that's how far we've come."

Joel Edwards forced a fine early save from Tipton goalkeeper Matt Sargeant and the hosts waited just eight minutes before breaking the deadlock.

Cuss raced on to a d e f e n c e - s p l i t t i n g through-ball from Craig Jones and then coolly rounded the keeper before lifting his shot into net.

Tipton seldom threatened but drew level when Westfields failed to clear a corner and Jakab headed home Danny Bragoli's deep cross to the far post.

Westfields were unlucky twice in quick succession - Jones' cross from a tight angle struck the bar and then Dan Price headed Jones'

inswinging free-kick against a post.

But the hosts were facing an uphill struggle when Robbins, who was visibly frustrated by some of the decisions from referee Gary Hubbard, was dismissed three minutes into added time.

Edwards admitted he had considered replacing the former Pegasus man after his first booking.

"I was tempted to bring him off - but I thought he would be a bit smarter,"

said Edwards.

“Sendings off change games and we can't keep getting players sent off. It's costing us points.”

Tipton took the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Alex Cowley's long-range grass-cutter crept through the hands of Westfields goalkeeper Moore.

And the visitors wrapped up the points five minutes later when Jakab got a deft touch to a cross from Marcus Jackson.

The impressive Jackson rattled the bar before Jakab ran through to complete his treble in stoppage time after home defender Thomas had missed a header.

Last season, Westfields finished fifth - their highestever placing the Midland Alliance.

Edwards said: “We've got around 16 league games left in just seven weeks. We want to finish in the top three.”

He added: "Tipton were singing and dancing at the end - that's what beating us at home meant to them.”