Richard Kear scores for Westfield and get them into third round of the FA Carlsberg Vase (From Hereford Times)

Richard Kear scores for Westfield and get them into third round of the FA Carlsberg Vase

2:21pm Thursday 18th November 2010 in Reports

WESTFIELDS 3 Kear 16, 70; MacDonald 88 COVENTRY COPSEWOOD 0 RICHARD Kear scored two superb goals which helped propel Westfields into the third round of the FA Carlsberg Vase.

He fired Westfields into a 16th minute lead after cutting inside and hitting a rising right-foot shot into the roof of the net.

And the Chepstow-based player doubled the city club’s advantage in the 70th minute with an exquisite 20-yard chip into the top left-hand corner.

Kear’s goals would certainly have graced a bigger stage.

He could have been turning out for the Robins at Edgar Street last Saturday had things worked out differently.

“I was at Cheltenham for two years as a YTS player and then two years as a professional,”

said 27-year-old Kear. “I always have a little look at how Cheltenham are getting on and I have still got friends there.

“I knew Cheltenham were at Hereford today and I could hear the roars from the crowd when the goals went in over there.

“I had three managers when I was at Cheltenham and I got on with two of them.

Steve Cotterill gave me my contract and Bobby Gould released me in June 2003. It was heart-breaking at the time.”

Kear, who made his first start for month, was denied by a good save from visiting goalkeeper Scott Furlong about 60 seconds before his opener.

“Today, it fell nicely for me and I finished two good goals,” said the striker whose former clubs include Cinderford Town and Swindon Supermarine.

“I was pleased with the chip because it was on my weaker side. I was telling the boys that, because my legs had gone, I didn’t fancy taking someone on so I had the shot,” said Kear.

The afternoon also had a happy ending for ex-Aston Villa youngster Dan MacDonald who was upset after being dropped to the bench.

MacDonald came on at the start of the second period and wrapped up Westfields’ second-round win with their third goal in the 88th minute.

Daryl Addis held up the ball nicely and released MacDonald who raced clear from half way before coolly lifting the ball over Furlong.

Coventry Copsewood, who are in the Midland Combination – one tier below Westfields – also played their part.

Defender Joel Edwards was outstanding in Westfields’ defence. He made a superb last-ditch tackle early in the second half after Richard Eastell had raced on to Gary Mead’s through-ball.

Tom Sparey also made a vital challenge in the first half to deny the lively Eastell, while Scott Jackson, a rock in the home defence, blocked a powerful drive from the striker.

Coventry were left to reflect on a penalty appeal which was turned down in the 14th minute after Edwards had made a strong challenge. Their best chance fell to the unmarked Inderspaul Khela who headed an inswinging corner wide in the 35th minute.

But Westfields could have scored more goals – Daryl Addis’ header 35 seconds after the interval was superbly clawed out by Furlong. And Furlong twice denied Jamie Cuss.