Westfields lose out to Gresley in race for Southern League place (From Hereford Times)

Westfields lose out to Gresley in race for Southern League place

8:30am Thursday 26th April 2012 in Reports

Loughborough University 4 Westfields 1.

WESTFIELDS saw their Midland Alliance promotion hopes evaporate following a second successive 4-1 reverse.

Gresley beat Coventry Sphinx 2-1 in the other big promotion battle and followed up with a victory over Willenhall to clinch the title.

Fields’ hopes of Southern League football next term were hit by a run of just four wins in 10 matches and their latest defeat came at the hands of a fast-moving and slick students’ side.

Phil Glover and Aidan Thomas both went close in the opening stages for Fields but Loughborough’s winger Daniel Nti hit a post before the home side scored twice in four minutes just before the break.

Substitute Jordan Barker cracked in a shot at the far post and Jack Beckett doubled the lead with a 20-yarder before Fields pulled one back on the stroke of half-time with Daryl Addis racing on to Sam Gwynne’s pass to shoot home.

Barker’s superb solo goal within five minutes of the re-start re-established the student’s control.

And although Jamie Cuss rattled the home bar, Barker rounded off a fine afternoon when he chipped Jamie Moore from 20 yards to complete his hat-trick.

Westfields wind up their season on Saturday with a home match against relegation-threatened Atherstone.