Rocester 1 Westfields 1

LEADING goalscorer Mark Hibbard notched a goal to claim a useful away point as Westfields gave an impressive display to share the spoils with their much fancied and high flying Midland Alliance hosts.

Rocester, relegated from the Dr Martens Western Division last season and currently unbeaten with three wins and a draw in four starts, found Westfields no pushovers as the visitors made the early running with a seventh minute shot from Derek Craddock only just palmed over the bar.

However Rocester came back into the game and took the lead in the 31st minute when Paul McMahon headed home a cross from Dave Berks at the far post.

Westfields did not drop their heads and shortly after the interval substitute Paul Burton, returning after illness, struck the cross bar with a fierce drive from just outside the box.

Westfields persistence was rewarded in the 64th minute when skipper Matt Phillips provided a pin-point cross for Hibbard to outjump the home defence for a cracking equaliser.

Both teams worked hard as they looked to break the deadlock but it was Rocester who went closest to grabbing maximum points when McMahon struck the bar in the 88th minute with Pugh well beaten.

Westfields held their nerve and deservedly claimed their second league draw of the season against one of the title favourites.