WESTFIELDS manager Andy Bevans is hoping his side will be one of half a dozen sides competing for the league title this season despite losing 2-0 at table-toppers Ilkeston on Saturday.

Fields slipped to third in the Midlands Premier below Worcester City following their second defeat of the bounce and are now three points behind Ilkeston who have two games in hand.

The home spectators had something to cheer within two minutes when Fields' goalkeeper Ian Havard kicked into the path of Tim Hopkinson and the Ilkeston striker tapped the ball home from the edge of the box into an empty net.

The hosts looked to increase their dream start and Havard redeemed himself by pulling off three smart saves.

Westfields hit back at the home side and Molyneux and Craig Jones both fired just over the crossbar.

However, it was the hosts who increased their lead just before half-time when Ryan Whitehurst got free down the right hand side and put over a perfect cross for Elliott Reeve to tap home.

In the second half Westfields enjoyed better possession but their good passing game could not penetrate the home defence despite Molyneux and Sam Plane flashing headers wide of the Ilkeston post.

"Despite the best plans we had in place conceding after two minutes put us on the back foot, said Bevan.

"It makes it extremely tough but we recovered well from it. Once they made it 2-0 it was always going to be an uphill test. That said we were always within one chance of being back in the game.

"We battled away but just couldn't break them down despite having 11 shots to their 10, so we deserved one goal."

Bevan hopes that Westfields can get back to winning ways when they host bottom three side Dunkirk on Saturday and then AFC Wulfrunians the following week.

"The league is starting to take shape and there are five or six teams there or there about," Bevan added.

"In the past you have had Hereford, Alvechurch and Bromsgrove Sporting running away with the league but this season could be a close run thing and hopefully we are one of the teams in the mix.

"We have got nothing from our last two games so we need to get back to the drawing board and put it right."