AIDAN CLARK found an elusive winner as Westfields gained a fine 1-0 away win over city rivals Hereford Pegasus in the Hellenic league premier Division at Old School Lane, in front of 612 spectators in a Christmas derby.
Danny Moon’s side had a tough task on their hands as they battled for 83 minutes with 10 men, after losing winger Sirdic Grant in the seventh minute for allegedly elbowing Pegasus full-back Sean Cook .
In fact in the third minute Grant should have put the visitors ahead when he chased a long through ball and his lobbed shot beat former Westfields keeper Matt Gwynne but bounced just wide of the post.
Jack Oxenham in the Westfields goal then saved well from winger Carlos Moreira as the game flowed from end to end.
Westfields marksman Clark then had a good chance to put his side ahead as he worked an opening but his shot went wide of the far post.
The sides went in goalless at the break and after the interval Westfields were reduced to nine men when midfield man Zac Powell was sin-binned for 10 minutes when he made a comment towards the match referee.
Hereford Pegasus then took the game to their nine-man visitors and Oxenham saved well from Harry Pitman.
Pitman then hit the Westfields crossbar with a dipping drive before the midfielder fired over the bar when well placed.
Westfields weathered the mini storm and Powell returned to the pitch to take Moon’s side back to 10 men.
Westfields got the vital breakthrough in the 78th minute when Pat Wood hit a nice ball up to Clark who turned smartly raced in on goal to beat the advancing Hereford Pegasus keeper Gwynne with a cracking finish with a fine right foot shot.
Back came Hereford Pegasus in search of an equaliser and Pitman twice wasted crosses, with Cam Davies and Pat Wood making saving tackles.
With the minutes ticking away Westfields nearly doubled their lead when Zac Powell had a fierce drive well saved by Gwynne.
It was the visitors who finished strongly to secure a 1-0 win and three valuable points to leapfrog Hereford Pegasus in the league table.
Both sides sit handily placed just five and six points outside the play-off positions with 16 league matches remaining.
Next Saturday, Westfields travel to Slimbridge in the Hellenic League Premier League Challenge Cup fourth round.
Meanwhile, Pegasus will be looking to bounce back from their derby defeat with a trip to Lydney Town in the Hellenic Premier.
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