Full-time: Westfields 3 Ewyas Harold 0
WESTFIELDS retained the HFA County Challenge Cup after two first-half goals put them on the road to victory against 10-man Harold at a soggy Edgar Street today.
Craig Jones put Fields ahead from a harshly-awarded penalty in the 26th minute and Aidan Thomas doubled their lead 10 minutes later with a superb 25-yard lob.
Substitute Richard Kear sealed Westfields’ success, turning sharply on the edge of the box and firing into the corner of the net in the 83rd minute.
It was a comfortable victory for higher-graded Westfields against a Harold side, who had Nick Panniers sent off in the 54th minute after two bookings.
However, the victory came at a price for the Mid Alliance title-chasers who lost Jones before the interval with what looked a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury.
Referee Alistair Phillips angered the Harold fans when Westfields were awarded a soft penalty after Thomas drove the ball at Harold defender Owen Lloyd who was struck on the arm.
Jones tucked away the spot-kick and Westfields added their second goal soon afterwards from Thomas’ superb run and lob.
The game was over as a contest when Panniers was dismissed nine minute into the second period after picking up two bookings into quick succession.
The villagers battled hard throughout and had a lot of possession in the second half of a final watched by a 723-strong crowd.
Harold created few chances but Westfields goalkeeper Matt Gwynne needed to race off his line to cut out a dangerous ball for the lively Pete Wood.
Westfields should have won by a bigger margin but Harold skipper Rob Cooper-Tompkins made a remarkable block from Carl Morgan’s point-blank shot.
Westfields: Matt Gwynne, Price, Joel Edwards, Glover, Jackson, Newbury (Kear 70), Jones (Sam Gwynne, 39), Cuss, Addis, Morgan, Thomas (Aldrich 84). Subs not used: Harris, Moore.
Ewyas Harold: Dan Taylor, Wilding, Cooper-Tompkins, James, Lloyd (Morris 73), Johns, Wood, Panniers, Herbert (Louis Ferneyhough 63), John Ferneyhough (Smith 60), Norton. Subs not used: Roche, Taylor.
Sent off: Harold, Panniers, 54 min, second booking.
Booked: Harold: Cooper-Tompkins, 26 min, dissent; Lloyd, 26 min, handball; John Ferneyhough, 33 min, foul; Panniers, 49 min, foul.
Referee: Alistair Phillips (Herefordshire FA).
Attendance: 723.
Goals: Jones, penalty, 26 min, 1-0; Thomas, 36 min, 2-0; Kear, 83 min, 3-0.
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