Match Preview

Match Preview by Frankie Bicknell

The City players and supporters may experience some deja vu on Tuesday evening as they prepare to face Westfields away for the fourth time this season, this time in the Quarter Final of the Marsh Challenge Cup. The evening of the 27th will be a second visit in four days to Westfields' Allpay Park after Saturday’s game at the same venue in the Hellenic League.

City beat Westfields 4-1 on Saturday, and the game began with the home side leading from a goal down the left from Dan Stoneman just two minutes in. Kyle Belmonte was the player who made it square scoring a great penalty, just before half time, after a great chance from Liam Lockett who hit the crossbar minutes earlier. The game was all level at the break.

The City boys must have had a stern talking to in the changing room and came back out with vengeance as one minute into the second half Elliott Hartley scored an incredible header past the Westfields keeper. Ten minutes later Lorcan Sheehan got in on the goalscoring action and headed his own to the back of the net making it 3-1.

The game almost became 4-1 at this point when the ball hit the back of the net again, but the referee blew for a foul on the keeper. Shortly after Liam Lockett received the ball from Dylan Hart and drilled it home for the final goal, making it 4-1. City also saw the return of both Connor Gater and Calvin Dinsley in the 90th minute as late substitutes for Belmonte and Monteith.

The game was still in action at 90+6 minutes as substitution Taylor Townsend scored an absolute screamer, but the ref blew for a Westfields free kick. The game was full of drama and could indicate another action-packed game to come Tuesday evening if Westfields are looking for revenge.

This season City will have played against Westfields a total of five times after Tuesday night’s game with only one of these meeting taking place at Claines Lane. Westfields sit below City at 13th in the Hellenic League table compared to City’s number one spot, however fans must not forget they are the only side to have beaten City in the league this season back on August 22nd at Claines Lane.

After Saturday's win against Westfields, the City side remain unbeaten for 23 league games and currently sit three points clear at the top of the table with three games in hand over second placed Corsham Town.

Westfields' journey since their win against City back in August has been quite a roller-coaster ride, losing over 80 percent of their next 12 games as well as parting ways with Manager Phil Glover, and welcoming new Manager Scott Russell. In more recent months, Russell’s managerial skills have worked well for Westfields after beating play-off sides such as Roman Glass St George and Royal Wootton Bassett Town and winning four out of their last seven league games.

Thanks to Saturday’s goals from Kyle Belmonte, Elliott Hartley, Lorcan Sheehan and Liam Lockett, City now have a goal difference of 63, at least 20 ahead of second best Corsham town, and at least 40 over all remaining sides in the league. City will certainly plan on scoring many more in the next coming weeks as Chris Cornes’ side prepare to approach the end of the season still in the running for the Hellenic League title, the Marsh Challenge Cup, the FA Vase and the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup.

Saturday saw the brief return of Calvin Dinsley and Connor Gater, who we may see return for the full 90 minutes in Tuesday night’s game back at Allpay Park. Jamie Insall remained out of the City side on Saturday and it is not yet confirmed if he will return for Tuesday night. City are hoping to keep up their recent winning streak but must work hard to beat the strong Westfields side who have already defeated them once before at home.

The quarter final will be kicking-off at 7.45pm at Westfields’ ground Allpay Park, Widemarsh Common, Hereford, HR4 9NA. Admission prices are: Adults £8, OAP’s & Concessions £6, and Children £1.