Match Preview

City face their third trip to Westfields this season, with a fourth upcoming on Tuesday, as they return to Hellenic League action following the midweek cup break for a Saturday, 3pm kick-off at Allpay Park.

After already facing Westfields in the FA Cup and Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup earlier this season, City now face two visits in four days to the same opponents, after being drawn away in the Quarter Final of the Marsh Challenge Cup on Tuesday.

Westfields' Allpay Park will bring back good memories for The Faithful from this season, after Kirk Layton's stoppage time screamer in the FA Cup was followed by a goal-fest, 5-3 victory a month later. But City may be looking for revenge this weekend, as it was Westfields who inflicted City's only league defeat so far this season, when they snatched a 2-1 victory at Claines Lane just three days after the FA Cup success.

In that encounter back in August, City had gone ahead through Layton's first half injury time opener, before Westfields equalised immediately after half time through their top scorer, Oliver Barnes. After Adam Wakley had seen red with fifteen minutes left to play, City piled on the pressure searching for the three points, but were hit on the break as Westfields stole the points themselves through a freak Stephen Davies winner in stoppage time.

Since that evening in August, it's now 22 league games without defeat for Chris Cornes' side, a remarkable feat, as City sit three points clear at the top of the Hellenic Premier Division table, still with three games in hand on nearest rivals Corsham Town.

Westfields, meanwhile, after winning their next two league games after the City win and looking likely title or play-off contenders, went on a run of losing ten of their next twelve league games, parting company with Manager Phil Glover during that time, in a turbulent few months for the club.

New Manager Scott Russell has steadied the ship more recently, and the club have won an impressive four out of their last six league games, including wins against Roman Glass St George and Royal Wootton Bassett Town in that time, both sides currently occupying play-off places themselves.

City meanwhile have won their last six league games in a row, twelve in all competitions, as the march on four fronts continues into the business end of the campaign.

Tuesday night's victory over Brimscombe & Thrupp has booked City's first cup final of the season, a two-legged tie set to take place next month. And Saturday's last-gasp Longlevens victory, courtesy of a Jordan Lymn stoppage time winner, managed to put points between the club and Corsham Town, which they will no doubt hope to increase over the next few weeks.

Cornes has been forced into rotation in the last few weeks with notable absences from his side including Connor Gater, Calvin Dinsley, and more recently Jamie Insall. Jamie was left out of both the Longlevens and Brimscombe wins, but City fans will be hopeful of seeing him back soon.

A major boost has been the return of Dylan Hart, who was in red hot form in January before having an operation and missing six matches. He appeared from the bench in the second half of the Longlevens win and opened the scoring with a well-taken penalty in midweek, taking his own goal tally to 17 for the season.

Despite the two successes this season, Manager Cornes will know that Westfields are a tricky opponent to navigate, and City will need to be at their best to keep up their recent impressive winning run.

Westfields play at Allpay Park, Widemarsh Common, Hereford, HR4 9NA. Admission prices are Adults £8, OAP's & Concessions £6, and Children £1.