Match Preview

City head to fellow FA Cup specialists Westfields in a huge FA Cup Preliminary Round fixture this Saturday at 3pm.

Fans of our club will know that some of our biggest and best days supporting the club have been in the FA Cup, with recent trips to Coventry, Scunthorpe and Sheffield United living long in the memory. But Westfields themselves also reached the First Round Proper of the Cup in the 2016/17 season, at that time the joint-lowest ranked side to ever reach that stage of the competition.

Westfields needed a replay and penalties to get past Cogenhoe United in the last round, whilst City dispatched Dudley Town 3-0 at Claines Lane at the beginning of the month.

This season, both sides are separated in the league by three points at this early stage, City having won twice and drawn once, and Westfields record of one each of wins, draws and losses so far, with City in 4th and Westfields 11th in the Hellenic League.

But with attentions turning to the FA Cup this weekend, league form goes out the window.

City head into this fixture after our midweek dominant display and 3-0 win away at Longlevens, where Chris Cornes’ changes all paid off and impressed, particularly Zaq Hussain getting himself on the score sheet. So how does this affect Chris’ selection ahead of this weekend?

‘The games keep coming thick and fast and we move quickly to the FA Cup against Westfields. It’s nice to have a good squad of players and that showed against Longlevens, by making a few changes and still getting the result’, said Chris Cornes.

‘Zaq came in to the team after impressing when coming off the bench against Cinderford and scoring, and he followed that up with another goal against Longlevens. Reiss Taylor Randle was also good when coming on and was a bright spark, and his assist for Izak’s goal was very good.’

‘I’ve got some big decisions to make when picking the team for the game, t’s my job to make those and that’s what I will do. I’ll pick a team that I think is going to win the game.’

Speaking specifically on the mid-week fixture in Gloucestershire, Chris said: ‘The fans have been amazing so far and long may that continue. The support we had at Longlevens was brilliant and myself, my management team and all of the players really appreciate them getting behind us and giving up their time to support us home and away.’

Westfields, meanwhile, were in action in Worcester on Tuesday at Sixways, where they were unlucky not to take anything from the game in a 1-0 loss to Worcester Raiders. They themselves also faced Longlevens last weekend in the league and won 3-2, with Oliver Barnes scoring twice in that one.

A familiar face to the City Faithful, Archie Muirhead, is likely to be involved for Westfields on Saturday after signing over the summer.

For those wishing to travel to the game, Westfields play at Allpay Park, Widemarsh Common, Hereford, HR4 9NA. Admission prices are Adults £8, OAP's & Concessions £6, and Children £1. Turnstiles are open from 12pm.