Westfields completed the double over Town in little more than a month after they came out on top of a seven goal exchange at their Allpay Park ground.
Despite the high scoring tally, it was still a fairly typical end of season low tempo affair in Hereford, with five of the goals and another missed Rugby penalty coming before the interval.
Sam Belcher returned to the Valley starting line-up in place of the injured Ruben Wiggins-Thomas in the only change from the previous weekend’s home win against Shepshed.
Town had bossed the possession in the game’s early stages - pushing Westfields back deep into their own half, but on their first foray forward in the twelfth minute the hosts took the lead when Mark Magee managed to turn Sean Castleton in the box, before sending a low goalbound strike – which Niall Cooper could only parry in.
Aidan Thomas nearly made it two when his shot to Ben Miller’s assist was deflected onto the post, with Sam Gwynne then testing Cooper with a rasping effort.
Rugby got themselves level against the run of play though, when Belcher’s long ball forward was inadvertently diverted into the path of David Kolodynski by a Westfields head, and the Town striker poked it past Keiron Blackburn.
Belcher curled one just over the bar from the edge of the area and Stuart Hendrie shot straight at Blackburn from distance, as the away side looked to kick on and open up a lead.
However John Mills’s foul on Carlos Moreira in the penalty box gave Magee the opportunity to double his contribution from the spot – and he duly obliged by sending Cooper the wrong way.
Three minutes later, Westfields went further ahead when Remie Birch could only half clear a cross – seeing Thomas pounce on the loose ball and fire a low strike home.
Valley were soon pulling one back again as the see-saw affair continued, with Birch atoning for his previous error by delivering an excellent inswinging cross which Hendrie stabbed in.
There was still time for a potential Town equaliser when Kolodynski was fouled in the box in first half stoppage time, but alas Hendrie’s effort from twelve yards was saved by Blackburn.
Thomas restored his side’s two goal advantage just after the restart though, when he capitalised on a Castleton’s error to plough through the middle and score past Cooper – despite a last ditch – and illegal – tackle on him by James Dance.
The home team’s good start to the new period continued, with Miller’s effort deflected over and Thomas missing out on a quickfire hat-trick by turning one wide at the far post.
The introductions of Mason Rowley and Aiden Print from the bench saw skipper Dance move into a more advanced position, and a couple of half chances were soon coming Valley’s way.
Harry Holloway’s heavily deflected shot nearly crept home and a Josh Ruff corner also almost flew straight in – before it was headed away to safety by Gwynne.
Dance then headed Kolodynski’s cross wide of the target and a Hendrie low shot was blocked, as Rugby ended the game strongly.
The goal of the game came with three minutes of normal time remaining, after a nice interchange between Holloway and Kolodynski preceded Mills feeding Town’s third sub Sam Beasley – whose neatly curled effort gave Blackburn no chance, although ultimately it proved to be in vain.
Valley
Line-up: Cooper; Wright (Print), Birch, Dance, Castleton (Beasley); Mills, Holloway, Belcher (Rowley), Ruff; Hendrie, Kolodynski. Subs not used: None. Booked: Dance
Westfields line-up: Blackburn, Gwynne, Plane, Kahaki, Ferbery, Glover, Mendes, Thomas, Magee, Miller, Moreira. Subs: Davies, Hunt, Kingsford, Hayes, Hollingshead. |