.jpg)
Two goals either side of half-time by Sam Clucas gave Hereford United victory over Westfields in the HFA Senior Cup Final in front of 592 supporters at Allpay Park.
Will Evans lifted a left-foot shot over the bar for the Bulls early on before Dan Connor, starting in the sticks for United, made a smart save to deny Westfield's number 8 with a right-foot strike from the angle. Hereford took the lead on the nineteen minute mark; James McQuilkin fed a pass down the line which Evans raced onto, drawing the home 'keeper Matt Gwynne out before whipping a ball across the box where Clucas slid into direct the ball into the roof of the net. Evans was involved soon after, swivelling well after collecting a Ryan Bowman knock down to fire powerfully at Gwynne. Westfields threatened towards the end of the half, with number 12 sending a rising shot over the bar whilst a Craig Jones corner was fluffed by Connor, but former Bulls' full-back Joel Edwards couldn't get his header on target.
In the second-half, Hereford made a number of subs throughout to change things about, with Marlon Jackson the first to be introduced during the break, with Bowman making way. The hosts continued to probe Connor's goal with Bruno Dalibard turning a dangerous Aidan Thomas cross behind, whilst from the resulting corner, the Fields' captain number 5 headed over after the ball in wasn't dealt with. Jackson showed good persistence to find room 20 yards out to wrap his foot around the ball and curl just past the post. Clucas sealed the victory mid-way through the half with a well-struck effort; a McQuilkin free-kick was only partially cleared and the former Lincoln youngster hit a crisp left-foot shot which beat Gwynne, despite the 'keeper getting a hand to it. The final minutes of the game saw some fiesty challenges from the home team, with Dalibard and Carruthers the recipients, but Westfields continued to push forward, with number 14 flashing a right-foot shot across the goal and a late free-kick in a good position was lashed over, following a foul from trialist Ashley Sammons.
Another solid performance from Martin Foyle's squad; a clean sheet was pleasing but again, the attacking threat is still fairly limited. Trialists Clayton Fortune and Ashley Sammons failed to stand out, although the former was rarely troubled in the first-half. Next up for United is the final pre-season friendly against Bristol City at Edgar Street on Friday evening.
Hereford: Connor, Heath (Gallinah), Stam, Fortune (Townsend), Dalibard, Clucas (Carruthers), Evans, Sammons, McQuilkin, Canham (Pell), Bowman (Jackson).
Subs not used: Hanford, Watkins.
