Boldmere St. Michaels 0-2 Westfields
The Mikes AMFA title challenge hit the buffers at a rain swept Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. Strugglers Westfields made light of the Boldmere’s nine-match winning league run on home territory and made the long trip back to Hereford with three well deserved points.
The Mikes' 6th match in 13 days began in monsoon like conditions, with a strong wind and driving rain sweeping across the ground. Despite some surface water, the pitch was firm and the ball travelled well across the surface. On another day the match would have been postponed, but the match official deserves credit for getting changed and kicking the ball around to properly test the conditions.
The 90 minutes that followed made the Mikes wish that he hadn’t. The Mikes were second best throughout, turning in a weary performance that was fully exploited by their lively opponents. The opening minutes were dominated by attacking play, with play swinging end to end, but both sides final ball was letting them down. Home keeper Adam Jenkins was called upon to make two fine saves to keep the scores level. A Westfields goal looked more likely, and this duly arrived just after the quesrter hour when a cross in the from the left was turned home from close range by Danny Hill.
The Mikes nearly went further behind on the stroke of half time. Matt Jackson slid in to make a fine block as a visiting striker found himself with only Jenkins to beat. The ball ran loose for a seemingly easy tap in, but man of the match Adam Swain appeared from nowhere to block the goalbound effort and clear the danger.
The Mikes started the second period on the front foot, working some excellent positions but still being let down by their final ball. Despite dominating play, the home side were rocked back on their heels as they found themselves two down. The ball was worked to the by line and driven across goal by former Cinderford striker Daryl Addis and Jamie Cuss was waiting to turn the ball home from a yard out.
The Mikes continued to press, dominating possession but letting themselves down with poor pass selection and delivery. With 10 minutes to go, a mazy run from Adam Swain ended as he slotted a neat pass to release Ricky Baker on goal, but a defender threw his body in the way to make a fine block. This was typical of the visitors’ defending as they clung to their lead and was the closest they came to threatening the goal.
The Herefordshire side were not to be denied a deserved victory, on what was a bitterly disappointing night for The Mikes.
Boldmere: Adam Jenkins; Adam Swain; Matt Jackson; Aaron Hamilton; Adam Wood; Kirk Smith; Lyndon Weller; Stuart McNaught; Jason Holmes; Danny Dubidat; Ricky Baker.
Subs: Antony Juxon; Tom Stevenson; Mark Mason (Holmes); Simeon Tulloch (Weller); Rob Clarke.
