Westfields 3 Ludlow Town 0

AFTER holding their own for most of the first half Ludlow were unable to come back after conceding a hotly disputed goal just before the break, and slipped to a three goal defeat at Hereford in the local derby Bank Holiday fixture in the Travel Factory Midland Alliance.

Forced to make a number of changes to their line-up due to other commitments, the Town played well in defence but lacked the required cohesion up front to extend a strong home defence. The first half was well contested but mostly restricted to midfield.

Before the opening goal both sides had one real chance. Martin Davies volleyed just over the bar after being set up by a flick-on and then there was a scare for Martin Poole when a Jon Hill cross landed on top of the cross-bar.

Paul Burton opened the scoring after running through with other players in an off-side position. It could have been two but Poole got down well to a Derek Craddock drive. Without the influential Steve McCormack Town were always going to struggle to prise their way back into the match.

Westfields increased their lead when Poole failed to claim a Craddock corner and Scott Jackson poked the ball home. The third goal was a disaster for Paul Tomlinson. The big defender, who had performed heroically at both ends throughout the game, headed the ball back towards his hesitant keeper and Burton nipped in to nick his second goal.

The game opened up during the closing stages and the hard-working Davies and young full-back Luke Hicks both tested the home keeper.