Hartpury held to stalemate on Hellenic Premier debut by Westfields

Hartpury University were held to a 0-0 draw in their first outing in the Hellenic Premier by a resilient Westfields, on Tuesday night.

Having moved up to the University Stadium on campus, Hartpury hosted a tough first opponent and looked to get their new season off to the perfect start.

The hosts should have gone in front inside five minutes, as Ben Baxter slipped in Riley McGregor down the left hand side and his ball in was headed wide by Cheick Kone.

Kone started very well and looked very lively, before fading out during the second half, whilst McGregor was also very dangerous in the first half in particular.

McGregor had the next chance, after Louis Manning kept the ball alive on the far side, he cut back for McGregor but his effort was turned onto his own bar by Westfields keeper, Shay Sterry.

Sterry made a terrific block on 20 minutes to keep his clean sheet intact, as Kone’s header looked set to break the deadlock.

The keeper flew across goal and got just enough on it to allow a recovering defender to clear off the line.

McGregor and Westfields defender Cameron Davies exchanged cautions as the half drifted away and the players went in to regroup.

The second half started with McGregor scuffing wide after another Manning cut back, inside the first three minutes of the half.

Westfields were forced into a change when Sterry went down injured. Luckily the visitors had a sub goalkeeper in Kieron Blackburn to come on for the final half an hour or so.

Westfields carved out their first half chance after a sweeping move ended with a ball across the six yard box for James Hancocks – only for Will Merrett’s last ditch tackle sending the ball out for a corner.

The visitors looked much sharper in the second half and gave Hartpury more to think about, although both sides began to cancel each other out as play went on.

Hartpury’s big chance to win it came with five minutes to go as Sol Kent’s deflected cross was headed just wide by Nathan Jenkins, who flew in to meet it.

Second half substitute Billy Osborn was a constant threat down the right hand side for the hosts and in injury time he got in space before his crosses into the box were defended well by Westfields.

Then in the 10th minute of injury time, Westfields won a corner which was headed down before being slid just wide.

Hartpury will be disappointed that their pressure didn’t result in all three points on the night, but the performance will give Martin Longworth and the management confidence that they will settle into life at step 5 pretty well, especially if they can turn the University Stadium into a fortress.

Next up for Hartpury is another home game, as they welcome Risborough Rangers in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday; kick-off 15:00.

Hartpury: Smallwood, Kent, Sanniola, Merrett, Roney, Jenkins, Manning, Towns, Kone, McGregor, Baxter

Subs: Robinson, Sims, Kang, Salter, Osborn

Westfields: Sterry, Clarke, Hunt, Jennings, C Davies, Thomas, Stoneman, Godsall, Hancocks, Keetch, Sylvester

Subs: Summers, Blackburn, Williams, Muirhead, N Davies

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Riley McGregor (Hartpury University)