Herefordshire fell at the first hurdle of this season’s national competition when they were well beaten by the slick moving visitors from Essex.
The result shows a single goal defeat but it would have been a more substantial victory for Essex, but for a superlative goalkeeping performance by Herefordshire’s goalkeeper Liam Griffiths. He made a string of brilliant saves throughout a good and entertaining match.
As early as the third minute Liam Griffiths saved from Harry Hart and minutes later he made a brave stop at the feet of Godfrey Kanbazza as he was forcing his way down the middle, at the opposite end Sam Oxley made a fine run into the penalty area beating four players before being thwarted by Jai Lewis in the visiting goal.
After fifteen minutes a soft penalty was awarded to Essex, however Griffiths diving at full stretch to his right palmed the ball away from Hart.
The goalkeeper followed this with superb saves from Solomon Ogunwomoju and Jayde Abraham. The home County were being outplayed in midfield at this stage. Greg Preece brought a save out of the visitor’s keeper but the shot had no power.
Halftime arrived as Griffiths saved at his near post from Max Watters with the score line goalless.
The second half started with the home defence breaking up a couple of attacking moves from their lively visitors whilst Ollie Smith fired across the visitors goal, before the home custodian made two outstanding saves from the visiting attack to keep his goal intact.
Wilf Mann shot wide for the home side from a good position whilst Griffiths stopped a drive from Abraham. With extra time beckoning Essex scored the all-important goal in 82^nd minute when Toby Aromolaran shot across the goal with the ball just tucking inside the far post.
The home team had a couple of half chances from corner kicks in the dying minutes.
Herefordshire had to admit they had been beaten by the better team with Liam Griffiths man of the match.