Skenfrith suffer surprise loss (From Free Press Series)

Skenfrith suffer surprise loss

PROMOTION-chasing Skenfrith United got off to a disappointing start to their Herefordshire League Division Two campaign on Saturday.

They lost 3-1 at home to Hereford Civic Service and the players are now keen to make amends next weekend when they play in the Jock Hanley Cup.

Things might have turned out differently had Skennie converted a first half penalty with the score still at 0-0. Brendan Oliver was pulled down in the box but Darren Bontej's spot-kick was well saved by the Hereford CS goalkeeper.

The score remained 0-0 at half-time but the visitors took the lead in controversial circumstances soon after. While Skenfrith were appealing for what they thought was a free-kick, Civil Service broke away and scored.

A rare Ian Jenkins mistake gifted the second goal and then Kevin Acton was carried off injured after a clash with the goalkeeper.

As United had already used three subs, they were forced to play the final 15 minutes with 10 men.

But they didn't give up and man-of-the-match Mike Cook pulled one back to give the home side hope of salvaging a point.

United stepped up a gear and created a couple of good chances but the equaliser evaded them. With players pushed forward, the visitors were able to score a third goal late on.

Nick Oxford, left-back and club secretary, said: "We are all disappointed and we don't really know what went wrong but we will bounce back."

Skenfrith play Lentwerdine Colts in the Jock Hanley Cup on Saturday and they are hoping to exorcise a few ghosts. It was against the Colts last season that United suffered a bitter defeat - losing 4-3 after being 3-1 up.

Oxford said: "That result still annoys us and we hope to put things right this time around."