Ewyas Harold 1 Bromyard Town 4 (aet)

BROMYARD lifted the HFA County Challenge Cup with a fine extra-time performance and a hat-trick from inspired young striker Chris Jefferson in the final at Edgar Street.

Town had looked set for a comfortable victory after a solid first-half showing which saw them pepper the Harold goal with efforts and restrict their opponents to just a handful of opportunities.

Eight first-half corners to one in favour of Bromyard summed up the story and it was Jefferson who opened the scoring from one of these set pieces on 25 minutes.

Harold keeper Jeremy Rolph had saved his side just a minute earlier when he acrobatically turned over a close-range shot from Garry Nott but was powerless from the resultant corner.

Wayne Tizzard found Jefferson unmarked at the near post and he directed his glanced header home convincingly to set Town on their way.

Rolph kept Harold in the contest on more than one occasion, most notably with two stops from Wayne Hoskins - the first from point-blank range and then at full stretch from a 25-yard effort.

But if the first period was Bromyard's, Ewyas Harold set about levelling the balance in the second and on 64 minutes they snatched a deserved equaliser.

Kevin Davies provided a cross for striker Steve Radziejowski and, despite a block from Town keeper Mark Hopkins, Stan Jones forced the ball over the line.

Mel Langford, arguably Harold's most prominent player, tested Hopkins just three minutes later after he had feigned to cross but the Town keeper was alert to push it behind for a corner.

And Hopkins guaranteed extra time when he saved again from Langford five minutes from the end following a cross by Simon Macklyn.

However, the additional 30 minutes highlighted the divisional gap between the Banks's Brewery West Midlands Division 1 South side and the Hereford Times Herefordshire League Premier Division outfit.

Higher-graded Brom-yard's fitness told as the Harold defence flagged and Jefferson, easily the outstanding player of the match with his tireless and pacy running, took full advantage.

The Town number nine rounded several Harold defenders and left Rolph with no chance to put his side back ahead after 111 minutes.

Rolph denied Jefferson his third goal with a low stop four minutes into the second extra period but within five minutes the Bromyard hit man completed a richly deserved treble.

Again Jefferson made light work of the Harold back line, brushed off a challenge and lobbed the ball perfectly over Rolph from 10 yards.

And there was still time for Town to make it four with a goal fit for a cup final after substitute Alwyn Weaver collected the ball some 30 yards out.

There seemed to be just one thing on the diminutive replacement's mind and, after carrying the ball five yards, he unleashed a fearsomely unstoppable bullet of a drive into the top corner to seal an excellent victory.

Ewyas Harold: Rolph, Dzioba, K Davies, Langford, Harwood (Smith 117 min), Macklyn (Howells 115 min), Taylor, Warren, Radziejowski (Ferneyhough 97 min), Herbert, Jones. Sub not used: Williams.

Bromyard: Hopkins, Watkins, Dayson, Perkins, S Davies, Hoskins, Nott, Gwynne (Graham 110 min), Jefferson, Westmacott (Johnston 70 min), Tizzard (Weaver 91 min). Subs not used: Morris, Wall.

Referee: P Jones.