HEREFORDSHIRE under-14 just missed out on a place in the West Midlands Schools Cup after losing to Nuneaton on penalties after an entertaining 3-3 draw at Westfields.

The home side fell behind after only a minute, but Miles Langford equalised from Joe Tumelty’s cross soon after, and Tom Parry put Hereford 2-1 up with a neat lob over the keeper.

A defensive mistake let Nuneaton draw level again, but Hereford led at the interval when Tumelty volleyed in a Parry cross at the far post, before Nuneaton made it 3-3 with a header in the second half.

With neither side able to force a winner in extra-time, the game went to penalties. Nuneaton ran out 5-4 winners, with Hereford’s missed spot-kick striking the post and ending their hopes of reaching the final at Molineux.

Dean McDonald’s goal was not enough for Herefordshire under-15 who lost 2-1 at home to Cannock.