By Sam Hill
USW 2nds were dumped out of the Western Conference Cup by University of the West of England (UWE) 3rds in a comprehensive 6-1 defeat.
The opening minutes of the game were a close affair lacking quality, as both sides adjusted to the lesser size and pace of the USW grass pitch.
UWE created a flurry of chances in the first 10 minutes, with only heroics from USW left-back Tom Evans and goalkeeper Dylan Pearce denying the visitors an early lead. Chay Samuel and Matthew Shobbrook were the UWE pair denied respectively.
In the 18th minute the deadlock was broken by the Bristol-based side, Will Beville cutting in from the left-wing and curling in a delicate effort from the edge of the USW box.
Following the opener, the home side had their best spell of the game, finding themselves higher up the pitch. This stronger period ultimately cost them however, as they were hit on the counter, Samuel taking on his opposite number on the right and finding the bottom left corner in the 23rd minute.
Two minutes later, the home side reacted well to conceding, with a smart ball behind finding Jack Woodhams on the left wing, who picked out the far corner of the net to reduce the deficit.
The hosts’ resurgence was short-lived as the UWE goalscoring pair linked up to restore their two goal lead just beyond the half hour mark, Beville turning provider for Samuel who once again found space behind his full-back and picked out the far corner.
It was 3-1 to UWE at the interval and early in the second half USW had a well-crafted chance by Callum Aherne, finished off by David Mensah, disallowed.
UWE then put the result beyond doubt with a further two goals.
First Samuel notched a third following a strong dribble, and then Teddy Weller with a poacher’s finish claimed the fifth with more than half an hour left.
The goal was the last of the action for Weller as he was replaced on the hour mark by Mubarak Suraj. USW also made changes with Harri Jones, Max Wells, Alex Hope, Eddie Byng and Aherne replaced with Dezire Mambule, Elliot Balchin-Love, Tai Thomas, Finn Peacock and Noah Gorochovas.
Gorochovas was straight into the action as he picked out an energetic forward run from fellow substitute Mambule, the attacker unable to convert the chance.
A majestic solo goal from UWE star Beville completed the scoring.
After taking on a pair of USW defenders and finding himself one-on-one, Beville finished the chance with a neat outside-of-the-boot chip to cap off a dominant team and personal display.