By Flynn Galliford
A STRONG first half display by Hartpury 3rds was enough to see them past USW 2nds at the Sport Park.
While an 88th minute Andreas Hustard goal for USW reduced the deficit to a solitary goal and raised hopes of a grandstand finish, it was too little too late as the visitors held on.
And USW will rue an opening 45 minutes that ultimately proved costly.
USW were 2-0 down inside a frantic first 10 minutes after Leyton Cooper capitalised on defensive disorganisation and then Ollie Cooper quickly followed up with a second.
The home side clawed one back shortly after when Corey McKeary followed in from a goalkeeping error to lift the home side’s spirits.
However, a powerful header from Hartpury defender Aaron Macdermott saw their advantage increase to two once again.
Post match thoughts of @GafferBailey after @USWFootball2s 4-3 loss to Hartpury 3’s #SportsjournoUSW pic.twitter.com/CgWHoTMAY0
— James (@Jamesdow2002) January 25, 2023
McKeary once again showed his goal scoring instinct with a rocket from 40 yards which rifled into the bottom left corner, and at 3-2 down, USW would have been optimistic of turning things around at the interval.
Tempers reached boiling point 10 minutes into the second half when the teams needed to be separated by the referee following a hard tackle by McKeary.
The tempo of the game eventually slowed but in the 79th minute a goalkeeping error by USW’s Alfie Tucker gifted Hartpury a fourth as Owen Waters got on the scoresheet.
USW threatened to mount a comeback after Hustard’s effort reduced the arrears, but it wasn’t to be on a disappointing afternoon.