I have rarely enjoyed myself at a neutral ground as much as i have today at Westfields Football Club.

After plumping for their first Midland Alliance League game of the season over Winterbourne's Western League game with Larkhall Athletic, I headed over to Hereford from Gloucester and arrived about 40 minutes before kick-off to be met by a committee member who shook my hand and showed me into the clubhouse.

I was very impressed with their set-up and even got my first drink 'on the house' which was very well received (a pint of Old Hooky, just in case you were curious). I had planned on going to their game against Blackburn Rovers (yes, that's right, they played Blackburn Rovers in pre-season due to one of their ex players now being on the coaching staff at the Lancashire club) but work commitments curtailed that - a shame as it was a great game with Blackburn winning 2-1. They had also run a near full-strength Hereford United side close as well in pre-season, and despite being pipped at the post for promotion last season by Gresley they were looking forward to the forthcoming campaign and are the favourites to go up this time.

Westfields are planning for the future, and have a thriving youth set-up as well as plans for ladies and disabled football in the future at their allpay:park venue. They are very professional,on and off the pitch, and as Westfields ran out for the start of the game they looked fired up and ready to go. The visitors, Ellesmere Rangers, have had a somewhat turbulent summer with committee and management changes but they looked decent enough - although they are far from promotion material.

Westfields played some neat, attractive football and always looked like the side that was going to win. The final score being 3-2 to the hosts and it really could have been a lot more one-sided but for some good saves by the Ellesmere 'keeper and some stubborn defending (especially in the second-half).

Their opening day win sees them 4th in the table behind Rocester (dark horses for promotion who won 5-1 against new boys Gornal Athletic), Tividale (who won away at Leicestershire side Kirkby Muxloe 3-0) and newly cash-rich Bridgnorth Town (who won 3-1 at Coleshill Town). Ellesmere Rangers are 15th after their defeat.