WESTFIELDS’ poor start to the new Midland Alliance season continued when they were beaten 3-2 away at Tipton Town.

Again without key players Terry Green, Tom Sparey, Gareth Thomas and Alex Hunt, Fields found themselves a goal down in the fourth minute when a cross from the right flank was neatly tucked away by Nathan Jones to give Tipton a dream start.

The Hereford side’s keeper Bryn Watkins then came to the rescue with a point-blank save from Jones, before Westfields pulled level in the 25th minute.

A long clearance by Watkins was chased down by Danny Hill and he lobbed the Tipton keeper.

Fields then had two great opportunities to go in front when Sam Harrison put over a superb cross which Tom Harding headed over the bar from six yards. Then Scott Jackson had a shot saved at the foot of the post.

The allpay.park outfit then conceded a poor goal on the stroke of half-time when Jones beat three defenders to score his second.

After the break, Westfields did not make the best use of their free-kicks and corners.

On the hour, the visitors gifted Tipton a third goal when Jackson tried a back-header to Watkins, but Jones nipped in to intercept the ball and score, completing his hat-trick.

Westfields, however, maintained their desire to get back into the game and Jackson set up a chance with another long through-ball.

Mark Davis got onto the end of it and beat the Tipton keeper with a fine shot to reduce the deficit to 3-2. Westfields threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but did not take advantage of their dead-ball situations and failed to get an equaliser, leaving them with a disappointing 3-2 away defeat.

On Saturday, Westfields host Stratford Town in the FA Cup preliminary round (3pm).