MANAGER Pete Beadle admits Hereford cannot afford to lose at in-form Highgate United today in the Midland League Premier Division (3pm).

Highgate have beaten Quorn (3-0) and Walsall Wood (2-1) in their opening two games and will be looking for a third-successive triumph, against the Bulls.

Solihull outfit Highgate, who are managed by Ashley Pulisciano and play at The Coppice, saw off the challenge of Walsall with two goals from Lei Brown on Tuesday.

Hereford suffered a 2-0 defeat at Stourport Swifts, following a 4-1 victory against Dunkirk at Edgar Street.

“All this talk about not losing a game and winning by four or five every week doesn’t happen,” said Beadle.

“At the end of the day it’s 11 players against 11 when you go out on the pitch.

“Your 11 has to want it more than their 11 and we didn’t show that in the game at Stourport.

“You would like to think that we’ll get better, but we’ve had two games that we haven’t clicked in.

“We got away with it on Saturday but not on Tuesday Against Stourport.”

Westfields will also be aiming to get back to winning form after a 4-1 home league defeat against Lye on Tuesday.

The Hereford-based club have a derby with city rivals Pegasus Juniors at allpay.park in an FA Cup extra-preliminary round tie (3pm).

Malvern Town are also in FA Cup action, hosting Midland League Premier Division Sporting Khalsa in an extra-preliminary round fixture (3pm).

Town have made a slow start to the new campaign, suffering back-to-back defeats in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

Dave Reynolds was on target for manager Les Jones’ men in a 3-1 defeat at Smethwick Rangers on Wednesday night.

“We have got good players but we have been guilty of sloppy defending and missing chances,” said Jones.

“I have been in this league for three seasons and I know the squad are capable of winning matches.”

Sam Rathbone and Reynolds will be missing for Malvern, but Matt Turner, Lee Barmby and Chris Parker are all available.