LAST year's runners-up Bewdley Town mounted another Worcestershire Junior Cup bid with a 2-0 victory over Fairfield Villa.

Striker Paul Edwards replaced Steve Mares in the tough first-round tie against their Midland Combination Division One opponents.

Tom Stewart had a good shot saved by the Fairfield keeper Malcolm Barnes after just five minutes.

At this stage, both sides looked good in attack and the visitors had an effort disallowed on 24 minutes for offside.

Barnes made two superb saves in the space of two minutes from Stewart but Ian Thomas' corner was powerfully headed home by Neil Turford soon after.

Fairfield's Wayne Davies missed a good chance to equalise and then keeper Mark Foster made a great save in the second period.

Barnes also saved a Chris Hough shot and tipped over Thomas' 77th-minute 25-yarder.

But Bewdley sealed the win on 81 minutes when Keith Elliot passed to Edwards who crossed for Hough to slam the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Bewdley's players are asked to meet at the Waggon and Horses pub at 1pm for Saturday's visit to Tenbury United.