PROUD boss Nick Stocker paid tribute to his Tenbury United troops after their best week of the season.

Tenbury clinched the first leg of what they hope will be a county cup double when they beat Westfields Reserves 2-0 at Wellington last week with a first-half header from Mike Foster and a late spot-kick from Stocker’s joint manager Aaron Morris.

They have a chance of adding a second piece of silverware when they tackle Wellington Reserves in the final of the HFL Senior Cup at Leominster on Saturday, May 2.

Then on Saturday, Stocker’s men, despite missing several players due to injuries and unavailability, boosted their hopes of staying in the Premier Division of the Hereford Times Herefordshire League with a thumping 7-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Leominster Town.

Stocker said: “Last Wednesday was the best we’ve played for a while and I was very proud of the lads.

"It’s been a hard first season in the Premier Division and it is nice to finish with something to show for it.

“Westfields had plenty of possession but we created the best chances.

"The early goal from Mike Foster settled us and we should have scored more.

"Ryan Morris caused them all sorts of problems - he has been outstanding this season.”

Foster’s 15th minute header from a flighted free-kick from Dan Gittens also capped a poignant personal comeback. Stocker explained: “Mike did his knee ligaments early on in the season against Hinton and had three or four months out.

"He says he is not fit and wasn’t sure about coming back into the side but we have stuck him up front and he has been a revelation.”

Skipper Foster, who started out as a midfield player and then switched to defence, excelled alongside the foraging Ian Patterson, while the Tenbury defence, superbly marshalled by Morris and Sam Williams, rose to the occasion.

Ryan Morris was also a box of tricks down the left and when he was upended in the box with 10 minutes to go, brother Aaron stepped up to fire home a low penalty and clinch victory.

Stocker added: “I have given Aaron a bit of stick in the last few weeks but that was one of his better performances.

"The defence hardly gave Westfields a sniff in front of goal.”

Ryan Morris was also in top form at Leominster on Saturday, scoring twice in a 7-1 verdict that also saw Tenbury squander two penalties.

The other goals came from talented youngster Macauley Stone (2), Aaron Morris, Williams and an own goal when the Leominster keeper parried a Stocker corner into his own net.

Gaz Edwards and goalkeeper Robbie Farrar both failed to score from the spot but Stocker said: “The lads who came in did really well. Jack Moran was solid in defence and Macaulay Stone was magnificent in the middle of the park.

"Things are looking bright for the future if we can hang on to these young lads.

"We've had a really good youth set-up for some years and we are starting to benefit from the hard work put in by the youth coaches.”