The Whites go marching on
Hereford United are in the hat for the second round of the F.A. Cup tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. United were 3-1 victors this afternoon at Haig Avenue where they defeated Southport. The Bulls took a three goal lead before the Conference North side grabbed one back through top scorer Terry Fearns. Port hit the bar and had a shot cleared off the line as they tried to fight back into the tie.
Ryan Green was absent from the side as was, once again, Tom Smith. Hereford's only change to the side from last weekend was Lee Mills starting instead of Rob Purdie. David Brown started the game on the left wing.
The hosts started the game brightly and created the first few openings before the Bulls got anywhere near their goal. A twenty yard drive from Neil Robinson failed to trouble Mawson but the two Port attackers linked up well with Robinson playing Fearns in on goal, but his low shot was straight at Mawson. At the other end Adam Stansfield headed Hereford's first chance onto the inside of the post after Brown's left wing delivery.
Right-back Williams dribbled unchallenged and shot from twenty five yards but it hit Tamika Mkandawire and kindly fell to Daly who forced Mawson into a low save once again. Twenty six minutes had passed when Mills broke the deadlock infront of the 700ish away supporters. Stansfield outpaced his marker on the right to latch onto a Craig Stanley through ball and crossed perfectly for Mills from the by-line. Mills arrived late and put United in front with a bullet header at the near post. Brown was replaced due to injury before the game restarted ; Purdie, just back from international duty, was on in his place.
Hereford finished the half the better creating more chances than their hosts with some slick passing. Hyde played Stansfield in on goal but he was narrowly beaten to the ball by 'keeper Dickinson. Stansfield again went close after a mazy run and a twenty five left footed drive that was tipped just beyond the post. Moments before Mawson had got a crucial touch on a cross from the right that was destined for the head of Fearns. In injury time at the end of the half Stansfield was felled in the box by the impressive Earl Davis, but the linesman signalled a corner and the ref went by his decision.
Robinson shot wide on the turn from Southport's first attack of the second period which started poorly without much incident. Purdie should have doubled United's advantage after a super break down the left started by James involving Stansfield and Purdie, who played a brilliant back heel for Stansfield in the box. Stansfield's cross was headed into the middle by Mortimer and Purdie was there but he managed to blaze his shot over.
Mills set up Stansfield with a cross from the left in the fifty eighth minute as Hereford started to cruise. Stansfield slotted the ball over the line at the far post. Despite a desperate attempt by the goalie to push the ball from behind the line the assistant referee signalled a goal and the Whites celebrated. Five minutes later the Bulls secured their place in the next round. Purdie started a break on the left and, after a touch from Stanley and a blocked shot by Stansfield, Purdie was on hand to curl the ball into the bottom right corner off the post.
Mills should have increased the score line after Simon Travis picked him out from the wing but after turning his man he shot inches wide from just inside the box. Mkandawire was on hand to deny Robinson after Fearns crossed to the far post, but the Malawian defender got an important touch to clear for a corner. Fearns then got on the end of a cross from the right and knocked the ball into the back of the net from six yards as Port looked to start a revival.
After a Hereford double sub, Pitman and Carey-Bertram replacing Mills and Stansfield, the lower league side created two brilliant opportunities. Mawson did superbly to tip a twenty five yard effort from sub Carl Baker onto the cross bar and it was Mark Robinson who came to the rescue, clearing off the line, when Mawson had been beaten following a corner that fell to an attacker.
Hereford deserved the victory but Southport may feel slightly unlucky not to have scored at least once again after creating some good chances late in the game. However, United were also guilty of missing some reasonably easy opportunites. Hereford now find themselves just one tie away from a potential money spinner against one of the Premiership sides in the third round of the F.A. Cup.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, James, Mkandawire, Hyde, Stanley, Williams, Brown, Mills, Stansfield. Subs: Tretton, Pitman, Scott, Purdie, Carey-Bertram
SFC Team: Dickinson, Williams, Kilbane, Davis, Mortimer, Lynch, Morley, Price, Robinson, Daly, Fearns Subs: Baker, Mulvaney, Fitzgerald, Lowe, Brooksfield.