Hereford United reached Round Two of the FA Cup for a second successive season thanks to a strike from Jon Brady. He struck with 12 minutes left on the clock sending the Bulls into the hat for the draw on Sunday. Hereford are ball number 22.
Graham Turner made changes from the side that drew at Aggborough last weekend, with striker Guy Ipoua returning to the first side, Andy Williams also started with Danny Carey-Bertram dropping to the bench, and Matt Bailey returning to Crewe. Andy Ferrell dropped to the bench with Rob Purdie returning to his normal left side role, Ryan Green returned at right back. Alex Jeannin also returned after suspension, replacing Darren Blewitt who picked up a knock at Kidderminster last Saturday. Craig Mawson also returned to the side, as Wayne Brown is ineligible to play any Cup competition. Darren Knurek, signed from Evensham as a back up goalkeeper for the FA Cup was on the bench.
United had the better of the opening stages, Jeannin's pass was collected by Brady who let fly a low shot from 25 yards but Cambridge City 'keeper Naisbitt was on hand to hold the shot. Williams turned well before firing a left footed shot over the bar. Hereford's best chance of a lacklustre first half fell to Tamika Mkandawire, he leapt well to meet a corner from Brady, but his header was cleared off the line by the defender, although it looked as though it was heading just wide.
Cambridge came back into it towards the end of the first half and Dale Binns found space on the left hand side of the box but he fired his shot wide of Mawson's goal. Ipoua held the ball up well, and he set up Jamie Pitman who failed to get his shot away, the defender made a superb challenge but the ball came off Pitman's foot and went wide. Cambridge thought they had taken the lead just minutes before half time when Mark Molesley had been played through, he rounded Mawson and fired into an empty net only for his celebrations to be shortlived, the linesman giving offside. The last action of the first half fell to Robbie Simpson who fired just over with a volley.
Like the first half, Hereford started the second half better and were creating more chances than Cambridge City. Alex Jeannin won a free kick down the left, and he fired in a cross to Ipoua, who managed to get in an overhead kick despite having his shirt held, but the shot didn't trouble the keeper and went over. Despite a lot of possession, Hereford failed to make it count until Purdie managed to find a yard and shoot, but the defender deflected the ball over.
Williams was quiet but could have given Hereford the lead when his smart turn found him space on the edge of the area but his low shot was just wide of Naisbitt's goal. Pitman then tried to make it two goals out of two games, when he fired in a long range drive, but it didn't trouble the 'keeper. Graham Evans then got a run out replacing youngster Williams.
Cambridge City once again came back into it towards the latter stages of the half, Brady giving away a free kick, the ball was swept in, but the clearence by Hereford found Green. He ran the length of the pitch beating two players on his way before passing left footed to Brady whose explosive shot, with the outside of his right foot, curled into the back of the net giving the 'keeper absolutly no chance of saving it.
City made some late changes in search of an equaliser with Michael Gash replacing Craig Dobson and Jamie Southon coming on for Josh Simpson. And it was the substitute Gash who tested Mawson with little left on the clock. Craig Pope layed-off to him but Gash's powerful shot was straight at the Hereford goalie.
It was a slightly disappointing game played by both sides, on a relatively good pitch. Hereford were looking for Ipoua at nearly every occasion, with Ipoua not winning much in the air and looking better on the ground when the ball was played to his feet. The defence was once again solid and another clean sheet is a bonus. The game was watched by 1,116 fans with 191 making the long trip from Hereford. The away fans went home happier, despite an average performance, and are through to the next round.
HUFC: Mawson, Green, Jeannin, Mkandawire, James, Brady, Pitman, Stanley, Purdie, Ipoua, Williams.
Subs: Knurek, Carey-Bertram, Evans, Ferrell, Beckwith.
Cambridge City: Naisbitt, Pope, Chaffey, Fuff, Langston, Dobson, Josh Simpson, Molesley, Binns, Robbie Simpson, Booth.
Subs: Calton, Wilson, Smith, Gash, Southon.