Grays Athletic overcame an, on the day, poor Hereford side to tighten their grip as holders on the F.A. Trophy at Edgar Street this afternoon. Both sides made several changes from their previous outings, with United making six in total in just their starting eleven. Craig Mawson, Tony James, Ryan Green, Daryl Taylor, Craig Stanley and Stuart Fleetwood all started as Wayne Brown, Simon Travis, Dean Beckwith, Andy Ferrell, Danny Carey-Bertram and Adam Stansfield made way.
Hereford enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening periods but it was the visitors who had the early chances. Aaron McLean got a run through on goal when Alex Jeannin mis-controlled but was denied by Mawson and it was then the ever-impressive skipper Stuart Thurgood who worked some space, got a clear sight on goal in the box, but saw his shot rebound off the legs of Mawson.
Fleetwood burst through the Grays backline and forced a save from Ashley Bayes, despite the angle being very much against the striker and Bayes then gifted The Bulls another chances with a poor clearance, that led to Green having a shot deflected wide for a corner. Stanley almost scored a wonder-goal when he played a one-two with Andy Williams but his flying half-volley was just inches too high. James headed a Williams cross over just before the break as a pretty poor first half came to a close.
The second half wasn't any better either and, despite some neat passing from both sides, little in the way of goalscoring chances were created, until the hour mark when the headlock was broken. It was no surprise either that the goal came from a set-play, and was aided by a defensive lapse that allowed Michael Kightly to fire in, un-marked at the far post, to the the top corner on the half volley from Thurgood's corner.
Graham Turner wrang the changes immediately with a triple substitution that saw Ferrell, Carey-Bertram and Stansfield replace Stanley, Taylor and Fleetwood respectively but to little effect. United continued to enjoy possession and a fair few crosses were delivered into the box, but it was a Grays player who met them every time, other than when Williams glanced a header wide of the far post. With around five minutes remaining Carey-Bertram found space on the right flank and took the chance to run at the defence, who backed off. He shot powerfully but the ball hit the defender and rebounded to Stansfield. He, though, headed at goal when perhaps had the time to take a shot, and Bayes didn't have to move.
This was the final chance that United had of forcing a replay, which was probably the last thing they wanted. Six changes obviously disrupted the side and it will be no suprise to see just as many when Halifax visit Edgar Street next Saturday. No doubt both the players and the supporters, of which there were 1,609 (44 away) today, will be more "up" for the Conference fixture.
HUFC: Mawson, Green, James, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Nicolau, Purdie, Stanley, Taylor, Williams, Fleetwood. Subs: Beckwith, Ferrell, Caldicott, Carey-Bertram, Stansfield.