Hereford United followed up their impressive weekend victory over Darlington with another three points, this time against Mansfield Town at Edgar Street. Goals in either half from Theo Robinson and Trevor Benjamin saw United cruising, until Michael Boulding netted to bring the away side back into the game. The Bulls had to withstand a late surge from Mansfield to hold on for the win.
There was only one change made by United as Karl Broadhurst returned in the heart of defence, with Trent McClenahan out of the side completely. Richard Rose moved to right back as a result of the change. Michael Boulding, scorer of nine goals so far this season, started up front with weekend hattrick hero Simon Brown, and looked to threaten United's back-line.
Mansfield made the early impressions at Edgar Street, as The Bulls looked slightly shaky. Matthew Hamshaw shot weakly at Wayne Brown before the goalkeeper stopped a decent effort by Boulding. United mustered up their first chance of the half when Benjamin used his strength to hold off a challenge from Alex Baptiste, and set up Toumani Diagouraga to blast wide off the post. Boulding and Brown looked lively, with the former getting on the end of a one-two, but was only able to slide wide from close range after coming under pressure from Brown in United's goal. Both Hamshaw and Boulding saw half-chances deflect wide, before Hereford, slightly against the run of play, took the lead.
Lionel Ainsworth found space on the right hand side, before playing a good ball down the by-line which Theo Robinson, who beat the offside trap, ran on to and collected. He took the ball into the box before cutting past the sliding defender, and tucked the ball under Carl Muggleton to the delight of the home support. Mansfield responded instantly, with the lively Boulding going extremely close, with a curling effort that had to be tipped around the post by a diving Brown. Lee Bell also came close after his shot took a slight deflection and was inches away from the post. The final chance of the half fell to Mansfield's Boulding, after Hamshaw struck a shot into the path of the striker, but Boulding could only divert it over the bar from six yards out.
Like Saturday, United scored early on in the second half, with this time Benjamin nodding in. Ainsworth again was the provider, as he burst down the right hand side after getting free from Daniel Martin, before providing an excellent cross, which Benjamin powerfully dispatched past the helpless Muggleton. Much like the first half, Mansfield created far more chances than United, and Martin had a powerful free-kick in a dangerous position blocked by Benjamin. Ian Holmes and Jonathan D'Laryea were both introduced as they looked to get back into the game, with the ineffective Brown and winger Nathan Arnold making way. Mid-way through the second half, and Mansfield pulled back a deserved goal. Stephen Dawson found space just outside the box, and struck a well placed shot against the post but Boulding was on hand to tap in his tenth of his season.
The pressure started to mount, and Hamshaw saw a free-kick from long range smash against the outside of the post. Dawson then threatened after Toumani Diagouraga sliced a clearence, but the shot was well wide. The strength of Benjamin allowed him to bring the ball down, and evade the challenge of Baptiste, before shooting powerfully at 'keeper Muggleton. From the corner that followed, Diagouraga's front post header was well over. Simon Johnson came on for Benjamin with 15 minutes remaining, as Hereford looked to use their pace to exploit Mansfield when on the counter-attack.
Boulding continued to look dangerous, and cut in to test Brown but the former Chester shot-stopper was equal to it. Boulding then held the ball up before laying off for substitute Holmes to place a shot wide off goal. With little time remaining, and Mansfield still putting the United defence under a lot of pressure, Ben Smith and Ainsworth made way, with the usual replacements Kris Taylor and Luke Webb taking their places. Deep into stoppage time, after Sean McAllister had replaced Bell in the middle, Baptise found himself with a fine chance to level. The ball had fell to the big centre half in the box, after a scramble but he could only find the Merton Meadow Car Park, with an awful shot.
It was hard work for Hereford to gain all three points, and Mansfield perhaps should have had a point at least. However, Hereford were comfortable up until the Mansfield goal, when the away side really came back into it. Again, John McCombe was in good form at the back whilst Theo Robinson looked lively throughout up front, and took his goal well. A bumper crowd is expected next up as Leeds visit on Friday night; tonight's crowd was just 2272 with 129 making the trip from Mansfield.
Hereford: Brown, Rose, Broadhurst, McCombe, Threlfall, Ainsworth, Smith, Diagouraga, Easton, Benjamin, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, Taylor, Gwynne, Webb, Johnson.
Mansfield: Muggleton, Mullins, Buxton, Baptiste, Martin, Hamshaw, Bell, Dawson, Arnold, Boulding, Brown,
Subs: White, Jelleyman, McAllister, D'Laryea, Holmes.