Charlton Athletic were dumped out of the Carling Cup this evening by Hereford United in a game which finished 1-0 to The Bulls after extra-time. The only goal of the game came in the first-half of extra-time through Johnny Godsmark. Both sides had chances to win it in normal time, none better than Andy Gray for the Addicks who saw his spot-kick well saved by Adam Bartlett in front of 2017, including 323 from South London.
After the solid opening day point at Morecambe, John Trewick swapped his defensive pairing about with Darren Jones and Darren Dennehy making way for Richard Rose and Keith Lowe. James McQuilkin made his debut for United, coming in for Leon Constantine, who was ill. This allowed Trewick to line up with a 4-5-1 formation with Lee Morris leading the line on his own. The visitors were without a number of first-team players due to injury but were still able to name a tricky forward line of Izale McLeod and Gray, whilst former Bulls' Darren Randolph and Stuart Fleetwood had to be content with places on the subs bench.
Godsmark showed early intent at the Blackfriars End, flashing a powerful shot just past the upright after the ball had broke to him from the left. At the other end, two free-headers within a few minutes of each other should have made Bartlett work but firstly McLeod tamely headed at the former Kidderminster shot-stopper from a Grant Basey cross whilst an even better chance was squandered by Gray, as his unchallenged header following a short-corner fell wide of the far post. The former Sheffield United striker was proving a handful for Rose and Lowe and he fired wide after a turn on the edge of the box whilst at the other end, neat chest control and a pass from Morris allowed Pugh to get around his marker and despite seeing his initial shot blocked, his second effort, a toe-poke, rebounded off the near-post.
Immediately after Pugh had hit the post for Hereford, Charlton broke and McLeod got away from Lowe on the right before cutting in but his low shot was well blocked by Bartlett. Glen Southam should have opened the scoring when a through ball by Kenny Lunt was chased down by Godsmark and his cut-back to Southam saw the former Dagenham man denied a tap-in by an excellent defensive block. Wade Small struck an ambitious long-range effort into the Meadow End, whilst the recent signing was also involved in the final move on the half, laying-off for Basey, whose cross was met by Gray, on the stretch at the back-post but his header failed to trouble Bartlett.
The second-half started with Pugh wasting a good chance after Kelly Youga had slipped allowing Godsmark to send a low cross into the danger area; it eventually broke to Pugh, whose first-touch let him down and he dragged a shot past the near-post from 10 yards. The visitors were awarded a penalty when Gray got goalside of Rose to chase down a long Rob Elliot kick and he was hauled down in the box by the former Gillingham defender. Gray picked himself up to take the spot-kick but Bartlett guessed right and at a good height, pushed the ball away. Basey fired over from long-range before former Barnet midfielder Nicky Bailey replaced Small. Stuart Fleetwood was also introduced soon after, coming on for McLeod, and the former Bull received a good ovation from the Meadow End.
A dangerous whipped cross from Godsmark was met by Morris but it lacked power whilst at the other end, Fleetwood really should have won it for the Addicks. He managed to get goalside of Lowe and went into the area sending a slid left-foot finish past Bartlett but it trickled past the post. Dennehy replaced Lowe just before stoppage-time when Hereford had a golden chance to win it. A switch of play from Lunt found Pugh, who sent in a cross to the back-post. Godsmark controlled and from a few yards out, smashed a shot goalwards but Elliot denied him with a strong-hand to push it over.
A long-ball from Dennehy saw Morris sting the palms of Elliot's hands from a tight-angle before Matty Done replaced Southam. Soon after this chance, Hereford took the lead with Done grabbing the assist. Dennehy strongly won a tackle on the half-way line and set Done away on the left, who delivered into the danger area and despite Morris failing to make a connection, Godsmark slid in, under pressure from his marker, to grab his first-goal for United. Deon Burton replaced Scott Wagstaff as Phil Parkinson reacted to his team going a goal behind.
Burton nearly made an instant impact when Bailey's excellent cross from the left picked him out but Burton couldn't get a telling touch on the ball and Bartlett gathered. Morris nearly scored a superb individual strike when a Pugh pass into the former Derby striker was taken in his stride with a neat-turn to get away from his man and a stinging shot goalwards was pushed away by Elliot. In the second-half of extra-time, Sam Gwynne came on for Pugh, who looked to be struggling with an injury. Hereford saw out the rest of the game with little pressure on their back-line although Matthew Spring headed a cross wide and Fleetwood nearly found the top corner with a powerful shot, after turning 25 yards out.
It was a very entertaining match at Edgar Street with both sides creating plenty of chances throughout. The Bulls probably just deserved the win on the night, marking Trewick's first ever win as United manager. Hereford played some good football at times, with the 4-5-1 formation allowing plenty of space down either wing for Godsmark or Pugh to exploit. The second-round will be played on the week commencing the 24th August. Next up for Hereford is the visit of local rivals Cheltenham Town, with The Bulls looking to build on tonight's victory.
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Lowe, Rose, Valentine, Godsmark, Lunt, McQuilkin, Southam, Pugh, Morris.
Subs: Adamson, Dennehy, D. Jones, Edwards, C. Jones, Gwynne, Done.
Charlton: Elliot, Youga, Semedo, Basey, Wagstaff, Solly, Spring, Small, Stadrinou, Gray, McLeod.
Subs: Randolph, Mambo, Bailey, Racom, Burton, Fleetwood, Tuna.