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Hereford United progressed into the Area semi-final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a battling performance at Brisbane Road this evening. A goal from Leon Constantine was nearly enough for a Hereford victory, but a late equaliser from Leyton Orient saw the game go to penalties. Adam Bartlett produced his usual shootout heroics to see the Bulls continue their Wembley dream.
The suspended Matthieu Manset was replaced by up front by Gavin McCallum and Leon Constantine, Richard Rose, Matty Done and Ryan Green all returned to the Bull's starting XI after being rested for the Sutton United FA Cup tie.
The opening minutes of the game were bossed by the impressive looking Orient. Andros Townsend crossed for veteran James Scowcroft to head narrowly wide, and then played in Harry Baker, who dragged a shot wide from an acute angle.
Hereford then created their first meaningful opportunity of the match. Richard Rose found space 30 yards from goal and unleashed a long range effort that swerved wide. McCallum then headed wide with his back to goal, not realising he had all the time and space in the world to test O's stopper Jamie Jones.
The pace of Gavin McCallum and Mark Marshall was certainly giving some cause for concern for Orient as Hereford continued to profit on the counter. McCallum received a neat through ball on the right hand touchline from Kenny Lunt, he side stepped his man and squared the ball back for Constantine to score his first goal in over two months... 1-0 Bulls.
Orient then pushed for an immediate response. Scowcroft missed another headed opportunity as his attempt went wide, as a result of good pressure from Keith Lowe. And Demetriou shot wide from 25 yards as the Bulls ended an exciting first half 1-0 to the good.
Half Time - Leyton Orient 0 - 1 Hereford United
The impressive Andros Townsend was replaced by Sean Thornton at half time and immediately Hereford were on the back foot. A bobbling ball in the area wasn't dealt with efficiently and Ryan Jarvis shot wide through a cluster of bodies.
The O's were taking the game to Hereford and Keith Lowe nearly equalised for the home side when a deep cross met his foot perfectly. Stopper Adam Bartlett was equal to it and punched it away to safety. Ryan Jarvis mis-timed a back post stretch for the ball and then shot straight at Bartlett when clean through after 55 minutes.
A counter attack saw McCallum beat 'keeper Jones to the ball but his flick was easily cleared off the line by Luke Ashworth. Luke Summerfield had a shot deflect agonisingly close to the foot of the post with players waiting for a simple tap in from the rebound and Bartlett came to the rescue again on the hour, when Adrian Patulea's flick was tipped away after a scramble in the area.
It wasn't until Jamie Tolley and Jonny Godsmark replaced the impressive Mark Marshall and Leon Constantine with 20 minutes left, that the Bulls came back into the game. Kenny Lunt shot over from distance when you'd have fancied the former Wednesday man to at least test the keeper.
Wth 10 minutes left, Jamie Tolley man handled Demetriou and gave the hosts a perfect chance to equalise. Demetriou himself stepped up from 20 yards and sent a perfectly placed effort towards the top corner of the goal, only to see Bartlett catch the ball with a superb stop.
The Bulls started to the control the game and took charge until the last five minutes. Jarvis again missed from close range and Demetriou's long run and cross deserved more. With a win seeming all but assured for the resilient Bulls, it was no surprise to see United making it hard for themselves in the final of three added minutes.
With 200 or so O's fans out of the ground, Orient star man Jason Demetriou picked up on the halfway line and drove to the edge of the United area. He took aim from 20 yards and via a deflection from most players on the pitch the ball rolled into the bottom corner of the Bulls' net... Orient 1 - 1 Bulls.
Back came the jubilant departed through the turnstiles to watch a dramatic penalty shootout.
Fortunately for the Bulls their joy was short lived and Adam Bartlett proved the hero as he saved three times to help Hereford progress into the Area Semi-Finals of the Johnstones Paint Trophy.
Attendance: 1282 (Impressive away following of 158)
HUFC: Bartlett, Lowe, Blanchett, Rose, Green, Lunt, Sonko, Done, Marshall (Tolley 69), Constantine (Godsmark 69), McCallum
ORIENT: Jones, Ashworth (Pires 84), Cave-Brown, Chorley, Daniels, Baker (Patulea 58), Townsend (Thornton 45), Summerfield, Demetriou, Scowcroft, Jarvis