Manset seals fourth round spot

Mathieu Manset was the Hereford hero as they booked their place in the FA Cup Fourth Round and a trip to League One promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday. The Frenchman's close-range finish in the 32nd minute was enough to see off Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park, in front of 2,353.

With Ryan Green out suspended, Jamie Pitman opted to revert back to 4-4-2. Joe Colbeck was introduced into the starting line-up, with Richard Rose shifting across to right-back. There was a welcome return to the subs bench to Rob Purdie, who picked up an injury when United lost at Wycombe on Boxing Day. The hosts included Marvin McCoy in their starting eleven; the former Watford defender had a very brief spell at Edgar Street in 2007.

Like the league fixture, Hereford started the brightest, with some early attacks worrying to Chairboys' back-line. Stuart Fleetwood played a neat one-two with Kenny Lunt but the in-form striker's effort was well-blocked. Nicky Featherstone's deft flighted pass found Colbeck in space, with the former Braford man guiding a header past the far post. Fleetwood saw another effort blocked after being found by Manset, before the Frenchman nearly opened the scoring in spectacular fashion. A short Lunt pass found Manset, who flicked the ball up with his left and struck a 25 yard half-volley goalwards; the ball took a slight deflection of a defender and forced Nikki Bull to push the ball over the bar.

After the good pressure from Hereford in the opening stages, Gary Waddock's men gained a foothold and started creating chances of their own. Stuart Beavon sliced wide, under pressure, from 20 yards before Kevin Betsy should have opened the scoring. A low cross from the right wing somehow presented Betsy with an opportunity but his powerful right-foot shot was palmed away by Adam Bartlett. The Bulls' defence continued to be tested and a inswinging cross from the left found Alan Bennett in acres of space but he headed off-target.

Wycombe had their two best chances of the first-half in quick succession but failed to break the deadlock on either occasion. Firstly, when Scott Donnelly's goalbound effort was blocked, the ball fell to Betsy inside the box and a lack of composure saw him lift the ball over, when it had looked easier to score. Moments later, Andy Sandell swung a dangerous free-kick into the box from the right which Gareth Ainsworth glided towards goal, hitting the woodwork with a header. Yet, Wycombe were to rue these misses, as Hereford grabbed the decisive goal just after the half-hour mark. A well worked corner routine saw James McQuilkin take it short to Fleetwood, who curled a deep cross towards the back-post. Rose met it, heading back across goal and Manset outstretched his trusted left-boot to score from a couple of yards out.

In truth, the first-half had all the action with the second-half largely uneventful, owing alot to Hereford's defensive performance. Wanderers dominated possession but couldn't find a way to break down a stubborn Bulls' back-line. An early Hereford counter-attack saw Colbeck slide in Manset, with the Frenchman trying a shot from an almost impossible angle which Bull claimed easily. Colbeck pounced upon a loose-ball to force Bull into a finger-tip save, pushing a low effort around the post.

Bennett again missed the target with a header, this time from a corner as Wycombe pressed. Stuart Lewis struck over from outside the area after good work down the right-wing, whilst another good move by the hosts saw Beavon lay the ball on for Matt Bloomfield to meet but his left-foot effort was tame and didn't trouble Bartlett. A flurry of subs were made in a short space of time by both teams, as the half progressed. For Wycombe, Ben Strevens and Scott Rendell replaced Donnelly and Ainsworth respectively, whilst after Joe Heath had wasted a good set-piece opportunity, Matt McClure came on for Betsy. Hereford made subs of their own soon after, with Purdie returning in place of Heath, and Sean Canham getting a rare run out, with Manset struggling after a slight knock.

The final moments saw Wycombe continue to pin Hereford back in their half but chances were few and far between. Bartlett was on hand to deny a rasping long-range effort from Lewis, with the ball just evading the follow up run from the striker. After the fourth official had signalled five minutes of added time, much to the dismay of the vocal away support, McClure cut inside Purdie and set up Rendell, allowing the former Torquay striker a late shot at goal but his well-connected strike flashed past Bartlett's post. United held on to claim an excellent victory and the welcome prize money of £67,500.

It was a very enjoyable evening in the away end. The 250 or so Hereford fans were in fine voice, and the players were on good form too. In particular, Manset was a thorn in Wycombe's side, playing with confidence and self-belief. My man of the match however goes to Featherstone, who got through a tremendous amount of work in the middle of the park, and was neat and tidy when in possession. With three wins on the bounce, Hereford can go into Saturday's relegation 'six-pointer' against Stockport with renewed confidence, especially after keeping their first clean-sheet in 12 games.

Hereford: Bartlett, Rose, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath, Lunt, McQuilkin, Featherstone, Colbeck, Manset, Fleetwood.

Subs: Stratford, Weir, Gwynne, Evans, Purdie, Canham, Bauza.

Wycombe: Bull, McCoy, Bennett, Westwood, Sandell, Ainsworth, Lewis, Donnelly, Betsy, Bloomfield, Beavon.

Subs: Arnold, Foster, Johnson, McClure, Montrose, Rendell, Strevens.

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