Bulls out-thought, out-played and out-scored.

Hereford United stumbled to a home defeat despite a half-time lead from a Josh O'Keefe deflected shot.  Second half goals from Brown and Almond handed all three points to visitors Hyde and extended their winning run the three games.

Chris Carruthers Back In The Starting Eleven

Martin Foyle stubbornly stuck to his preferred 4-4-2 home formation naming Chris Curruthers at left back in place on James Musa.  Stefan Stam resumed at centre back in place of Rod McDonald while Marley Watkins made a surprise return on the right with Craig Jones named on the bench.

A Welcome Return For Marley Watkins - Pictures Taken By Andy Compton Of The Hereford Journal

Hyde kicked off attacking the Meadowend and signalled their intentions with an early ball out wide to almond on the left but the wideman fell foul of the assistant’s flag.  Chris Sharp was similarly caught at the other end as both sides tried to take an early advantage.

The game continued in an open fashion swinging from end to end.  Marley Watkins did well on the right to win a corner from which Stefan Stam saw his header cleared off the line on 13 minutes.  Jamie Milligan played a delightful diagonal ball to Almond who was in acres of space on the left but fortunately the cross flew across the goalmouth for CC to clear on the far side of the box.  Then another Hyde attack, this time on the right, finished with Hogan lifting his shot over the bar.

Sam Clucas threaded a ball through to Watkins but keeper Carnell was out quickly to smother.  On the break, Hogan's speculative effort deflected for a fruitless corner before a long clearance from Bittner was flicked on by Sharp but Jackson's hurried shot was straight at Carnell.  Jackson then forced Carnell into a hasty swipe into touch and from the throw The Bulls took the lead.

Marlon Jackson Couldn't Quite Get The Ball Past Keeper Carnell

The ball was partly cleared but Josh O'Keefe's strike from outside the box deflected past the wrong-footed Carnell and into the net with 25 minutes on the clock.

Scorer Josh O'Keefe With Chris Carruthers

Milligan's shot on the turn was blocked for a corner that was cleared without danger before he, again, found Almond unmarked who sent a rising shot over the crossbar.  An almost identical ball from Milligan predictably released Almond and this time his cutback found Alex Brown who shot wide of the target.

Milligan then rifled a shot just beyond Bittner's upright before, in the two added minutes, Sharp and Watkins combined well but ran out of pitch as the ball ran for a goal kick.

HT Bulls 1  Hyde 0

Chris Sharp got behind the visitors defence early on but his shot from 20 yards sailed a couple of feet wide with Carnell covering the near post.  A Bulls' corner on the left was knocked down by Jackson and O'Keefe's 20-yarder was only inches over the bar before Jackson limped off following a couple of heavy tackles to be replaced by Ryan Bowman with les than ten minutes of the second period played.

Hyde got their equaliser on 62 minutes when, yet again, Almond found plenty of space to receive and control the ball before getting behind Connor and deliver into the danger area where Brown placed his close range header beyond Bittner.

Brown seized on a half clearance from a Hyde corner but Bittner saved his shot low down.  The industrious Kingsley James dinked a ball into the box that was scrambled away for a corner but the flag kick failed to beat the first man.  Then ten minutes after getting their first, Hyde got their second and winning goal.

Milligan played a measured ball into the box, Blinkhorn headed back across goal and Almond flicked it over the head of Stefan Stam before volleying past Bittner from 8 yards.

Andy Porter Giving Craig Jones A Few Instructions

Martin Foyle responded by withdrawing Connor for Smikle and then adding Craig Jones in place of O'Keefe but little, apart from a flurry of offside decisions and a 25-yard pile driver from Kingsley James, appeared to greatly trouble the visitors who saw out the closing minutes to deservedly take all three points.

FT Bulls 1  Hyde 2

Hereford: Bittner, Connor (Smikle 76), Graham, Stam, Carruthers, Watkins, O’Keefe (Jones 77), James, Clucas, Jackson (Bowman 54), Sharp. Subs not used: Heath, McDonald.

Hyde: Carnell, Brizell, Ashworth, Dennis, Griffin, Hogan (Moses 90), Milligan, Tomsett, Brown, Almond (Poole 90), Blinkhorn (Jevons 88). Subs not used: McNiven, Williams.

Snow Piled Up By The Meadow End

The game was surprisingly entertaining for most of the first half for the hardy 1152 (52 away) fans but many will probably wonder why the danger of Almond, that had been apparent from the opening minutes, was not more effectively dealt with. 

The pitch was heavy but didn't prevent, in particular, the visiting midfield passing the ball around with their spare man available for a simple out ball. 

Craig Jones introduction produced a few nice touches and one through ball that deserved better but it was too tough a call to expect a lot on a debut in which he was closed down quickly and had little time to adjust to the quicker pace of Conference football.

Disappointing but we'll be there again on Tuesday.

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