Chesterfield Youth 0 Young Bulls 1

Hereford United’s Youth team progressed to the third round of The  FA Youth Cup defeating a stubborn Chesterfield side at The Proact Stadium tonight courtesy of an injury time winner from Dylan Bonella.

Fielding the same team that defeated MK Dons in the first round, the young Bulls found stiff opposition in the Derbyshire outfit.

The early exchanges brought efforts from both sides with Ben Miller for The Bulls and Joe Massey for the hosts both trying their luck from distance.  

Good Effort From Ben Miller

Miller was a little unlucky to see his glancing header saved on the line and Cory Williams was thwarted when home keeper Cameron Mason was quickly of his line to save at the feet of The Bulls’ striker.

Bulls’ keeper Kyle Moore did well to cut out a cross when under pressure from Alex Hewitt and Aiden O’Kelly, overlapping, saw his shot saved as play swung from end to end.  Cory Saunders low cross was hacked away with Williams poised to strike before Ben Miller drew a terrific one-handed save from Mason and Williams had a header go over the bar from another Saunders’ cross.

A Cory Williams flick-on found Tom Brock breaking into the box but, again, Mason was out bravely to smother. 

HT 0-0

Chesterfield started the quicker in the second period and The Bulls rearguard were under pressure for much of the opening twenty minutes although keeper Moore was not really tested.  Billy Murphy, Callus Brennan and Dylan Bonella all put in good shifts in centre-field and gradually turned the game with some hard work and searching forward balls.

Williams Elbowed Off The Ball?

The Bulls had a reasonable shout for a penalty when Cory Williams went down under pressure in the box but Elizabeth Simms waived away the appeals.  Ben Partridge whipped in a cross from the Chesterfield right which Luke Randell met first time but his shot lacked pace and Moore was able to deal with it comfortably.

Tom Brock forced a hasty clearance that was sliced out for a corner as The Bulls started to build a head of steam.  Cory Williams might have done a little better when put through on goal but rushed his attempt that went wide.  Callum Brennan had a fierce shot beaten away and a speculative Williams effort just cleared the bar from 30 yards.

With the game looking like entering extra time, The Bulls grabbed a late winner deep in added time.

The Ball came over from the left boot of Tom Brock and Dylan Bonella, arriving late at the edge of the box, saw his looping volley finish in the back of the net off the inside of the upright.

We've Scored!

FT  Chesterfield 0  Bulls 1

Chesterfield: Mason, Massey, Randall, Brock, Edridge, McNicholas, Partridge, Sugden, Johnson, Hewitt, Beesley.  Subs Bayne, McCready, Walshaw, Morrison, Hudson.

Bulls: Moore, O’Kelly, Saunders, Murphy, Gregory, Kontic, Miller, Brennan, Williams, Bonella, Brock.  Subs James, Burgess, Haines, Fletcher, Clarke.

The lads found less space afforded to them compared with the MK Dons game and as a result lacked the sharpness and intensity of the previous round.  There was, however, a resilience and determination particularly from centre backs Jamie Gregory and Max Kontic that saw then through the tricky periods.

There were plenty of smiling faces on the 50 or so travelling fans who went to support.

Bournemouth next up.

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