Hereford 0 - Stourport 2

Joel Edwards Leading The Hereford FC Starting XI

An unchanged starting XI took to the road this evening in Hereford FC's first away league game. Sam Gwynne and Will Haines were named on the bench in place of Dylan Bonella and Jimmy Oates.

With Hereford kicking off tonight's clash, it was Stourport who first threatened. Following a run down the right flank by Ben Maund, Tony James managed to make a clearance from the danger area, but his ball only reached Stourport's Paul Hurrell whose shot was blazed well over the bar. 

Hereford’s first clear cut chance of the game fell just under the quarter of an hour mark. From Joel Edwards’ throw the ball was played to Nathan Summers, who sent Pablo Haysham on his way down the right wing. His cross was just too far ahead of the onrushing John Mills and Swifts keeper Dominic Richards collected the cross.

A free kick from Pablo Heysham 20-yards out was excellently turned around the post by the Stourport keeper. The resulting corner was headed wide of the upright by Nathan Summers.

Five minutes later, a Max Kontic-Coveney throw was delivered short to the feet of Pablo Heysham. His ball to Wheatley allowed him to whip a cross in the from the right, but Richards caught the ball convincingly.

Stourport Defenders Keeping John Mills Well Away From the Ball

On the 36 minute mark Hereford’s Nathan Summers was shown a straight red for his tackle on James Baldwin. After Baldwin broke away from midfield, Summers was the last man and his tackle within the 18-yard box saw the referee point to the spot for a Stourport penalty. Ben Maund duly dispatched the ball into the right hand side of the net past a static Harvey Rivers.

As Hereford looked for an equaliser before the break, the ball was played along the back to James, he carried the ball forward up the wing and whipped in a cross for Rob Purdie, but his header was well caught by the keeper.

Rob Purdie Heads The Ball Towards Goal

HT: Stourport Swifts 1 - Hereford 0

A couple of half-chances were created by the Bulls at the start of the second half, the first coming from a throw after Miller’s cross was blocked. Heysham’s subsequent shot was inches wide of the upright.

Minutes later Jamie Willets beat Heysham in the air to Mills' cross, but from the following throw, Miller sent his shot agonisingly wide of the target.

A Stourport handball on the edge of the area resulted in a free kick for the Whites. Purdie’s free kick was met by Tony James’s head, forcing home keeper Richards into making a fine save.

8 minutes from time, with Hereford pressing forward in search of the equaliser, Stourport sealed all 3 points with their second goal of the game. After breaking away down the right, Joe Phillips cut in and sent a low shot across the face of goal and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

As Hereford continued to try to get a consolation goal, Heysham cut in from right and his shot was pushed around the post by Richards for a corner. 

FT: Stourport Swifts 2 – Hereford 0

Att: 1321 - A new record for Stourport’s Walshes Meadow

Hereford: Rivers, Kontic-Coveney, Edwards, Birch (Hughes - 76’), James, Summers, Miller (Page - 65’), Purdie, Mills, Haysham, Wheatley (Haines - 39’).

Subs not used: Lee, Gwynne.

Stourport: Richards, Hanson, Hyde, Robinson, Willets, Wollacot, Hurrell, Hill, Maund (Rogers - 87’), Phillips (Hickman - 87’), Baldwin.

Subs not used: Dean, Bailey, Wager.

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