Lye Town 1 – Hereford 2

Mike Symons Runs Towards Hereford Supporters After Scoring The First Goal Of The Game

Hoping to extend their winning run to 23 games, Hereford travelled to Lye Town for this afternoon's MFL Premier game. Despite rejoining the club yesterday, there was no place in the side for Nathan Summers, but there was one change to the starting XI that beat Brocton 2-0 last Saturday, with Mike Symons starting in place of Mustapha Bundu.

Hereford, in their changed kit of red and black stripes, were first to threaten. After Lye's defence failed to close down Mike Symons, he was given time and space to cut into the box before playing the ball back to John Mills, but Hereford's top scorer failed to control his shot as it went high and wide.

By the 4th minute Hereford arguably should've been 2-0 up; Pablo Haysham did well to pick up Ryan Green's diagonal long ball and subsequently worked his way into a good position for a shooting opportunity, but was unlucky to see his right-footed attempt rattle off the woodwork.

Pablo Haysham Hit The Woodwork With This Shot

On the 10 minute mark, John Mills had another chance to put the visitors ahead. With Mike Symons holding the ball up well, he offloaded the ball to the advancing John Mills. Lye goalkeeper Jake Bedford was then forced into making a fine save, pushing Mills' low drive around the upright.

Mills Couldn't Get This Effort Past The Lye Keeper

It didn’t take long for Hereford to open the scoring though, when on 18 minutes a Lye foul resulted in a Rob Purdie free kick 20-yards out. With Purdie delivering the ball into the heart of the box, it was met by head of Mike Symons who got enough on the ball to redirect it past Bedford.

Symons Heads The Ball Towards Goal

And Watches It Past The Defenders

And Into The Net

Despite going behind, Lye continued to threaten. Following a free kick 30-yards out, Lye delivered the ball deep into the box. As the ball bounced around in the penalty, Lye managed to get a shot away, but the effort was dragged too wide to trouble Horsall in the Hereford goal.

The home side continued to push for the equaliser, and with 5 minutes remaining of the first half they managed to pull themselves back level. After breaking away from midfield, Lye managed to whip in a cross come shot from the left, but as Martin Horsall came out to collect, Simon Williams nipped in to head the ball home.

HT: Lye Town 1 – Hereford 1

After returning to the pitch, Hereford were quick to show their attacking intent. Following a series of throw ins down the right wing, Joe Tumelty found John Mills on the edge of the box; after managing to turn and get a shot away, Mills was unlucky to see his shot whistle past the post.

With 5 minutes gone of the second half, Hereford were awarded a penalty in front of the vocal following contingent. Mike Symons laid the ball off to Pablo Haysham, but as Haysham burst into the box he was brought down and the referee had no hesitations in pointing to the spot. 

Pablo Haysham Is Brought Down Just Inside The Area

John Mills stepped up to take his second spot kick in as many games, he coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Bedford with his right foot for Hereford’s 90th goal of the season in all competitions.

10 minutes later, Mills did well to control a long ball from the back; after his marker lost his footing, Mills was left one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the marksman failed to pick his spot as his effort was straight into the arms of the well-positioned keeper.

With 71 minutes on the clock, John Mills ran circles around Lye's defence with his jinking run into the box. After cutting in from the left, the striker then tried his luck from 12-yards, but his shot was agonisingly tipped around the post by Bedford’s outstretched arm.

Another chance for Hereford came following a Lye corner; after Purdie broke away, he did well to find John Mills further up the field. Once again Mills found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but Jake Bedford continued his strong performance with another fine save.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, the hosts continued to press for the equalised for the second time this afternoon. Firstly, Martin Horsall managed to make a last-ditch save, tipping a rising shot over the bar with his fingertips. Then, minutes later, Aaron Birch cleared a low drive off the line following a corner.

FT: Lye Town 1 – Hereford 2

Att: 688

Hereford: Horsell, Oates, Willets, Green, Edwards, Tumelty (Kontic-Coveney – 87’), Birch, Purdie, Haysham, Mills, Symons.

Subs not used: Bonella, Hughes, Moreira, Rivers

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