Hereford 1 – Alvechurch 1

The much anticipated top of the table clash between Hereford and Alvechurch took place at Edgar Street this afternoon in front of the Bulls’ third 4000+ crowd this season.

Pete Beadle’s starting XI remained unchanged from the side that put 6 past Leicester Nirvana in the FA Vase to set up an away tie with Hartley Wintney in the 5th round, but there was a place on the bench for new signing James Pilling.

Ian Long’s Alvechurch were without topscorer Karl Edwards, but did include ex-Kidderminster Harriers striker Nick Wright.

Hereford kicked off attacking the sold-out Meadow End in the first half. With 4 minutes on the clock, Mustapha Bundu played a nice ball out to Jimmy Oates on the right wing, but his subsequent cross was too far ahead of the onrushing John Mills as the ball went behind for nothing more than a goal kick. 

Two minutes later, Mustapha Bundu broke away down the left on an electric run. He skipped past a handful of men before breaking into the box and offloading the ball to Pablo Haysham, but his shot was put behind by the sprawling keeper. 

From the resulting corner, Dylan Bonella found Ryan Green in the centre of the box and with a powerful header from close-range, firmly planted the ball into the right-hand side of Matt Sargeant’s goal, much to the delight of the home support.

In the 18th minute Dylan Bonella broke towards goal, but was brought down 25-yards out. Mustapha Bundu found Jimmy Oates out wide on the right from the resulting free kick, but the Australian saw his initial cross headed back out to him. After returning the ball back into box, he found Bundu at the far post, but the goalkeeper had little trouble in claiming his headed effort.

In the 25th minute the Bulls could’ve doubled their advantage following a free kick after Mike Symons was fouled; but Dylan Bonella’s dipping effort just managed to clear the cross bar from 20-yards.

Hereford continued to dominate the game, but failed to make the most of their possession. In the 33rd minute, referee Malcolm Steward adjudged Nathan Summers to have fouled Jordan Nadat 20-yards out. As Nick Wright stepped up to take the resulting free kick, his effort lacked conviction as Martin Horsell collected the ball.

2 minutes from the break, Mustapha Bundu continued to threaten Alvechurch's defence with his skilful runs down the flanks. Linking up well with Joel Edwards, the pair tried to work the ball into the box but Edwards was fouled as he tried to break into the area. Pablo Haysham failed to beat the wall with the resulting free kick, but after getting on the end of the return ball, saw his shot go harmlessly wide of the target.

HT: Hereford 1 - Alvechurch 0

5 minutes after the restart an accurate ball was played through to John Mills by captain Joel Edwards, but after Mills rounded the keeper, he was unlucky not to find the back of the unguarded net with his shot from an acute angle.

Moments later, Mustapha Bundu broke into the box after being set up by Mike Symons. Bundu beat the keeper with a chipped effort which went agonisingly wide of the upright.

In the 54th minute Hereford had their 3rd goalworthy chance of the half. After snubbing out a pass from Alvechurch’s Luke Paskin, John Mills managed to cut into the 18-yard box. Opting not to use the support of Bundu, Mills tried to create himself a shooting opportunity but his resulting strike went harmlessly wide for a goalkick. 

Hereford were left wishing they'd taken their earlier chances when 60 seconds later Alvechurch grabbed the equaliser. A ‘Church counterattack saw Nick Wright break away down the left on a solo run. As the ex-Harriers man burst into the box, he was forced wide by the backtracking Hereford defence, but did well to steer the ball past Horsell for what was ‘Church’s only real clear-cut scoring opportunity of the game. 

The goal more than lifted the spirits of the visitors as they look more lively going forward. Immediately after coming on in place of goalscorer Wright, Josh March clattered into Ryan Green leaving him in need of treatment. Despite calls from the home fans for a sending off, the referee showed March a yellow card.

With 9 minutes left on the clock, Mustapha Bundu did well to retain possession in the crowded Alvechurch penalty area, going close to grabbing a goal, when his low drive went behind off the outside of the post.

Joe Tumelty should've done better moments later when, from 15-yards, failed to control his powerful shot as it cleared the crossbar.

As the game entered stoppage time, Hereford continued to push for the illusive winner. A free kick was delivered into the heart of the area by Ryan Green, but Mike Symons was penalised for a foul in the box. 

In the 4th minute of injury time, tempers flared after Joel Edwards’ challenge on Mike Wardle. The referee subsequently cautioned Hereford’s skipper as Wardle received treatment from the physio. With Hereford still looking for the 3-points, the well-organised Alvechurch defence remained resolute.

The Referee In The Midst Of Some Angry Players After Joel Edwards' Challenge On Mike Wardle

FT: Hereford 1 – Alvechurch 1

Att: 4,026 with a reported 170 in the away section

Sponsors’ MotM: Goalscorer Ryan Green

Hereford: Horsell, Oates, Edwards (C), Bonella, Green, Summers, Bundu, Birch, Mills, Haysham (Tumelty – 50’), Symons.

Subs not used: Willets, Staley, Grant, Pilling.

Alvechurch: Sargeant, Field (Smith – 86’), Foster, Bellis (C), Parsons, Paskin, Winwood, Williams, Nadat, Cresswell (Wardle – 74’), Wright (March – 64’).

Subs not used: Deards, Evans.

Match playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNwofjoPFPtnNTdM-FeH9UIghBtjbE_ET

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