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| John Mills Scored the Only Goal Of The Game |
In a much-changed starting XI, only goalkeeper Martin Horsell and left-back James Bowen retained their places as Pete Beadle utilised the depth of his squad with games continuing to come thick and fast.
Despite Stourport getting this evening’s proceedings underway, Hereford were first to threaten. Swifts skipper Ryan Wollacott put the ball out for a throw under pressure from John Mills, with James Bowen’s long ball dropping for Mills in front of goal. However, Mills lifted his effort on the turn well over the crossbar from 6-yards for a goalkick.
The game was limited in chances, with a bobbly pitch not helping the flowing, passing football Hereford like to play.
On the 20th minute, James Pilling played a neat ball into the box only to have his cross powerfully cleared by Joe Philips, almost finding the back of his own net in the process. The resulting corner was taken by captain Dylan Bonella, but Pilling's ball was too heavy for Bonella as the attack broke down.
A handful of Stourport corners followed, one of which the hosts were unlucky not to capitalise on. With Martin Horsell fumbling the inswinging delivery, Reece Shilvock scrambled a shot away at the backpost, but this was easily dealt with by Hereford’s defence.
HT: Stourport Swifts 0 - Hereford 0
With the second half looking to continue in the same uneventful manner as the first, an early change was forced upon Bulls Boss Pete Beadle as Mustapha Bundu took a knock early on, being replaced by youngster Carlos Moreira.
With 65 minutes on the clock, Nathan Summers found Max Kontic-Conveney on the wing, but after breaking forward was fouled by Jamie Hyde. Despite the free kick initially being cleared, Staley won back possession before trying an effort from 25-yards which the keeper could only parry, before claiming the loose ball ahead of the onrushing John Mills.
4 minutes later, Mills took advantage of a defensive error to put the visitors ahead. As Matthew Fulloway failed to control a pass, Mills found himself through on goal. After breaking forward, Mills' neat right-footed finish from 16-yards beat the flailing arms of the keeper for his 49th goal of the season.
Moments later Mills could've made it 50, but was unlucky to have his lobbed effort denied by the outstretched arm of Richards.
As Stourport pushed for an equaliser, Joe Phillips was adjudged to have been fouled in the box, leaving referee Andy Ellis pointing straight to the penalty spot. But Horsell made a fine save low down to his left denying a well-struck spot kick, as the danger was cleared by the Bulls.
As the game petered out, it was a match of few chances with only a solitary goal separating the sides on the night; but surprisingly away goals count as double in the PPLC, so we await the outcome of the second leg in a week’s time.
FT: Stourport Swifts 0 - Hereford 1
Att: 342
Stourport Swifts: Richards, Hanson, Hyde, Hurrell, Wollacott (c), Fulloway, Robinson, Shilvock, Canavan, Phillips, Williams.
Subs: Beaumont, Maund, Bailey, Hudson, Wager.
Hereford: Horsell, Kontic-Coveney, Bowen, Bonella (c), Summers (Oates – 72’), Laird, Bundu (Moriera – 51’), Robbins, Mills, Pilling, Staley.
Subs not used: Willets, Haysham, Tumelty.
Next up: Heanor Town at Edgar Street on Saturday. 3pm kick off.