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| Gethyn Hill Scored Hereford's Fourth Goal |
Hereford, attacking the Meadow End in the first half, forced an early corner with two minutes on the clock, but couldn’t make the most of it as the ball sailed harmlessly wide.
Despite dominating the opening stages, the weather proved problematic for the Bulls as they failed to test Louis Connor between the sticks.
Town’s defence swiftly dealt with a Hereford free kick from the edge of the area, before moments later a second from 35-yards was met with a poor touch from John Mills.
Just shy of the half hour mark, Hereford took the lead. Garyn Preen, who impressed manager Pete Beadle on Saturday, worked the ball onto his favoured right foot before firing the ball low into the right-hand corner of the net from 18-yards.
Three minutes later, Mike McGrath doubled Hereford’s advantage following a great run into the box. After receiving the ball on the right wing, McGrath twisted and turned his way into the area, curling a well-worked shot past the keeper.
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Fans didn’t have to wait long for goal number three as it started to rain goals at Edgar Street. Garyn Preen grabbed his second of the evening with another shot from the edge of the box. After dancing his way past a couple of defenders, he had little difficulty in prodding the ball past the keeper for Hereford’s third goal in six minutes.
With Hereford keeping up the pressure, it was no surprise when they added their fourth goal before the break. A great looping ball into the box from left-back James Bowen was met by Gethyn Hill, and after bursting through the middle of two defenders, struck the ball across the face of goal for his second goal in a Hereford shirt.
The Bulls were somewhat unlucky not to be going into half time with a five goal cushion, with marksman John Mills unable to find the target in the 43rd minute. Keyon Reffell picked out Mills with a neat pass, but his low diagonal shot was kept out by the foot of the upright.
HT: Hereford 4 – Stratford Town 0
The second half got off to a slow start with the Bulls playing into a brisk wind, but Garyn Preen came close to completing his hat-trick eight minutes after the restart. After breaking away down the right flank, Preen’s rasping effort stung the hands of Louis Connor as he palmed away the effort to prevent further damage to the scoreline.
In the 56th minute, Martin Horsell was called into action to deny Edwin Ahenkorah, turning his effort around the post. Stratford failed to test Hereford from the resulting corner, as the danger was calmly dealt with.
Stratford would’ve been hoping to get something out of the game after netting two goals in four minutes. Firstly, substitute Ben Stephens turned home William Grocott’s cross to pull a goal back,
before Jazz Luckie was on hand to tap the ball home despite calls of offside from the home side.
before Jazz Luckie was on hand to tap the ball home despite calls of offside from the home side.
Substitute Mike Symons then made sure the game was out-of-reach of Stratford as he scored Hereford’s fifth, four minutes from time. Gethyn Hill ran onto the end of a long clearance, and under pressure from Andy Gallinagh, crossed the ball to the feet of the unmarked Symons. With the keeper well off his line, the former Gloucester City man had the easy task of rolling the ball into the back of an unguarded net.
A late chance for Stratford didn’t trouble Hereford too much, as a free kick on the edge of the area was an easy catch for Horsell.
FT: Hereford 5 – Stratford Town 2
Att: 2,005, with 26 in the away enclosure
Sponsors, Wye Valley Breweries, MotM: Garyn Preen.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates (c), Bowen, Dinsley, Green, O'Shea, Preen (Haysham – 67’), McGrath, Mills (Symons – 67’), Reffell, Hill (Purdie – 87’).
Subs not used: Preston, Harris
Stratford Town: Connor, Summerfield, Thomas, Gallinagh, Recci, Clark (Hancocks – 75’), Grocott, Fry (Stephens – 59’), Taylor (Marsden – 59’), Luckie, Ahenkorah.
Subs not used: Evans, Francis.
Next Game: FA Cup - Kempston Rovers Away on Saturday 16th September at 3pm