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| Mike Symons Distraught At Being Sent Off |
Hereford adopted a 5-3-2 formation, with Adam Page, Dan Preston, Rob Purdie and Pablo Haysham all coming into the side to replace the injured pair of Garyn Preen and Calvin Dinsley, as well as James Bowen and Keyon Reffell.
After losing the toss, Hereford were left to attack the Meadow End in the first half.
Two chances for the hosts almost saw them take an early lead. First, John Mills fired an effort towards goal after being set up by Adam Page, but a wicked deflection saw his effort denied by the upright.
Moments later, Mills couldn’t quite connect with Ryan Green’s aerial cross to net an opener.
As Farnborough started to get a foothold in the game, they came close to breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute. Jamie Cureton was through-on goal, but the 42-year old striker was denied by a great save from Horsell.
Despite this, the Bulls kept up the pressure. Jimmy Oates saw an 18-yards chipped effort tipped over by the keeper, before a low-drive from Pablo Haysham whistled wide.
Visiting keeper Matt Cafer couldn’t hold onto an inswinging corner, and after the ball found its way to McGrath on the edge of the area, the midfilder couldn’t control his shot as it over the target.
The hosts were then reduced to ten men two minutes before the break. Mike Symons was dismissed after picking up his second yellow card of the evening. The referee deemed Symons to have fouled the keeper after breaking into the box on a dangerous-looking run.
HT: Hereford 0 - Farnborough 0
One change at the break for Hereford saw Lance Smith replace Pablo Haysham, but despite the fresh legs up front, it was Farnborough who took the lead in the 47th minute.
A ball through to Perry Coles wasn’t dealt with by the Hereford defence, and with just the keeper left to beat, he calmly rounded Horsell before slotting into the back of an unguarded net.
As Peter Beadle’s men faced an uphill battle to get anything out of the game, they were lucky not find themselves two goals down by the 50th minute. With Farnborough looking a constant threat, goalscorer Coles fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Mike McGrath tried his luck midway through the second half, but a headed clearance off the line denied him the equaliser.
At the other end of the pitch, Nic Ciardini’s free kick proved an easy save for Horsell, before Jamie Cureton failed to get enough on his shot to beat the keeper.
As the half wore on, the home crowd grew increasingly frustrated with their side. Lance Smith teed-up fellow substitute Jamie Bird, but the ex-Cardiff forward blazed his shot well over the bar.
Ultimately, Hereford lacked the creativity and width offered by Keyon Reffell and Garyn Preen, and after a disappointing result tonight, hopefully Saturday will see an improvement.
FT: Hereford 0 – Farnborough 1
Att: 2,014 with 9 in the away enclosure
Sponsors’ MotM: Ryan Green
Hereford: Horsell, Oates (c), Page (Bird – 67’), Purdie, Green, Deaman, Preston, McGrath, Mills, Haysham (Smith – 46’), Symons.
Subs: O'Shea, Franklin, M. Harris
Farnborough: Cafer, Hammond, Emmerson, Evans, Saville, Huggins, Southam, Everitt, Cureton, Coles, Ciardini.
Subs: Calcutt, Forbes, Hutchings, Fearn, Willock.
Next Game: Kings Langley at Home on Saturday 21st October at 3pm