Hereford FC were reliant on two injury time goals to overcome mid table Chesham United at The Meadow. Jamie Bird lashed in a 25 yarder before half-time but the hosts equalised in the second-period through Matt Bevans. Yet, in the 92nd minute as the game looked to be heading for a draw, Lance Smith headed in the winner, before Bird fired in a third on the break.
Following the victory at Kettering in midweek, Hereford were without Ryan Green and Billy Murphy so in came Jimmy Oates and loanee Tyrone Duffus.
The opening exchanges saw little goal mouth opportunity, with Hereford dominating possession but failing to create any clear cut chances despite the forward bursts of Oates. It was Chesham who went close; a pass down the right-wing saw their attacker spin Cameron Pring before firing a shot across Martin Horsell and past the far post. Hereford were dealt two injury blows in the first-period; Calvin Dinsley pulled up and was replaced by Pablo Haysham, whilst Bird replaced Duffus with another injury. In between the two subs, Keyon Reffell nodded past the post after a precise John Mills cross.
With half-time looming, Hereford found themselves a goal in front thanks to Bird. An Eliot Richards corner was challenged for by Jack Deaman, who teed up Bird. The former Cardiff City youngster took one touch and fired into the top corner from 25 yards past the despairing dive of Hafed Al-Droubi.
Hereford, boosted by the goal, created further opportunities before the referee blew up for half-time. A neat move down the right involving Mike Symons and Mills allowed Haysham to fire at the 'keeper, and moments later, following poor distribution by Al-Droubi, Reffell saw a rising shot clear the bar.
Hereford, boosted by the goal, created further opportunities before the referee blew up for half-time. A neat move down the right involving Mike Symons and Mills allowed Haysham to fire at the 'keeper, and moments later, following poor distribution by Al-Droubi, Reffell saw a rising shot clear the bar.
Chesham started the second-period strongly and thought they were level after a cross from the right was headed back across goal and tapped in from close-range, but the home crowd's cheers were shortlived as the linesman flagged for offside. A sliced shot from the edge of the box after a quick throw from the left was off-target for Chesham, whilst Richards was given too much room in the final third and was invited to shoot but failed to trouble Al-Droubi. Further half-chances fell for Chesham with their number 18 turning his marker but when faced with the task of beating Horsell, he could only slide past the post.
At the other-end, Hereford were looking threatening and Pring fed Mills on the left; the leading marksman chopped his man twice to leave him for dead inside the box and chopped once more to dummy the 'keeper before cutting back to Pring, but from 8 yards his shot was blocked when he had the whole goal to aim for. A late and high tackle on Symons, who was later replaced by Smith, on the edge of the box was reckless but the referee only brandished a yellow-card. The resulting free-kick was whipped goalwards by Bird, clipping the outside of the far post.
Despite these two good opportunities to extend the lead, Hereford were made to pay as the hosts grabbed an equaliser.
Despite these two good opportunities to extend the lead, Hereford were made to pay as the hosts grabbed an equaliser.
Hereford rallied but Mills couldn't capitalise on a mis-kick at the back despite dummying a defender, the ball ran away from his grasp and the chance went.
It looked as though the points were to be shared until Hereford netted a late winner, in the 92nd minute. Haysham was felled in the middle of the park, and Richards lofted a ball towards the penalty spot where sub Smith flicked a header goalwards, under pressure from his marker and the 'keeper, which looped into the back of the net.
Two minutes later Hereford added gloss to the victory when Mills collected on the half-way and span his defender, before feeding Bird on the right. The youngster showed good pace to get away from his man before firing through the 'keeper to make it 3-1.
Two minutes later Hereford added gloss to the victory when Mills collected on the half-way and span his defender, before feeding Bird on the right. The youngster showed good pace to get away from his man before firing through the 'keeper to make it 3-1.
The hosts proved a tough nut to crack, courtesy of some dogged defending. This wasn't Hereford's finest performance; there were a number of misplaced passes and good positions wasted but ultimately, the Bulls showed good resilience by fighting to the end and getting their reward in front of 554 supporters. Next up for Hereford is the Boxing Day trip to Merthyr, backed by an away army of 1,500 fans.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates, Deaman, O'Shea, Pring, Reffell, Dinsley (Haysham), Duffus (Bird), Richards, Symons (Smith), Mills.
Subs not used: Harris, Preston.
Attendance: 554
Goalscorers - Hereford: Bird (2), Smith.
Goalscorer - Chesham: Bevans.