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| Beadle Versus Brown |
Despite falling behind with just six minutes on the clock, the Bulls scored three goals before the break thanks to Jack Deaman, Keyon Reffell and John Mills. Mills then added a fourth midway through the second half to complete the scoring.
For the game, Eliot Richards was handed his debut after joining the club from Merthyr Town last month, starting in favour of Lance Smith. Garyn Preen, who didn't make the match day sixteen, made way for Adam Page.
Onto the match itself, Basingstoke kicked off attacking the Meadow End in the first half and we first to threaten. Martin Horsell was quickly called into action to deny Callum Bunting, diving low down to his right to save a shot at the near post.
It wasn't long until the visitors took the lead, as in the sixth minute Don Bayliss rifled a shot home. A corner was floated into Hereford's box, and despite Horsell punching the ball clear, it fell nicely for Bayliss. Through a congested penalty area, his shot somehow found a route to the back of the net.
The early setback seemed to spur Hereford on as they livened up in front of goal. Firstly, Jimmy Oates crossed the ball into the box from the left, but Keyon Reffell couldn't get enough on the ball to head home, before Jack Deaman levelled the score.
In the 16th minute, Eliot Richards' corner was met by the head of Deaman, who had little difficulty in nodding the ball past the static keeper to cancel out Bunting's opener.
The remainder of the half was dominated by the hosts, with a number of good chances from Hereford. Richards went close two minutes after the equaliser, but his shot took a deflection before sailing behind for a fruitless corner. John Mills then stung the hands of 19-year old goalkeeper Colm McAdden, but the defence quickly cleared the danger.
Goal number two came on the half hour mark courtesy of Keyon Reffell. There was some good play in the build up as the ball was worked out to Jimmy Oates on the left flank. Hereford's captain picked out Reffell with a cross who headed the ball firmly past the keeper.
The Whites had a two goal cushion going into the break as John Mills made it 3-1. Dara O'Shea won possession on the edge of Basingstoke's box, and after finding John Mills with a neat pass, the marksman's trademark 'chop' worked a treat to deceive the keeper and slot home.
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| Dinsley Celebrating Mills's Goal |
After the interval, Adam Page was first to test the keeper, but after bursting forward his left-footed strike was well-saved by McAdden.
A couple of chances for John Mills followed, his first effort flashed across the face of goal before a snapshot in the 61st minute whistled just wide of the far post.
Mills did get a second goal 11 minutes later after intercepting a sloppy back pass. After George Bennett attempted to play the ball back to the keeper, Mills cut out the pass before easily rounding McAdden and rolling the ball home.
Substitute Mike Symons was close to getting his name on the scoresheet, but after some good buildup play, he couldn't stretch far enough to get onto the end of Reffell's cross.
Reffell continued to look bright going forward, creating a chance for Pablo Haysham, who'd replaced Adam Page in the 79th minute. Despite some good work by Reffell, Haysham's scuffed shot was an easy save for the keeper.
Into stoppage time, and a final chance for Hereford saw Haysham head the ball over the crossbar after getting on the end of Billy Murphy's free kick from the right.
FT: Hereford 4 - Basingstoke Town 1
Att: 2,796 with 43 in the away enclosure
Sponsors' MotM: Captain Jimmy Oates.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates (c), O'Shea, Murphy, Green, Deaman, Page (Haysham - 79'), Dinsley, Mills (Symons - 74'), Reffell, Richards (Smith - 74').
Subs not used: Preston, Harris.
Basingstoke: McAdden, Wohifel, Bennett (Goater), Collier (Atkinson), Demuria, Bayliss, McKnight, Hollamby, Bunting, Argent, Smart.
Subs not used: Zabotti, Kennedy.
Next Game: FA Cup Replay - Fleetwood Town at Home on Thursday 14th December at 7.45pm (Live on BT Sport)