Brian watched this afternoon's game at Wealdstone.
Hereford
named an unchanged side from their midweek victory against Stratford
for this FA Trophy Second around tie away at Wealdstone FC, of the
Conference South.
Facing
higher graded opposition hasn’t fazed Hereford so far this season and
The Bulls started by taking the game to the Stones, attacking an away
end packed with a vocal Hereford following.
After
just 3 minutes Jamie Bird fired a 20 yard free kick over the centre of
the cross bar, Lance Smith having been felled on the left. The left
flank was an avenue Hereford exploited early on, with Cameron Pring
overlapping well. 5 minutes in, Pring won a corner which led to the
ball spilling around the penalty area before Dara O’Shea shot over the
bar.
More
success down the left as this time Keyon Reffel and Bird combined, the
latter hitting a half volley from inside the box over as Hereford
dominated the early proceedings.
14 minutes in and the decisive moment of the match occurred. A long, high ball from the Wealdstone defence bounced over O’Shea at the back, who then laid hands on his marker who was looking to latch on to the loose ball. The striker didn’t hesitate in hitting the deck, but it did appear that O’Shea had pulled him back. The referee, however, did not seem to make a decision; it was his assistant who raised his flag and O’Shea was given him marching orders.
Being a man down was always going to prove difficult against a team a division above and Wealdstone soon took control of the game. Hereford replaced Bird, who had made a positive early impact, with Jack Deaman who slotted in at centre back.
The
deadlock was broken on 26 minutes from a corner on the right, which was
crossed in and met at the near post by Ricky Wellard, who glanced a
header in to the far corner. 1-0 to the Stones.
Wealdstone’s Abobaker Eisa was a constant nuisance for Hereford and he played Daniel Fitchett in, who was denied when one on one by the on-rushing Martin Horsell.
Hereford
tried to get back in to the game and had a couple of set pieces before
the break. Wealdstone’s Edward Oshodi, who had a solid game at centre
back, headed a Hereford free kick just side of his own goal before John Mills
and then Deadman has half chances after corners. Just before the half
time whistle, Oates took a floated pass down well on the right before
crossing low towards Smith, but Oshodi was there to clear the danger.
————
The second half started in a balanced manner, though Fitchett did head a 47th minute free kick over the bar for the hosts.
Neither
side was able to assert their control on the game, though it looked as
though Wealdstone were happy to sit deeper and play on the break when
needed.
Matthew
Day, Wealdstone’s hefty defender, picked up a card for a late tackle on
Pablo Heysham, though in fairness, he probably couldn’t have gotten
there any quicker!
Heysham
had an fairly quiet afternoon, but moved the ball around well in the
middle, and did manage to play a through ball for Smith on 64 minutes,
but the home ‘keeper came out well to collect the call at the feet of
Smith.
At
the other end, Eisa had a low shot saved from the edge of the box,
before the ball broke to the same man on the left flank. Eisa advanced
in to the area but saw hit low effort turned around the post by Horsell
for a corner.
With
20 minutes to go, Beadle made his final two changes, replacing Heysham
and Smith for Gary Preen and Mike Symons. The impact was almost
immediate when Hereford put together their best move of the game. Preen
and Oates combined well down the right, with Oates whipping in a
dangerous cross towards Symons at the back post, but he was denied by a
good header to turn the call behind for a corner (which came to
nothing).
Eisa continued to threaten for the Stones, this time slotting in sub Mustafa Tiryaki, but his first time effort from inside the box was straight down the throat of Horsell.
Hereford
continued to push as 90 minutes approached and Preen saw a low shot
deflect behind, but again The Whites were unable to trouble from the
corner.
4
minutes were added on and in that time Hereford won a free kick around
35 yards out in a central position. Horsell came up for it, the delivery
was a good one but it was hooked behind for a corner, which was
claimed well by Johnathan North in the Wealdstone goal.
All
in all, a positive away performance from Hereford who more than held
their own for 75 minutes with 10 men on the pitch. There will be
frustration in the ranks that they went down to ten men, especially so
early, when they were looking dangerous. Plenty
of positives to take from this and no doubt Hereford will be looking to
get back to winning ways when they visit Gosport in the league on
Tuesday.
Full time: Wealdstone 1-0 Hereford
Attendance: 909
MoM: Keyon Reffell
Subs: Purdie, Symons, Deaman, Preen, Puddy.