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| Jamie Bird Scored One Of Hereford's Goals And Was Selected As The Man Of The Match |
Goals from Jamie Bird and Lance Smith saw Hereford pick up the three points as they dominated the second half, with the visitors reduced to ten men shortly before the break.
Pete Beadle made two changes to the side that beat Farnborough on the weekend, with new-signing James Bowen starting in favour of Cameron Pring at left-back. One other change saw Garyn Preen replace the injured Pablo Haysham in midfield.
Attacking the Blackfriars End in the first half, Hereford had a couple of half-chances during the opening exchanges. Firstly, John Mills' shot was blocked by the backtracking Marvel Ekipteta, before Jamie Bird fired well over following a decent ball from Keyon Reffell.
Bishop's Stortford were able to frustrate the Hereford defence, as they caught them sleeping on a handful of occasions during the first half. In the 12th minute, veteran striker Jamie Cureton saw a weak shot smothered by Martin Horsell after getting the better of Jordan Liburd.
As the Blues enjoyed a decent spell where they looked bright on the ball, their best chance of the half came courtesy of Afolabi Akinyemi. The 20-year old, who's on loan from League Two Stevenage, wasn't able to find the target as he fired wide with just Horsell left to beat.
Eight minutes from half time, the visitors found themselves down to ten men as Callum Taylor was shown a straight red after a foul on Ryan Green. From the Meadow End at least, it looked as if Taylor caught Green with an elbow and duly dismissed.
In the closing stages of the first half, Hereford's attack perked up as they had a flurry of chances. As Jamie Bird broke away from his own half, he went all the way but left it too late to get a decent shot away.
Bird's eventual attempt from a tight angle was an easy save for Tyler McCarthy.
Another chance for Bird followed, but his strike from 18-yards couldn't find a route through a congested penalty area.
HT: Hereford 0 - Bishop's Stortford 0
After the break, Pete Beadle introduced Dara O'Shea and Rob Purdie to the action as they came on for Jordan Liburd and Garyn Preen.
Jamie Bird's been in good form for Hereford lately, and scored his eighth goal in a Bulls shirt in the 48th minute. As Bishop's Stortford cleared the immediate danger from a corner, James Bowen was able to pick out Jamie Bird on the left wing. Bird managed to beat his man before racing into the box, and as he worked the ball onto his right-foot and fired past Tyler McCarthy to break the deadlock.
Bird was then seemingly brought down within the box, but referee Wayne Barratt quickly dismissed the penalty shouts before Eliot Richard's chipped effort narrowly beat the upright.
Martin Horsell then kept Hereford's one goal lead intact as he managed to parry Afolabi Akinyemi's shot, before the Bulls keeper prevented an own goal after the ball came back off Dara O'Shea.
The Lilywhites soon had a two-goal cushion as Lance Smith doubled his side's lead in the 58th minute. Smith was able to get on the end of a lofted ball forward as he burst through Blues' defence, but opted to lay the ball off to James Bowen on the left. As Bowen crossed back into the box, Lance Smith scrambled the ball home despite the frantic efforts of Ekipteta on the line.
Keyon Reffell came close to adding a third two minutes later, but after connecting well with Rob Purdie's corner, Reffell's headed effort hit the outside of the upright to go behind for a goal kick.
With 69 minutes on the clock, John Mills was unlucky to see his shot from outside the area turned around the post, with the keeper diving at full-stretch to keep the ball out.
With Hereford now in the driving seat after a disappointing first half, they continued to create chances, even if the final ball wasn't there at times.
Eight minutes from time, Lance Smith had done all the hard work as he broke into the penalty area, but when one-on-one with the keeper he fired straight at McCarthy.
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| Was Reffell Fouled? |
FT: Hereford 2 - Bishop's Stortford 0
Att: 1,722 with 7 in the away enclosure
Sponsors' MotM: Jamie Bird
A special mention must be made for James Bowen, who after not playing regularly lately, looked strong at the back on his return to Edgar Street. He did start to tire towards the end, with Cameron Pring replacing him in the last 15 minutes.
Jamie Bird also, after breaking into the starting XI he's taken his chance well and has now scored in three of the last four games.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates (c), Bowen (Pring - 78'), Richards, Green, Liburd (O'Shea - 46'), Preen (Purdie - 46'), Bird, Mills, Reffell, Smith.
Subs not used: Symons, Puddy.
Bishop's Stortford: McCarthy, Casey, Cruise, Hughes (c), Ekipteta, Robinson, Taylor, Thomas, Akinyemi (Crowther - 78'), Cureton (Oatham - 83'), Foxley.
Subs not used: Riley.
Next Game: Biggleswade Town at Home on Saturday 10th February at 3pm