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| Keiran Thomas Scored Hereford's Winning Goal |
The old ground hadn't changed in the seven years since a Hereford team last played there, a large main stand in which supporters were separated and a very good playing surface. Quite strange was that most of the Hereford directors watched the game from behind one of the goals.
New head of football Tim Harris joined Gareth Davies in the dug-out. Both of them must have totally dismayed with what they saw in the first twenty minutes or so and totally elated after the final whistle. A game of contrasts.
Truro City were three goals to the good by the half hour mark thanks to a Jared Lewington goal after just 40 seconds, followed by a Jon-Paul Pittman brace.
But a goal from Mike McGrath in the 42nd minute proved to be the catalyst for Hereford's revival as Callum Sainty and Marlon Jackson forced the game to extra time. Then one of this season's standout players Keiran Thomas popped up with a header at the back post with seven minutes remaining to send the visiting side into raptures.
After a goalless 90 minutes at Edgar Street on Saturday, it took less than a minute for the White Tigers to break the deadlock. Hereford's defence was under pressure right from the off, with player-manager Ryan Green coming back into the side for the injured Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, and Keiran Thomas returning to right-back after his terrier-like performance in midfield on Saturday.
An initial shot from Truro wasn't dealt with by Hereford and as the ball stayed in the danger area Jared Lewington reacted the quickest and stabbed the ball home.
In the sixth minute the Bulls had the perfect opportunity to equalise after the were awarded a penalty after Jamie Bird was brought down, but Harry White blazed his spot kick wide as the travelling fans prepared for 'another one of those nights'.
After three solid seasons, the Bulls' defence were caught out in the 13th minute as Jon-Paul Pittman ran onto the end of a long ball forward, had time to pick his spot and bury the ball past Martin Horsell.
Two more chances for the hosts could've seen them with a four goal lead before the 20th minute, but Ed Palmer's free kick took a deflection and beat the crossbar. The resulting corner came into the middle of a disorganised Hereford defence but Horsell was on hand to scramble the ball clear.
Then at the other end of the field it was Harry White and Jamie Bird's chance to rue missed chances as White couldn't bundled Danny Greenslade's cross over the line before Bird scooped his shot over the bar from just eight-yards.
If being two goals down after a 150-mile trip wasn't bad enough, an unmarked Jon-Paul Pittman netted Truro's third in the 30th minute as he headed home a decent cross at the near-post.
A quieter period followed with Hereford facing an uphill battle, but three minutes before the break Mike McGrath kickstarted the comeback. An accurate through-ball from young Welshman Jamie Bird saw McGrath give his side a glimmer of hope in the tie.
The final chance of the first half fell to the scorer of the first goal, Jared Lewington, where after making the most of a defensive error, was met with Horsell racing off his line to block the shot with his legs.
HT: Truro City 3 - Hereford 1
It's fair to report that the Hereford squad were on the end of some earthy Radnorshire language from Gareth Davies during the break but it had the desired effect as the second half performance was much better.
It's fair to report that the Hereford squad were on the end of some earthy Radnorshire language from Gareth Davies during the break but it had the desired effect as the second half performance was much better.
The interim management team replaced loanee Tom Harrison with Jennison Myrie-Williams at the interval, reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation rather than 3-5-2. Other other than a booking for each side there wasn't too much to talk about for the first 15 minutes of the second half.
It was on the hour mark that Hereford pulled themselves to just a goal behind their National League South opponents as Callum Sanity scored his first goal in a Bulls shirt after arriving from Barry Town United in the summer. After a foul on Keiran Thomas on the edge of the box, Lewis Hall picked out Callum Sainity who leapt up and headed the ball home.
A similar routine three minutes later, once again coming from a foul on Thomas, could've resulted in the equaliser, but the keeper palmed the ball away after Hall whipped it into the box.
Whatever the half time team talk from interim Head Coach Gareth Davies, the Bulls pushed forward a lot more in the second half, with Ed Palmer heading the ball clear as Hereford searched for the leveller.
You couldn't say that Hereford's third goal wasn't coming, it was just a case of when. It just so happened to be in the 83rd minute as Marlon Jackson netted his first goal for the club after making his debut on Saturday. Jackson rose to meet a cross and his headed effort beat the keeper and was enough to force the game into extra time.
FT: Truro City 3 - Hereford 3
With a fourth sub allowed in FA Cup ties that go into extra time, Gareth Davies made two more changes as the second half got underway as Billy Murphy and Jordan Lam were introduced to the action in place of Callum Sainty and Lewis Hall respectively.
Three chances in three minutes from a tired Truro side could've seen the Bulls' hopes ended early, but two great saves from Martin Horsell either side of Danny Greenslade dealing with a half-chance for Niall Thompson.
But it was ultimately Hereford who had the last laugh as Keiran Thomas proved he's worth his weight in gold as he put his side ahead for the first time in the game with eight minutes to go. Thomas was well-positioned at the far-post to head home a cross to send the 100-or-so Bulls fans into pandemonium.
The Bulls kept a firm grip on their lead for remainder of extra time and finally the whistle went.
FT (AET): Truro City 3 - Hereford 4
Hereford: Horsell, Thomas, Harrison (Myrie-Williams - 45'), Green, H. Smith, Greenslade, Hall (Lam - 107'), Sainty (Murphy - 105'), McGrath, Bird (Jackson - 75'), White.
Subs: McLeod, Marston, Franklin.
Truro City: Woollacot, Thompson, Riley-Lowe, Palmer, Richards, Hartridge, Harding, Keates, Richards, Lewington, Pittman
Subs: Rooney, Gardner, Palfrey, Smallcombe, Bignot.