Hereford lost their must-win game against FC United of Manchester this afternoon, paying the price for a woeful ten minutes in the first half. FC United started to threaten in the 20th minute, unable to take the lead with three good chances which should've alerted Hereford. Then home side then went on to conceed three goals in four minutes and the game was won there and then.
Going into the game, there was just one change for Hereford. Staying with a 3-5-2 formation, Ryan Green came into the back three as Jordan Cullinane-Liburd missed out due to suspension.
The Bulls started the game brightly, with three corners in the opening ten minutes putting the visiting defenders under some early pressure. George Lloyd tried his luck with an ambitious overhead volley after James Roberts' corner finally fell on the edge of the box, before Ryan Green narrowly missed connecting with the next.
FC United threatened occasionally, with right-back Joel Senior's well-timed run allowed the ball to be played through to him in yards of space as he looked to cut into the box, but Danny Greenslade recovered in enough time to blocked his attempted cross-come-shot.
A quick flurry of chances for the Reds came as the clock ticked over to the 20th minute, leading eventually to an onslaught of goals.
There were chances for James Peers and Kurt Willoughby which both narrowly went wide of the target before Willoughby missed a sitter as he failed to strike Elliot Simoes into the back of the net when only a few yards out.
If those chances weren't enough to wake up Hereford's defence, then three goals in four minutes should've been.
Joel Senior had already looked a threat down the right, he played a neat cross into the box in the 25th minute and Thomas Peers was well placed to tap the ball home to open the scoring.
And then to add insult to injury, Matt Yates fluffed his goal kick less than a minute after the Reds' second goal and Kurt Willoughby was ready to take advantage and get his name on the scoresheet.
After the mad ten minutes that saw FC United really get a grip on the game, it slowed as half time approached. The only other chance worthy of mentioning was four minutes from half time when Peers came inches away from tapping home Senior's cross, but narrowly missed after driving forward.
HT: Hereford 0 - FC United of Manchester 3
After a nightmare of a first half, Hereford's management team tried to shake things up at the break as they made a double sub. Calvin Dinsley and Kyle Finn were introduced to the field replacing Tommy O'Sullivan and Ethan Wassall, as Hereford reverted to 4-4-2.
Giving away a needless free kick seven minutes after the restart saw the Bulls under unnecessary pressure, with Ryan Green's shoving Thomas Peers. Willoughby's free kick beat the wall, but Yates was just able to get to it to prevent a fourth.
In the 68th minute Hereford did manage to get forward, but Harvey Smith couldn't get enough direction on his header as it flew over the bar, before at the other end of the field as Elliot Simoes burst into the box, but the final product was poor and sailed over the bar.
For Hereford, Tom Owen-Evans repeated Smith's trick moments later, as he headed over from substitute Dinsley's cross.
In the 81st minute James Roberts gave FC United's defence a good indication of what was to come when he broke into the box and curled a shot wide of the target. It was then only a minute later when he pulled a goal back for the Bulls. It was George Lloyd with the initial effort that keeper Lloyd Allinson could only parry, and Roberts was well-positioned to smash home the rebound.
Kurt Willoughby went in search of his second goal of the afternoon to regain his side's three-goal advantage, but he was being closely guarded by Ryan Green who refused him enough space to get a decent shot away as his effort sailed high and wide.
Ultimately it wasn't enough from Hereford, who after their bright spell in the first ten minutes, generally looked second-best to a side who started the afternoon below them in the league.
As if this game wasn't, the next against Southport on Tuesday really is a must-win.
FT: Hereford 1 - FC United of Manchester 3
Sponsors Man of the Match: Danny Greenslade
Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, Green, Wassall (Finn - 46'), H. Smith (c), Murphy, O'Sullivan (Dinsley - 46'), Roberts, Lloyd, Owen-Evans (White - 80').
Subs not used: Jackson, McGrath.
FC United of Manchester: Allinson, Senior, Thompson, O'Halloran, Lynch, Potts (c), Simoes (Banister - 90+1'), Wallen, Peers (Mansell - 68'), Willoughby, Donohue (Crawford - 71'.
Subs not used: Milligan, Baird.