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Next Game: Banbury Away On Friday March 29th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Hereford win dramatic penalty shootout to advance to the semi finals of the FA Trophy

Hereford are through to the semi finals of the FA Trophy following a dramatic penalty shootout win over Aldershot Town.

Brandon Hall saved the home side's fourth spot kick, leaving Luke Haines to slot home the Bulls' fifth and win it 5-3.

Hereford had to pick themselves up quickly after Aldershot had equalised in the third minute of stoppage time after Michael Bakare had put the Bulls ahead.

Even though Hereford United made the semi finals of the FA Trophy on two occasions, this will be the first time that Hereford FC have reached the competition.

However, they will not be able to play any competitive games between now and the semi final date on March 27 after National League North was declared null and void. Two of the sides still in the competition, Notts County and Woking, will both be playing league games in the intervening period.

After teasing that he might play three at the back, Hereford manager Josh Gowling instead had a flat back four with Haines partnering Jamie Grimes in the centre. New loanee Lewis Butroid sotted straight in at left back, while Bakare and Kyle Finn supported target man Joey Butlin up top, with Tom Owen-Evans just behind.

Hereford had already forced an early corner when they took the lead. Jared Hodgkiss whipped in a cross that was headed into the path of Bakare to stab the ball home. It was Bakare's second goal for the Bulls in as many games.

Chris Camwell then fired a free kick straight at Aldershot goalkeeper Mitch Walker as the Bulls dominated the opening 15 minutes.

Later in the half, Finn fired wide but there were few chances for either side. However, the Bulls completely controlled the 45 minutes and you wouldn't have known that they were the lower-graded side.

The home side again struggled to make any inroads during the opening exchanges in the second half, although they did go close in the 65th minute through Ricky Miller shortly after Haines had a headed saved.

Substitute Mo Bettamer then fired wide for Aldershot but it was only during the final 10 minutes that the home side started to look an attacking threat.

Despite not creating any clear-cut chances, Aldershot enjoyed the lions share of possession and Hereford had to withstand a lot of pressure.

And the Shots' perseverance paid off deep into stoppage time when Josh Rees stroked the ball home after Hall had made an initial save.

With there being on extra time, the Hereford players had to pick themselves up quickly as the tie went straight to penalties.

Both sides converted their first three spot kicks, with Owen-Evans, Bakare and Grimes netting for Hereford.

Ryan Lloyd then put the Bulls 4-3 up, but Bettamer saw his penalty saved by Hall. Haines then converted the winning spotkick to send his teammates delirious.

Previous matches between Hereford United and Aldershot were always memorable affairs, and now Hereford FC can add their name to the list following another fantastic performance. They showed great character to win the shootout after Aldershot dramatically equalised with five expertly-taken penalties. It would have been very harsh if they had lost the match after dominating the tie in normal time.

Now they are just one game from Wembley and fans can truly start to dream!

Aldershot: Walker, Lyons-Foster, Rowe (Edser 72), Rees, Kandi (Bettamer 57), Whittingham, Nouble, Anderson, Phillips, Ogie, Miller. Subs not used: Sendles-White, Gillela, Shroll, Rabbetts.

Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss, Haines, Grimes, Camwell (Pollock 80), Butlin (Rowe 87), Owen-Evans, Finn, Lloyd, Bakare, Butroid. Subs not used: White, Digie, McQuilkin, Klukowski, Jones.