Four goals in fifteen first half minutes saw Hereford collect the away points as they capitalised on their opportunities around the penalty area.
Boston filled the FA Cup sandwich for Hereford. The Bulls beat Three Bridges 3-0 last week, and face a trip to Bromley in the fourth round qualifying, but we all know the league is the bread and butter for Hereford - and so we travelled to Lincolnshire.
Hereford made six changes for this match, with a combination of injuries and a bug having an impact on Josh Gowling’s selection. Cian Tyler was back in goal after signing a new one-month loan deal from Coventry City with Dino Visser injured. Luke Haines, Zak Lilly, Kane Thompson-Summers and Jared Hodgkiss missed out, with Orrin Pendley back in the starting eleven.
Boston announced the signing 22 year old midfielder Sam McLintock two hours before kickoff, and he was in the starting eleven for the Pilgrims. Also starting were Ben Pollock and Jake Wright, both ex-Hereford, while Janaii Gordon was named as one of the substitutes.
A cagey opening saw Boston have the better of the possession, but it was Hereford who forced the first corner after nine minutes following a spell of pressure by Thierry Latty-Fairweather. The ball was swung in, and found the head of Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who cleanly converted to give Hereford the lead.
Five minutes later, Hereford had their second corner. It went to the far post, and wasn’t cleared by Boston as it rebounded around the area. Step up Orrin Pendley, to drill it home from close range to make it 2-0.
Fancy a third? Jack Evans did, from 30 yards out - his ambitious shot from the left channel dipped down over the goalkeeper for an amazing goal after just 22 minutes.
Two minutes later, it was four! Ryan McLean broke forward, and there was a brilliant overlapping run from Latty-Fairweather who surged towards goal. But, clocking Tyrone Barnett at the far post, he laid the ball off for Barnett to fire home and make it 4-0.
Boston got a goal back on 29 minutes after Amadi-Holloway fouled Scott Pollock inside the area. Pollock stepped up, sending Tyler the wrong way, to make it 4-1. The home side had several other half chances as the opening period reached its end; Amadi-Holloway received a yellow card, and Miles Storey came on late in the half for Jack Holmes.
Boston started the second half looking to find a way back into the game, and soon the ball ended up in the Hereford net as it was turned in by Janaii Gordon. But, Gordon, the former Hereford striker on as a Boston substitute, was flagged offside. Cue a long discussion between the referee and his assistant where presumably they were hoping VAR would be installed in the meantime, and the decision stood. It remained 4-1.
Both sides continued to create chances. Harry Pinchard cut in from the left channel only to see his shot cleared behind for a corner, while Tyler made a couple of useful saves at the other end.
Scott Pollock pulled a second back for Boston on 76 minutes. Hereford didn’t do enough to clear a Boston corner and Pollock was able to thrash it home.
Hereford, being Hereford, had made the away fans nervous - we were eager for a fifth! A corner from Pinchard found the head of Barnett at the far post, who came close to hitting the target. But Boston continued to pile on the pressure, without finding a way through.
Ultimately, these were three well-earned points for the Bulls, and exactly what Josh Gowling and his side needed as the focus returns to next week’s FA Cup encounter.
Hereford: Tyler, Evans, McLean, Lloyd, Amadi-Holloway, Pinchard, Hanson, Pendley, Barnett, Holmes (Storey, 37), Latty-Fairweather (Caton, 57, then Klukowski, 82). Subs: Derricott, Campbell.
Boston: Long, Brown (Platt, 57), S. Pollock, Wright (Belehouan, 57), Leesley (Gordon, 57), Ferguson, Atkinson, Crawford, B. Pollock, McLintock, Hull. Subs: Davies, Myles.
Attendance: 1,667.