For 45 minutes, relegation-threatened Rushall Olympic kept the Bulls at bay. Then they turned this game around to capitalise after the break, earning a crucial three points.
For Hereford, it’s successive defeats, and one point from the last three matches, as they drop to seventh.
On a cold night under the lights, the conditions were much better for football than last year’s clash between the two, when Storm Jocelyn battered Dales Lane.
This time around, Hereford manager Paul Caddis brought Lewis Hudson into the starting eleven, and Lawson D’Ath was recalled too. For one-from-bottom Rushall, who were without a win in nine matches, ex-Hereford men Paul White and Nathan Cameron were among those who started. The Pics are managed by former Bulls coach Richard Sneekes.
In the first half, Hereford dominated with early chances from Jaiden White and Yusifu Ceesay, but neither produced anything that really threatened White in the Rushall goal.
Hereford’s best opportunity came from Remaye Campbell midway through the half. His effort beat the goalkeeper, but was desperately cleared off the line by Liam McAlinden, denying an opener for the away side. The Bulls had dominated to this point, but as the half progressed, the home side came into the game.
Omari Sterling-James forced a save out of Theo Richardson while Jaiden White had an attempted swept off the goal line by Forde and King. Twice Hereford had the goalkeeper beaten, but defenders saved Rushall from falling behind on both occasions.
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While Hereford had the lion’s share of possession in the first half, the second belonged to Rushall. They thwarted Hereford, with Matt Preston’s header from an Alex Babos free kick as close as the Bulls came to finding the back of the net.
Nathan Cameron had a header that went just over as Rushall searched for an opener, and Seb Thompson’s shot fizzed wide.
But Thompson went one better with twelve minutes to go. The Rushall man was given space as he latched onto a Hereford clearance to volley home from the edge of the box. And that turned out to be the winner, with Rushall happy to run the clock down while Hereford struggled to find a way back into the game.
A series of substitutions couldn’t unlock Rushall - Jason Cowley and Andy Williams were among those introduced. But Richard Sneekes’ side collected three crucial points to help bolster their slim chances of avoiding relegation.
And on a competitive night, the yellow cards came thick and fast. I made it five for Hereford - Babos for simulation when he went down in the box, Mitchell for a late challenge, D’Ath for a foul, Howkins, and then Cowley in the dying stages.
Hereford go to Scarborough on Saturday. While the Bulls were being defeated tonight, one of Rushall’s relegation rivals - Needham Market - were swept side 5-0 by the Seadogs.
Rushall: White, Green, Hull (Forde, 9), Cameron, McAlinden, Fletcher, McGlinchey, Sterling-James, King (Samuels, 74), K Hall (Mantom, 86), Thompson.
Subs: Mitchell, Barkers.
Subs: Mitchell, Barkers.
Hereford: Richardson, Skinner (Andoh, 83), Preston, Babos (Glynn, 67), Hudson, Ceesay (Cowley, 74), D’Ath (T Campbell, 83), Mitchell (Williams, 74), Howkins, White, R Campbell.