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The victory made it five league wins on the spin for the young Bulls as they look to restart another unbeaten run after the FA Youth Cup defeat to Oxford United ended an eight match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Hereford started rapidly when a ball down the left found Jude Gaudin who fizzed a cross across the 6-yard box for Owen Bradford who had the simplest of tap-in’s on the goal-line. One quickly became two when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Bradford was upended by ex-Bulls U18 Archie Warner. Harry Jones stepped up and despatched confidently into the left side of the net.
Cheltenham regrouped and responded pulling a goal back when Joel Byard’s pass was intercepted by a red and white shirt - from an acute angle the shot was driven home accurately into the bottom-left corner.
Undeterred the hosts regained their two goal advantage, after some lovely build-up play down the right saw Josh Lloyd thread a defence splitting pass through for Bradford to sweep in for his brace.
Bradford then secure his hat-trick in a brilliant first-half performance, beating the offside trap after Cheltenham’s high-line was exploited by Jones who found him, the wideman rounded the advancing keeper and rolled in.
However Cheltenham came with intensity after the restart scoring a second when a floated cross into the area was headed over Hodgkiss' head clipping the underside of the bar before trickling over the line.
The best opening in the second period for Hereford came when Jones danced around two defenders, cut onto his right and curled towards the top-right corner but the visiting keeper got down low to his left and palmed away for a corner.
Cheltenham then made it interesting adding their third of the evening via a deflection from the left looping over the head of Hodgkiss but the young Bulls held firm and saw the rest of the game out.
Attentions now turn to another cup competition in the shape of the HFA Giantkillers Cup and a 2nd Round clash at the That Carpet Place Community Stadium against Pershore Town U18’s.
Words: Sam Cummins