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| Fylde's first goal |
Despite high-flying South Shields on Saturday, the Bulls failed to repeat the feat and make it four wins on the bounce as they play the first of a gruelling five games in 12 games.
First half goals from Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile, Danny Mayor and Tom Whelan saw the visitors go into the break with a comfortable lead before Luca Thomas made it four in the 62nd minute.
Harrison Sohna did pull a goal back in the 89th minute as the Bulls capitalised on a Fylde error, but it was too little too late to mount a comeback.
With the congested fixture list in mind, Aaron Downes made six changes to the side that beat the Mariners 2-1 on Saturday; in came Matt Preston, Mikey Lane, Andy Williams, Justin Donawa, Joseph James and Harry Tustin for Aaron Skinner, Lawson D'Ath, George Munday, Cormac Daly, Keziah Martin and Kyle Howkins.
With the match kicking off seven minutes late, Fylde threatened first as Danny Ormerod glided past Keenan Quansah only to fire wide when well placed. But with just five minutes on the clock, Fylde's Mayor picked out Rodriguez-Gentile with a neat cross from the right and the marksman, in acres of space in the box, drilled the ball home from 12 yards.
The goal failed to be the wake-up call needed for Hereford who continued to be under kosh by the creative full-timers, with the side seeming disjointed in the opening stages.
Lewis Hudson nearly got his name on the scoresheet in the 21st minute, nearly turning a dangerous cross from Chesterfield loanee Adam Lewis on the left into the back of his own net when trying to clear it from point-blank range.
Though four minutes later, Mayor doubled his side's lead with a tricky run into the box from the left. After carving through Hereford's defence, the 35-year-old who has more than 400 EFL appearances behind him, planted the ball past Theo Richardson.
As Fylde continued to put pressure on Hereford, including Hudson deflecting an Ormerod cross-cum-shot and Rodriguez-Gentile seeing a strike shot at goal also deflected, it was only a matter of a time before they made it three.
Once again Mayor was involved after his corner was turned goalwards by Chris Merrie - although half-cleared, it fell kindly to Whelan who found the back of the net through a crowded box seven minutes from the break.
Before half-time, Harrison Sohna, who scored the two stunning goals against Shields, could have reduced the deficit as a free-kick was easily caught by Zac Jones before a shot moments later sailed over.
Half time: Hereford 0 - AFC Fylde 3
After a first half where Hereford hadn't quite clicked against the organised, professional and well-drilled Coasters side, they did start the second 45 brightly with a low Mikey Lane shot flying wide of the upright seconds after the restart.
After Thomas forced Hereford stopper Richardson into saving hi shot, Sohna then had another chance to repeat Saturday's heroics with a free kick on the edge of the area after being fouled, but his looping effort couldn't dip underneath the crossbar.
As the Bulls continued in search of a way back into the game and avoid a second loss under Aaron Downes, an accurate long ball forward from Richardson was picked up by Lane, but his cross from the left flank just evaded Williams.
Back in front of the Blackfriars End and Richardson was once again called into action, this time to deny a tame effort from Ormerod who had created space between Preston and Quansah before failing to connect cleanly with the ball.
Goal number four did arrive in the 62nd minute though as Quansah gifted possession to Rodriguez-Gentile in a dangerous position. He then picked out Thoma, who curled into the top corner.
The Bulls thought they'd pulled a goal back seven minutes later as Lane lifted the ball over the keeper after Fylde lost possession, only to be ruled out for a questionable offside.
While Fylde threatened still through Rodriguez-Gentile and substitute Ethan Mitchell, Hereford created their own chances including Donawa firing agonisingly wide when well-placed.
But after an improved second half performance, Downes's Bulls deserved at least a goal - which did eventually come in the 89th minute. Man of the match Lane was able to pick out the run of Sohna who beat the keeper for his fourth goal in three games.
Into five minutes of injury time, both sides had one more clear-cut chance, with substitute Aaron Skinner only able to find the arms of the keeper from an acute angle and Whelan firing wide.
Full time: Hereford 1 - AFC Fylde 4
Attendance: 2,386 (27 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Mikey Lane
All in all, it was always going to be a big ask to beat the league's top two sides in four days, especially given the hectic fixture schedule facing Hereford in the eight weeks to the end of the season. When looking at this week, Thursday's match in Derbyshire against Alfreton - what is really a six-pointer - could arguably be the priority.
Still, the improvement under Downes is remarkable. Hereford didn't let their heads drop after conceding early and actually looked much better after the break - but ultimately they just weren't good enough to beat a very clinical Fylde who scored with four classy finishes.
Hereford: Richardson, Hudson (Skinner 66'), Preston, Sohna, Lane, Williams (Daly 66'), Donawa, Quansah, James (Munday 84'), Willcox (D'Ath 66'), Tustin.
Subs not used: Martin, Lewis, Howkins
AFC Fylde: Jones, Taylor, Merrie (Wilson 74'), Thomas (Hunter 65'), Mayor (Mitchell 59'), Healy-Byrne (Coates 34'), Lancaster, Whelan, Felipe, Ormerod (Faris 80'), Lewis
Subs not used: Boyes, McFayden
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