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Bulls progress to first round proper
Hereford United eased past Radcliffe Borough in the F.A. cupt fourth qualifying round this afternoon, although the result was less than convincing. The Bulls, who hit the woodwork three times, only managed to defeat Radcliffe 2-1. Borough gave a good account of themselves in front of their 81 supporters.
Hereford made two changes to their side, Tony James, as expected, returned in place of Andy Tretton and Lee Mills recovered and played in place of Rob Purdie who has a groin strain.
United had the majority of play, and created nearly all of the chances in the first half. However poor finishing resulted in a half time score line of 1-0 to the home side.
Early on Brown crossed for Mills whose header was saved well by the impressive Danny Hurst, who was a major reason in the close result. Craig Stanley went close with after a short free kick before Mark Robinson crossed for Mills who won a corner from his shot. Tamika Mkandawire almost opened the scoring with a far post header, but it was just wide.
Andy Heald put in a dangerous cross for Radcliffe that deflected over off Mkandawire in a rare attack for the away side before Adam Stansfield won a corner after a good run and shot at the other end. Radcliffe's best chance of the half came after some good passing in the midfield resulted in Gary Sampson getting a shot away that was well saved by Ben Scott.
Stansfield was played in on goal after Stanley's pass had split the defence, but he could only find the side netting with just the goalie to beat. Mills shot just over from twenty yards and Mkandawire went close again from a Robinson corner. A simple short corner resulted in Hereford breaking the deadlock 31 minutes through the first half. Robinson layed the ball off to Stanley whose powerful effort was palmed into the path of Mills who made no mistake volleying in from close range.
Man of the match Lee Mills was again involved when setting Simon Travis up, but Travis struck just wide of the far post. Stansfield then linked up with Mills, and the experienced attacker broke away from two defenders and hit the post with just the 'keeper to beat. Andy Heald then surprised everyone and hit the post from the left channel for Radcliffe. Robinson hit a free kick from twenty five yards that was tipped over well by Hurst in the last action of the half.
Stanley started the second half with two efforts from outside of the box, the first forcing a good save from Hurst. Hereford turned on the style with some superb passing resulting in Brown finding Mills, who turned his marker well and smashed the outside of the post from fifthteen yards. Brown found Stansfield on the left, and he paced into the box only to see his shot saved, and then Stanley had a shot blocked that rebounded to him and he hit wide.
Mills set Ryan Green away on the right wing with a neat chip and Green squared the ball to Travis who had the simple task of finding the back of the net from eight yards making it two - nil to the Bulls. Tony James won the ball on the half way line and delivered a perfect pass to Travis who was unmarked on the right of the box. His first time effort hammered the frame of the goal.
Radcliffe, in one of their few attacks of the half, gave themselves a lifeline after a superb passing move. The ball was passed at least 12 times between the team as they moved up the field and a shot from twenty yards forced a good diving save from Scott, but second half sub Patterson was on hand to fire in the rebound. Hereford, who made two changes in the second half, Brown off for Danny Williams and Travis off for Graham Hyde, didn't look to be overly troubled by their opponents attempts for an equaliser. Green crossed for Stansfield whose effort was once again well saved by Hurst in United's last notable attack on goal.
Radcliffe gave a very good account of themselves for a side at the wrong end of a league two divisions below Hereford. The majority of the crowd of 1,788 would have been disappointed that the Bulls didn't convert more of the chances that they created. Had it not been for a fantastic display by Hurst in goal for Borough the final score may have been slightly embarrasing for the Unibond Premier side.