Highgate 2 – Hereford 1

Following the Bulls’ midweek loss at Stourport, one change was made to the starting XI ahead of today's game at Highgate United. Adam Page came into the side in place of Ben Miller.

With Hereford kicking off, it didn’t take long for Hereford to pressure Highgate’s defence. Pablo Heysham linked up well with Sol Wheatley down the right to allow to him to get a shot away, but his effort was too high to trouble Highgate's keeper Bradley Catlow.

As the ball was put behind by the Gate’s Dean Curtis for a corner, Rob Purdie's inswinging ball was sent deep into the 18-yard box; Tony James did well to get a head to it, but his effort lacked conviction and was caught by Catlow.

For the second consecutive match, Hereford fell behind from a penalty in the first half. After a Tony James foul in the box, referee Ryan Haynes pointed straight to the spot and subsequently showed James a yellow.

Lei Brown took the spot kick dispatched the ball past Harvey Rivers.

Rivers Goes The Right Way But Is Well Beaten

Sol Wheatley’s cross from the right found John Mills on the far side of the box. Mills managed to make space for himself and get a shot away but Scott Turner deflected the ball wide. From the resulting corner, Joel Edwards managed to find space, but his header was wide of the target.

On the stroke of half time, Hereford created a string of chances, but were not able to capitalise on any of them. The best fell to Pablo Heysham, but his header from 8-yards was well over the crossbar, when he really should have done better.

Haysham's Shirt Gets Pulled

HT: Highgate United 1 – Hereford 0

Minutes into the second half, a chance to equalise fell to John Mills. Max Kontic-Coveney carried the ball forward down the flank and crossed it into the path of Mills. After getting around his man, Mills forced Highgate's keeper into making a fine fingertip save to deny him his first away goal. 

Sol Wheatley did his best to turn and get a cross away from a throw in the 62nd minute. The ball was delivered to Mills whose shot was just tipped over the bar by Catlow. However from the ensuing corner, Hereford failed to test the keeper and it came to nothing more than a goalkick.

Ben Miller came on in place of Sol Wheatley in the 68th minute, and the ex-youth team player made an impact on the game almost straight away. Adam Page played a cross-field ball to Miller, who cut in from the right and played the ball to the onrushing Heysham. But his powerful shot was straight at Catlow.

Minutes later John Mills broke from midfield, the referee waved play on after he was brought down and Heysham picked the ball up in the 18-yard box, he was felled by Catlow but the referee then awarded an offside decision.

Haysham Tripped?

Heysham had another chance to bring the score back level, this time from a free kick. His shot from 20-yards cleared the defensive wall and keeper but also cleared the bar.

On 86 minutes Highgate made it 2 from a free kick. Lei Brown’s curling shot left Harvey Rivers with no chance as it flew into the top left hand corner of the goal.

Rob Purdie About To Take The Free Kick

From the restart, Hereford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Purdie fired a low powerful drive past the Highgate keeper with what proved to be just a consolation.

Consolation Goal For Hereford

Highgate created the last chance of the game when Smith broke away down the right, his shot beat the backpedalling Rivers, but went wide for a goalkick.

Another Save By Catlow

FT: Highgate United 2 – Hereford 1
Att: Thought to be around 566

Hereford: Rivers, Kontic-Coveney, Edwards, Summers, James, Birch, Wheatley (Miller - 68’), Purdie, Mills, Haysham, Page.

Highgate: Catlow, Tacey, Polisciano, Curtis, Turner, Edwards, Rodgers, Taylor, Benjamin (Lynch - 78’), Edgington (T Smith - 81’), Brown.

---