Hereford 4 - Lye Town 1

Joel Edwards Leads Out The Hereford FC Squad - Behind Him Nathan Summers With His Usual Leap In The Air Before The Game Kicks-Off

Hereford FC had a chance to go top of the table if they won tonight's match against Lye Town at Edgar Street. The only change was Nathan Hughes being named as a sub after he pulled out before Saturday's home win against Shepshed Dynamo.

Despite Hereford kicking off attacking the Blackfriars End during the first half, it was Lye who were first to threaten. After the ball was initially cleared from a free kick just outside the area, Simon Williams cut back into the box with the ball, but Hereford's solid defending meant nothing came of the two ensuing corners.

With 12 minutes on the clock, an error in the heart of Lye’s midfield saw Pablo Heysham play a pinpoint pass through to John Mills. With Mills outnumbered he did well to get a shot away, but his low diagonal effort was just wide of the upright.

As the half progressed, Lye threatened with a few half-decent crosses but Hereford’s now more solid defence dealt with these efficiently.

Similar to Saturday the game got off to a slow start, however on the half hour mark, another good ball was played through to John Mills by his striking partner Pablo Heysham which allowed the striker to go through on goal. Being one on one with the keeper failed to phase Hereford's top goalscorer as he calmly picked his spot and placed the ball in the bottom right hand corner of Jake Bedford’s net.

John Mills With His First Goal Of The Match

Two minutes from halftime, Hereford could’ve made it 2. The Bulls did well to work their way into the Lye box following some excellent play by Dylan Bonella, but after composing himself in front of goal and tapping the ball past Bedford, the linesman judged Mills to be offside.

Mills Beat The Keeper But The Assistant's Flag Was Up

HT: Hereford 1 - Lye Town 0

Early in the second half, Hereford were unlucky when the visitors managed to get themselves on the score sheet. With 48 minutes on the clock, an ambitious long range screamer from Lye Town's James Spray beat the back-pedalling Harvey Rivers before dipping in underneath the crossbar.

Lye Town Celebrate Their Goal

On the 55th minute mark, Nathan Summers was gifted a chance to put his side ahead. After captain Joel Edwards' low drive from 20-yards was blocked, the rebound fell to the feet of Summers who saw his effort turned wide by keeper Jake Bedford. It was then Pablo Heysham who was unlucky not to score from the resulting corner. With Adam Page taking it short, Heysham unleashed a powerful strike from just inside the area from an acute angle only to be denied by the crossbar.

Hereford regained the lead on the 55th minute when Aaron Birch played in John Mills who beat his man and curled the ball delightfully into the top corner to add to his already impressive goal tally.

Mills With His Second Goal

On the stroke of the 65th minute, John Mills managed to complete his 3rd hat trick of the season with yet another impressive strike. Adam Page and Pablo Heysham combined well to get the ball in the danger area. As Page was dispossessed, John Mills managed to beat the visitors to the ball and his rising shot found the roof of Bedford’s net. 

And His Third

Then, just two minutes later, Mills screwed a close range effort just wide with what could have been his fourth.

Mills didn’t have to wait much longer for his next goal though; nine minutes from time Sol Wheatley whipped in a cross from the left but Joel Cains managed to get something on it ahead of the onrushing Page. However, as the ball fell to the feet of Mills he made no mistake in burying the ball past the diving keeper to secure a fifth successive victory.

And His Fourth

FT: Hereford 4 - Lye Town 1

Att: 2,006

Hereford: Rivers, Green (Kontic-Coveney – 84’), Edwards, Bonella, Willets, Summers, Wheatley, Birch, Mills, Haysham (Grant – 85’), Page. 

Subs not used: Hughes, Miller, Moreira.

Lye Town: Bedford, Tye, Cains (Priest – 87’), Pearlman, Flowers, Beasley (Love – 79’), Wilkins, Gennard, Spray, Nickle, Williams (Northwood – 75’). 

Subs not used: Pugh, Evitts.

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