Hereford 6 – Stourport Swifts 0

Hereford manager Peter Beadle made 2 changes from the side that beat Rocester 4-0 at Edgar Street on Saturday. Mike Symons started in place of the suspended Pablo Heysham, and with Joel Edwards starting at left back, Rob Purdie moved forward to replace Dylan Bonella in midfield. After his signing for the club was announced just before kick off, Mustapha Bundu was named on the bench for tonight’s home league game against Stourport Swifts.

The home side started this evening’s proceedings and were quick to test Stourport's goalkeeper Dominic Richards. As Swifts’ Jim Hanson conceded a corner after pressure from Mike Symons, Joel Edwards did well to connect with Page’s corner. However Richards denied Edwards with a fingertip save.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Rob Purdie combined effectively with Joe Tumelty to allow the winger to whip in a cross from the right. However the onrushing John Mills couldn't quite get enough on the ball to test Richards as he harmlessly watched Mills’ header drift wide.

6 minutes later, Joel Edwards played an accurate ball forward to Aaron Birch, who found John Mills in space, but his shot was just wide of the upright.

Hereford's persistence finally paid off in the 24th minute. After some nice build-up play between Adam Page and John Mills, Page found captain Joel Edwards advancing down the left flank. Edwards pinpoint cross was met by Mike Symons to powerfully head the ball home, beating the outstretched arm of the keeper for his first goal in a Hereford shirt.

A Header From Mike Symons

Finds The Back Of The Net

And Captain Joel Edwards Run Over To Congratulate Him

With tonight’s game being Mike Symons' full Hereford debut, he was responsible for doubling The Bulls' lead on the half hour mark. Rob Purdie played the ball into Symonds on the edge of the box, Symons had his back to goal, but after a swift turn planted the ball into the back of the net with his left foot.

Symons Collects And Turns And Scores His Second Goal

More Plaudits For Symons

Stourport could’ve pulled a goalback when James Hill saw his 30-yard screamer rattle off the crossbar with Rivers a mere spectator. For the hosts, Mike Symons could've completed his hat trick before the end of the first half when his glancing header went wide at the far post. 

HT: Hereford 2 - Stourport Swifts 0

Joe Tumulty was unlucky not to be rewarded for his efforts 2 minutes after the restart. After being set up on the edge of the area, Tumulty saw his rasping shot well saved by Stourport Stopper Richards.

On the 58 minute mark, John Mills did well to work his way down the right, before his cross was charged away by Joe Robinson, however the resulting corner was quickly dealt with by the Stourport defence. As the Whites tried to get the ball back into the box, Adam Page was upended on the edge of the penalty area, which saw the referee caution Reece Wager for his foul. From Rob Purdie's free kick, Stourport scrambled the ball clear for a corner.

Adam Page took the resulting corner, was met at the near post by the head of Rob Purdie to put the Bulls 3-0 up.

Rob Purdie Scoring Hereford's Third Of The Game

Celebration Time

On the 60th minute, Hereford grabbed their second goal in as many minutes. John Mills found Mike Symons with his short pass and after making progress towards goal, Symons beat Richards in the Stourport goal with a left-footed shot.

Mike Symons

Scores His Third Of The Game

Harvey Rivers was then called into action in the 67th minute when a snapshot from Stourport forced him into making a fine save. As Rob Purdie burst through the centre, he made no mistake as he slotted the ball past Dominic Richards for Hereford’s 5th goal of the evening.

Rob Purdie Lines Up His Second Of The Game

And The Keeper Is Well Beaten

10 minutes from time, substitute Mustapha Bundu found John Mills in space, but the marksman saw his shot tipped over. From the resulting corner, Mills was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet when he was denied by the woodwork.

2 minutes later, Hereford well and truly put the game to bed with their 6th goal. Jimmy Oates saw his low drive, blocked by Captain Ryan Wollacott, but the ball ricocheted into the path of Mustapha Bundu who dispatched it with a powerful into the roof of the net to extend Hereford’s winning run to 17 games.

Mustapha Bundu With The Ball In The Net

FT: Hereford 6 – Stourport Swifts 0

Att: 2235, with around 50 from Stourport

Sponsors’ MotM: Mike Symons

Hereford: Rivers, Oates, Edwards (c), Purdie, Willets, Green, Tumulty (Bundu – 67’), Birch (Robbins – 72’), Mills, Page (Kontic-Coveney – 77’), Symons.

Subs not used: Summers, Bonella.

Stourport Swifts: Richards, Hanson, Bunn, Robinson, Fisher, Wollacott (c), Wager (Hyde – 62’), Hill, Phillips, Shilvock (Maund – 72’), Rogers (Bailey – 62’).

Sub not used: Beaumont.

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