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| Joel Edwards Captained Hereford FC |
United Counties League leaders Leicester Nirvana travelled to a rain soaked Edgar Street today for the 4th round of the FA Vase. There were two changes to the side that beat AFC Wulfrunians 2-1 last Saturday, Jamie Willets dropped to the bench as Jimmy Oates slotted in at right back, with Ryan Green partnering Nathan Summers in the centre of defence. After picking up a knock last week, Mustapha Bundu started in place of Rob Purdie in midfield.
As Leicester kicked off attacking the Meadow End, it was Hereford who were the first to threaten; with just 4 minutes on the clock, Mustapha Bundu drifted effortlessly through midfield, as he played the ball out to Mike Symons on the left wing. With the ex-Gloucester City man finding John Mills on the edge of the area, he did well to round his man, but his subsequent shot lacked any real conviction as the effort was easily claimed James Flinders in the Nirvana goal.
4 minutes later Bundu could've grabbed the opener after being setup by John Mills. As Mills broke away from midfield, he played an accurate through ball to Bundu, but despite being one-on-one with the keeper, failed to pick his spot and Flinders manage to stop the shot with his legs.
With 12-minutes on the clock, the home side had a good penalty shout as Dylan Bonella was brought down as he tried to cut in from the right. With the referee judging the foul to be just outside the area, Bonella delivered the resulting free kick low into the area, but Leicester had little difficultly in clearing the danger.
However, 6 minutes later the referee was left with little option but to award a penalty after Pablo Haysham was upended by Shaquille O'Neil Brooks after he broke into the box. As John Mills stepped up to take the spot kick, he all-too-easily found the top left hand corner of the net with the right-foot, after sending Flinders the wrong way.
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| Haysham Is Brought Down |
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| Keeper Can Only Watch As John Mills Converts |
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| And Celebrates With Dylan Bonella |
Leicester were awarded a penalty just moments after Mills had fired home for Hereford; Bundu fouled Pearson Mwanyongo within the 18-yard box leaving captain Matthew Melbourne to try and pull his team back level. However, in front of a vocal Meadow End, his well-placed shot lacked power and Martin Horsell did well to save low down to his left.
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| Martin Horsell Saves The Penalty |
Leicester kept up the pressure on Hereford’s defence, which for the first time since he joined the club in September started without Jamie Willets. Just shy of the half hour mark, Tendai Chitiza was through-on goal after he beat the off side trap; with just Martin Horsell left to beat in the Hereford goal, he rounded Horsell before firing in from an acute angle.
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| Horsell Rounded And Chitiza Scores |
As Hereford had a quick succession of corners, Pablo Haysham found Dylan Bonella on the edge of the box, but he was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet when his rasping effort was denied with a strong save from Flinders.
Chitiza could’ve then put Leicester in front with his chance minutes later, but he saw his shot rattle off the crossbar before the spirited Reece Morris handled the rebound.
As the entertaining 45 minutes continued, Bonella was rewarded for his earlier effort. With Pablo Haysham cutting into the box from the right, James Flinders managed to parry his shot. With everyone else stopping as the ball looked to be going out for a corner, Bundu chased the ball down and crossed the ball back in. Flinders managed to punch the ball only as far as Bonella, and with his powerful half-volley found the top right hand corner of the net past the despairing keeper.
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| Keeper Flinders Punches The Ball Out |
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| As Far As Dylan Bonella |
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| Who Unleashed A Powerful Half-Volley |
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| Right Into The Back Of The Net |
Mike Symons managed to extend Hereford’s lead to two goals on the stroke of half time. After bursting through the centre, Symons poked the ball past Flinders; but after his shot got stuck in the goalmouth, Symons followed in to tap home.
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| Symons With A Shot Towards Goal |
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| Which Became Stuck In The Mud |
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| But The 'Beast' Was On Hand To Tap It In |
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| And Celebrate |
HT: Hereford 3 – Leicester Nirvana 1
Despite the best efforts of the groundsmen at half time, the rain continued to lash down relentlessly on an already very saturated Edgar Street pitch; referee Robbie Dadley subsequently abandoned the game at half time, with the rescheduled match likely to be on Saturday, subject to confirmation from the FA.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates, Edwards (C), Bonella, Green, Summers, Bundu, Birch, Mills, Haysham, Symons.
Subs: Kontic-Coveney, Willets, Tumelty, Staley, Grant.
Leicester Nirvana: Flinders, Phillips, O'Neil Brooks, Murphy, Lynch, Juma, Mwanyongo, Morris, Chitiza, Melbourne (C), Day.
Subs: Gonga, Calvez, Patrocinio, Parkes, Harris.
Attendance: 2678
