Hereford 4 – Brocton 1

Two Goals For Mustapha Bundu

Following the crucial 2-1 victory over Alvechurch on Thursday, Hereford manager Pete Beadle made 2 changes for his side’s 5th game in 10 days. Ahead of this afternoon’s game against Brocton, Jamie Laird and James Bowen replaced Nathan Summers and Joel Edwards respectively, with the defensive pair picking up knocks at Lye Meadow.

Hereford kicked off attacking the Meadow End in the first half, and were the stronger side within the opening exchanges. In the 2nd minute Mike Symons did well to work a low cross into the box from the left, but Mustapha Bundu poked his right-footed effort narrowly wide for a goalkick.

6 minutes later, Aaron Birch connected well with a Jimmy Oates cross, firing a low drive wide, before the keeper could only parry Mustapha Bundu's strong effort in the 11th minute. However, on the quarter of an hour mark, the Sierra Leone teenager opened the scoring.

Captain Rob Purdie found Bundu with a pinpoint pass, and after bursting into the Brocton box, the keeper could only deflect Bundu’s rasping effort onto the underside of the crossbar before the ball nestled in the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Bundu's First Goal

Bundu's Happy, The Keeper Not So Happy

8 minutes later the Badgers equalised, Jack Edwards capitalising on a defensive mix-up. After finding themselves in possession, Brocton worked the ball to Jack Edwards at the far post, and his diagonal effort from an acute angle beat Hereford keeper Martin Horsell to level proceedings.

Brocton Equalise

The half reverted to one-way traffic, with visiting keeper Calum Barrett continuing his fine performance. Jimmy Oates’ curling cross was chested down by Bundu, before forcing Barrett into pushing his powerful strike from 12-yards around the post. Oates then went close for Hereford, he connected with Rob Purdie’s corner, but his headed effort went wide of the target

With 6 minutes until half time, Sirdic Grant was almost rewarded for his excellent performances of late. A long throw into the box courtesy of Jimmy Oates fell to Mustapha Bundu, but with 3 defenders closing him down, opted to offloaded to the unmarked Grant; Grant was unlucky not to score his first goal in a Hereford shirt as his shot rattled off the woodwork, as the keeper smothered Bundu’s follow up shot.

HT: Hereford 1 - Brocton 1

Hereford created two chances early on in the second half, firstly Mustapha Bundu’s cross was met by the advancing Pablo Haysham, but his effort whistled narrowly wide. Then Rob Purdie burst through to intercept Gary Fife’s pass to his fellow centre back, but Purdie’s subsequent left-footed shot was kept out by the knees of Barrett as the backtracking defence cleared the danger.

7 minutes after the restart, Grant picked the ball up on the right wing and showing blistering pace burst into the Brocton box, but was bundled over and referee Liam Corbett pointed immediately to the spot. As goalscorer Mustapha Bundu stepped up with an expectant crowd behind him, he fired high into the top left hand corner of Barrett's goal to regain the lead.

Bundu Lines Up The Penalty

And Makes No Mistake

A quick trio of chances followed for the Whites, the first came after some good buildup play between Symons, Grant and Bundu culminating in a shot being fired high by the hosts.

Moments later Bundu was ruled offside as he sent his shot skywards after being set up by the ever-impressive Grant.

Finally, Aaron Birch dragged a shot wide when perhaps passing to Grant may have been the better option.

With 69 minutes on the clock, Hereford doubled their lead. James Bowen's high cross was picked up by Pablo Haysham on the right wing, and after Hereford worked the ball to substitute Joe Tumelty, he played a neat ball to the feet of Symons to comfortably tap home from point blank range.

Substitute Joe Tumelty Feeds Mike Symons

Symons Thanks Tumelty

8 minutes later Hereford put the game out of reach of the visitors with a fourth goal thanks to Jamie Laird. Rob Purdie's corner was half cleared by Brocton as far as Jimmy Oates, who found Tumelty in space. After breaking into the box, Tumelty’s shot across goal was turned in at the far post by the sliding Laird for his first Hereford goal.

Jamie Laird Scores Hereford's Fourth Of The Game

Laird With Sirdic Grant

The closest Brocton came to scoring in the second half was with 9 minutes left on the clock, Rob Purdie was penalised for a foul, but skipper Sean Kinsella's shot was straight at the 3-man wall.

The last real chance of the game came in the 89th minute, with Grant missing a sitter. A looping back-heel by Purdie fell to Grant, but with just the keeper left to beat couldn’t quite get a firm touch on the ball as Barrett gathered.

FT: Hereford 4 – Brocton 1

Att: 3,053

Sponsors’ MotM: Ryan Green and Sirdic Grant

Hereford: Horsell, Oates, Laird, Bowen, Purdie (c), Green, Bundu (Tumelty – 68’), Birch, Grant, Haysham (Mills – 70’), Symons (Robbins – 86’).

Subs not used: Willets, Staley

Brocton: Barrett, Jones (Dean – 78’), Wilson (snr), McLeod, Fife, Booth, Kinsella, McMahon (Wilson (jnr) – 78’), Edwards (Dell – 72’), Berks, Lomas.

Subs not used: Devoir

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