 |
| Jamie Molyneux Scored Hereford's First Goal |
Peter Beadle was made to make one change after last weekend's slender victory at Wantage. Pablo Haysham began his four match suspension; Tristan Plummer returned after injury to take his place. The visitors included former Bull Harvey Rivers in the sticks.
On a fairly mild December's afternoon, the pitch was looking in good condition as Hereford kicked towards the Meadow End for the first-half. Jimmy Oates crashed a right-foot shot wide from 20 yards before the Bulls took the lead through Molyneux. Joel Edwards ball towards the Yate box pinballed before Molyneux gained control, cut inside his man from the left before shooting right-footed into the near-post.
 |
| Add caption |
Yate however responded within seven minutes; a long-ball down the right flank wasn't dealt with by the dithering Fortune and Bryan cut in past the former Weston defender before seeing a shot blocked by Alex Harris, but Bryan followed up to nip it into the back of the net from close-range.
Molyneux was looking dangerous on the right and was causing his marker all sorts of problems; his run and low cross somehow didn't end up in the back of the net through Symons, before Mills went down under pressure in the follow up but the referee waved away any penalty appeals.
McGrath was pulling the strings in the middle of the park and bursting forward to good effect too; a 30 yard bullet from the former Redditch man crashed against the crossbar and over. A pinpoint cross by Oates towards the back-post was met by Symons, but Rivers made a fine close-range save to deny the Hereford striker. In the build up, Molyneux fell awkwardly after challenging for a header and was taken off with an ankle injury; Rob Purdie replaced him.
Hereford regained the lead in the 34th minute through Symons. Oates again delivered an inch perfect cross and this time Rivers couldn't deny 'The Beast' as his downward header at the back-post put the hosts back in front. Purdie's powerful drive after a Symons lay-off failed to trouble Rivers as the first-half fizzled out.
At the break, Fortune was replaced by Mark Preece due to injury. The second-half took a while to get going but Hereford were always comfortable. Jamie Edge was denied by a goal-line clearing header after his measured half-volley looked to be heading into the top corner, following good work from Purdie. Mills flashed a right-foot shot past the near-post from 20 yards, before the visitors made a couple of changes to try and freshen up their approach.
Yet it was Hereford who made the game safe just after the 70 minute mark. Purdie's pass down the line was met by Edwards, who sent an excellent cross towards the onrushing header from McGrath, with the ball crashing in off the bar.
The fourth of the afternoon for Hereford was scored by Mills; this time Edwards played Purdie in down the left, and his precise cut-back was met by a first-time finish from Mills, who looked delighted to get in on the act.
Late on Jake Sinclair replaced Plummer, but had little time to make an impact.
The fourth of the afternoon for Hereford was scored by Mills; this time Edwards played Purdie in down the left, and his precise cut-back was met by a first-time finish from Mills, who looked delighted to get in on the act.
Late on Jake Sinclair replaced Plummer, but had little time to make an impact.
 |
| Hereford Did Get The Ball In The Net For A Fifth Time But It Was Disallowed |
Next up for Hereford, after a 10 day break, is the sold out trip to Bishops Cleeve on the 27th.
Hereford: Harris, Oates, Green, Fortune (Preece), Edwards, Molyneux (Purdie), McGrath, Edge, Plummer (Sinclair), Mills, Symons.
Subs not used: Horsell, Barnes.