Hereford 3 - Kings Langley 0

Two More Goals For John Mills - He's Seen Here With Jimmy Oates And Rob Purdie

Pete Beadle was once again forced to make changes to the starting XI as Hereford’s injury woes worsened ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Kings Langley. Adam Page was knocked out while training with Cheltenham on Friday, so was one of three changes to the side that started midweek. Dara O’Shea started in favour of Dan Preston, Mike Symons dropped to the bench to make way for Lance Smith, and Jamie Bird started on the left wing in place of the injured Page.

Kicking into the strong wind towards the Blackfriars End in the first half, the Bulls struggled to impose much of a threat on the visitors’ back four. An early free kick for Mike McGrath took a deflection before going behind, and from the resulting corner, the home side couldn’t test the keeper as the ball sailed harmlessly wide.

With 16 minutes on the clock, home debutant Jamie Bird played a long ball down the right wing to Lance Smith, with the 26-year old doing well to bring it under control. But Smith’s cross-come-shot from the the edge of the box proved an easy save for the keeper.

Both sides struggled to deal with the wet and windy conditions, but just before the break, Hereford took the lead.

Lance Smith played the ball back to Jamie Bird, who on the first time of asking curled a cross into the box. As Mills nipped in ahead centre-back Emmanuel Folarin, he tapped the ball past the keeper at the near-post.

HT: Hereford 1 – Kings Langley 0

The first real action of the second half was Hereford’s second goal. Lance Smith was dispossessed in the box, but John Mills was able to get on the end of the loose ball. A really cool finish from Mills saw him dance through the middle of two Kings defenders, before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home with his left-foot.

In the 67th minute, Lance Smith came inches away from grabbing a third - after bursting forward, visiting keeper Martin Bennett managed to push Smith’s effort just wide of the upright.

Lance Smith

Kings Langley’s best chance of the half came in the 80th minute, but a great goal line clearance from Ryan Green prevented them from pulling a goal back. Martin Horsell couldn’t keep hold of Brandon Ocran’s initial shot, and as a follow-up effort looking destined for the top right-hand corner, Ryan Green’s diving header kept the ball out.

The Whites weren’t able to extend their lead with two great chances from John Mills and Mike Symons. In the 82nd minute, Lance Smith’s low cross into the box saw Mills force the keeper into diving low down to his left to deny him a hat-trick.

Moments later, Mike Symons got on the end of Mike McGrath’s free kick at the back-post, but his downward header hit the upright before being cleared.

It wasn’t long until Symons did head home a third though. After a string of corners, Symons rushed onto the end of Rob Purdie’s inswinging delivery to force the ball past Bennett.

The final chance of the afternoon fell to Jimmy Oates, but the keeper did well to save his effort. After intercepting a scuffed clearance, Hereford’s skipper worked the ball onto his favoured right foot, with his rising shot being tipped over the bar by the keeper.

A Chance For Smith Near The End Of The Game - But The Ball Went Straight Towards The Keeper

FT: Hereford 3 – Kings Langley 0

Att: 2,319 with 21 in the away enclosure.

Sponsors’ MotM: Jack Deaman

Hereford: Horsell, Oates (c), O’Shea, Purdie, Green, Deaman, Bird (Symons – 76’), McGrath, Mills, Haysham, Smith.

Subs not used: Franklin, Preston, Harris.

Kings Langley: Bennett, Pattison, Connolly, Folarin, Johnson, Hitchcock, Coldicott-Stevens, Turner, Weiss, Price, Ward.

Subs: Ocran, Hampton, Bateman, Tring, Keating.

Next Game: Tiverton Town Away on Tuesday 24th October at 7.45pm

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