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| A Hat-Trick For John Mills Who Was Sponsors Kingspan's Man Of The Match |
Adam Page and Garyn Preen returned to the fray as they were named on the bench, having both suffered from concussion in recent weeks.
With the sun shining down on Edgar Street, a minute’s applause was held ahead of kick off in memory of Bulls fan Pat Morrow who sadly passed away recently.
Onto the game, and it was Weymouth who were first to
threaten. Attacking the Meadow End in the first half, Ben Thomson tried his luck from range before Martin Horsell was forced into tipping Harry Baker’s shot over the crossbar.
threaten. Attacking the Meadow End in the first half, Ben Thomson tried his luck from range before Martin Horsell was forced into tipping Harry Baker’s shot over the crossbar.
Despite the ropey start, the Bulls went on to dominate possession for the next fifteen minutes or so. Visiting keeper Mark Travers was called into action in the 14th minute to deny Pablo Haysham, but the keeper was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.
Hereford were fortunate not to find themselves a goal down following Jake McCarthy’s headed effort, but Horsell smothered the ball at the near-post. Another chance for the Terras followed, but Baker headed McCarthy’s cross into the side-netting.
At the other end of the pitch, Lance Smith missed a sitter as his powerful headed whistled wide of the post.
The Whites took the lead in the 35th minute after Mills scored his 119th goal in a Hereford shirt. Jack Deaman’s lofted ball saw Mills through on goal, and with his first touch made no mistake in finding the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Hereford extended their lead three minutes later as the 27-year old scored again. Dara O’Shea provided a low-cross from the right, Mills fired the ball home from the edge of the area, despite the keeper getting a touch.
Two minutes before the break, Jake McCarthy almost pulled a goal back for the visitors. With Horsell racing off his line, McCarthy was able to round Hereford’s stopper, but his strike was kept out thanks to a goal line clearance from Ryan Green.
HT: Hereford 2 – Weymouth 0
The Terras started brightly in the second half, and three minutes after the restart a free header for Harry Barker was weak and straight at the keeper.
Hereford went on to let their two goal lead slip, as McCarthy pulled a goal back. The Bulls were caught sleeping following a Weymouth corner, and McCarthy’s shot found the back of the net after taking a deflection.
As the Bulls looked to restore their two goal advantage, Pablo Haysham’s right-footed shot lacked any real conviction as the keeper gathered the effort.
In the 72nd minute, Lance Smith scored his second goal in as many games. After a great ball from John Mills, Pablo Haysham saw his shot from the edge of the area parried by the keeper, but Lance Smith got onto the end of the rebound to force the ball home.
Seven minutes later, Mills completed his hat trick as he scored Hereford’s fourth goal of the afternoon. Much to the surprise of Weymouth’s defence, referee Sarah Garratt allowed Pablo Haysham to take a quick free kick to John Mills. As the Hereford marksman feigned to shoot, the keeper was left helpless on the floor, with Mills then calmly lifting the ball over him into the unguarded net.
Despite the introduction of Adam Page and Garyn Preen, the Whites couldn’t create a fifth as they comfortably made it into Monday’s draw for the next round.
FT: Hereford 4 – Weymouth 1
Att: 1,552 with 31 in the away enclosure
Sponsors’ MotM: John Mills – who has now scored 121 goals in 121 games.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates, O’Shea, Purdie, Green, Deaman, Reffell, McGrath, Mills (Preen – 82’), Haysham (Page – 80’), Smith.
Subs not used: Bird, Preston, A. Harris.
Weymouth: Travers, Cooper, Sa, Wakefield, Down, Carmichael (Davis – 80’), Diaz (McGrath – 85’), McCarthy, Baker, Thomson, Baggie.
Subs not used: Brooks, Haigh, Buckley.