Hereford kept up the pressure on Kettering and King's Lynn with a comfortable 3-0 win against Banbury United on Saturday. A rasping shot from Jamie Bird opened the scoring in the first half, before John Mills doubled the Bulls' advantage with 67 minutes on the clock. Ten minutes later Keyon Reffell rounded off the scoring as he netted the third.
Peter Beadle had more players available to him today compared with last week at Dorchester when the flu was going around the Hereford camp. Ryan Green and Jimmy Oates returned to the back four, as Garyn Preen made way for Keyon Reffell in midfield.
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| Jamie Bird With An Early Chance That Flew Passed The Keeper |
One of Banbury's best and only chances of the game came with 23 minutes on the clock. Jack Self found Ricky Johnson with a cross from the right wing, with Johnson doing well to create himself a shooting opportunity. But it was the final product that let him down, with his shot proving all too easy for Martin Horsell between the sticks.
Jamie Bird almost grabbed his second goal two minutes later, as once again he tried his luck after Pablo Haysham's corner was half-cleared. The former Cardiff City midfielder fired an effort towards goal, but Luke Carnell was on hand to head clear.
As half time approached, neither side was able to create much, with Pablo Haysham going closest. After some neat passing football following a corner, Haysham's shot across the face of goal went wide at the far post.
HT: Hereford 1 - Banbury United 0
A foul on John Mills by Luke Carnell just outside the area saw the central defender booked, but Hereford weren't able to make the most of the resulting free kick. As Mills tried his luck, he did well to beat the five man wall, but his shot harmlessly hit the side netting.
Goal number two followed, as Mills extended the Whites' lead in the 67th minute. Cameron Pring and substitute Eliot Richards linked up well on the left, but as Pring burst into the box he was brought down by Jordy Ngathe. With the Hereford marksman stepping up in front of a vocal Meadow End, he made no mistake from 12 yards as he found the top corner of the net.
Hereford kept up the pressure, and the third goal came ten minutes later. A long throw to Eliot Richards in the Hereford half saw him play a long ball forward to Keyon Reffell. After making progress, Reffell's half-volley from the edge of the area was destined for the bottom left hand corner of the net, with the keeper unable to get a hand to the strike.
Nine minutes from time Lance Smith could've made it four, but his strike was wide of the mark. Pablo Haysham burst forward following a period of possession for the visitors, but after teeing up Lance Smith he wasn't able to find the target with his effort from 15-yards.
The final chance of the game fell to Banbury in the 84th minute. Jack Self was inches away from scoring a consolation goal, but couldn't keep his shot down as it sailed over the bar.
FT: Hereford 3 - Banbury United 0
Att: 2,932 with 65 in the away enclosure
Sponsors' MotM: Keyon Reffell
So now it's all eyes to Tuesday night. Hereford face a long trip to Norfolk where they take on second-placed King's Lynn Town. A win would see Hereford go top for the first time this season, still with games in hand over the rest of the top four.