Report: Hereford 1 - Bradford (Park Avenue) 2

Hereford suffered their second defeat in as many games this afternoon as they were beaten 2-1 by Bradford (Park Avenue) at Edgar Street, with the Bulls' solitary goal coming from Harry White's penalty in the 90th minute. 

New signing Jordan Lam came straight into the starting XI for the game, with his international clearance arriving moments too late for the game against Chorley last weekend. The only other change to the side that lost 1-0 on the road saw Keyon Reffell return to the starting XI as Lance Smith dropped to the bench, and Lewis Hall was left out of the side.

Attacking a sunlit Meadow End in the first half, Bradford (Park Avenue) won a free kick 30-yards out after a foul by experienced defender Ryan Green, but the visitors failed to cause Hereford any problems.

For Hereford, on two occasions they had the opportunity to take an early lead, both including winger Jordan Lam in the build-up. In the sixth minute Lam played a nice one-two with fellow defender Ryan Green before playing the ball back into the box, but nobody reacted quickly enough to have a shot on goal.

Then three minutes later Eliot Richards mis-hit his shot after being teed-up by the former Cardiff Met player.

Lam carried on being heavily-involved in the action as he beat his man to release Harry White on a spirited run down the right flank. White did well to break into the box and play the ball into the centre, but Mark Ross beat Keyon Reffell to it.

Danny Greenslade Receiving Treatment For An Injury - Later Her Was Subbed.

Par Avenue then had a couple of goal worthy chances but Martin Horsell prevented them from breaking the deadlock. Horsell firstly flew through the air to deny Oli Johnson's diving header from point-blank range, with Lewis Knight providing the cross. Another headed effort came just four minutes later, this time from Jake Beesley, but it was parried by Horsell before pushing the follow up shot around the post.

Having shown Bradford a little bit too much of goal in the last five minutes, the Bulls conceded in the 23rd minute. From the corner, Conor Branson leapt higher than the rest to head the ball past Martin Horsell as Park Avenue broke the deadlock.

Moments later a free kick for Hereford, after White was brought down, saw Mike McGrath with the chance to an almost-instant equaliser, but despite his low, driven effort beating the wall, it was met with a comfortable save by 'keeper Steven Drench.

Further chances from Hereford came from left-back Danny Greenslade who saw his powerful effort deflected behind for a fruitless corner, Mike McGrath who forced Drench into making a save and finally another vicious effort from Greenslade who unleashed a shot that stung the hands of the keeper before being cleared.

Despite the flurry of chances for Hereford, Bradford had the last real-chance of the first half and were inches away from doubling their lead. Jamie Spencer's snapshot from range thankfully didn't dip enough to sneak in under the crossbar as it went harmlessly over for a goalkick.

One of the most disappointing things to come out of the first 45 minutes would be Keyon Reffell picking up a knock. Reffell was one of Hereford's stand-out players last season and has only just got back to fitness after picking up a knock pre-season, but he was replaced by Calvin Dinsley ten minutes from half time.

HT: Hereford 0 - Bradford (Park Avenue) 0

Other than a decent effort from Harry White five minutes after the restart which saw his shot pushed wide of the post by the keeper, there was little of note within the first 20 minutes of the second half. 

Two changes in three minutes by the Bulls boss would hopefully inject some firepower up front as Lance Smith as Jamie Bird were brought on, with Bird rescuing two games from the bench so far this season.

Calvin Dinsley, who'd come on during the first half, tried his luck from 25-yards after Eliot Richards' cross came back out the former Gloucester City man, but he lifted his shot over the crossbar.

In the 70th minute a defensive-error from Keiran Thomas let Jake Beesley intercept a tame back-pass with just Martin Horsell left to beat. With the Whites' keeper racing off his line, Beesley blazed his shot over the bar with the pair colliding in the aftermath.

Four minutes later midfielder Richards played a dangerous-looking ball across the face of goal, but nobody was there to stab the ball home. This wasn't the first promising ball delivered into the box, but the strike partnership of Lance Smith and Harry White hadn't clicked.

Hereford's day went from bad to worse ten minutes from time as Bradford were awarded a penalty. Substitute Danny Boshell was clipped in the box by Mike McGrath with the referee pointing to the spot. Up stepped Oli Johnson who made no mistake in finding the back of the net despite Horsell going the right way.

Lance Smith With A Chance

Jamie Bird almost pulled a goal back in traditional Jamie Bird style, but his volley whistled over the crossbar, much to Meadow End's disappointment.

It was Bird in the thick of the action in the 90th minute as he was brought down in the box resulting second penalty of the game. Upstepped Harry White in front of a hopeful 2,567 Hereford fans and duly fired home from the spot.

But it was a case of too little too late from Hereford who couldn't find the back of the net for a second time to earn a share of the spoils.

FT: Hereford 1 - Bradford (Park Avenue) 2

Att: 2,601 (34 away)

Sponsors' MotM: Martin Horsell

Hereford: Horsell, Thomas, Greenslade, Murphy, Green, Cullinane-Liburd (c), Reffell (Dinsley - 35'), Richards, White, McGrath, Lam.

Subs not used: H. Smith, Mayebi.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Drench, Ross, Clee, Branson, Killock (c), Havern, Wroe, Knight (Nowakowski - 84'), Beesley, Johnson, Spencer (Boshell - 75').

Subs not used: Toulson, Atkinson, Dawson.

Next Game: York City at Home on Saturday 1st September at 3pm.

The game at Chester on Monday is POSTPONED.