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Next Game: Pre-Season

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Report: Hereford 3 - FC United of Manchester 1


Hereford finally won their first game with Marc Richards at the helm as they progressed to the First Round Proper of the FA Trophy with a 3-1 won over FC United of Manchester.

It was a reverse scoreline to the league game between the two sides two weeks ago, as Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Tommy O'Sullivan and Mike Symons netted second half goals to overturn the 1-0 score at half-time.

Just like the game a fortnight ago, Hereford started brightly with a couple of early crosses but they weren't able to make the most of the pressure. In the second minute Keiran Thomas had done well to keep the ball in play down the right flank before sending George Lloyd on his way. As the Cheltenham Town loanee crossed the ball in, it just missed the head of Mike Symons in front of goal.

Moments later it was Symons who crossed the ball in and was spilled by visiting keeper Lloyd Allinson, but he managed to recover and smother it ahead of a white shirt.

The Bulls continued to have the majority of possession during the opening stages of the game, but went on to conceded a horrific goal to find themselves on the back foot yet again.

A poor bit of defending from Hereford saw Harvey Smith the last man with a chance of clearing, but he failed to do so and Jack Banister rifled the ball home past Matt Yates.



A quieter ten minutes followed, but this was brought to an end when Yates was forced into action as he made a double save to prevent FC United from extending their lead. The initial shot from Kurt Willoughby was palmed away into the path of Tom Peers, but his follow-up shot couldn't get the better of Yates.




Eight minutes from time Tom Owen-Evans could've netted an equliser after he popped up from a pack of players in the middle of the box to get on the end of a cross, but his headed effort was caught by the keeper.

Owen-Evans, like much of the team, seemed to have a renewed energy this afternoon compared with the last game against FC United. He had another great opportunity to equalise before the break after Kyle Finn set him up, but his strike from just within the box was blocked by a sprawling defender.

Deep into the three minutes of first half stoppage time Jack Banister was denied a second as Matt Yates was at full-stretch to keep his diagonal shot from finding the top righthand corner of the net. 

HT: Hereford 0 - FC United of Manchester 1

Head Coach Marc Richards made a change at the break which seemed to kick start his side into life, replacing Mike McGrath who looked slightly off-the-pace in the first half as he brought on Tommy O'Sullivan in his place.

It was then a case of two quick-fire goals that saw Hereford go in front at Edgar Street, the equaliser came courtesy of Jordan Cullinane-Liburd who headed home a Tom Owen-Evans' cross into a crowded penalty area.





This was quickly followed by a second with Cullinane-Liburd involved again. The 23-year-old held the ball up well as O'Sullivan broke into the box to smash home the second.




Two more chances for inspired sub O'Sullivan followed, the first was struck well but failed to beat the keeper, but the Welsh-born midfielder should've done better with his second as it sailed wide of the target.

Harvey Smith also should've done better as Hereford were probing for a third, but he spent too long thinking about his shot after being slipped through by Calvin Dinsley and shot straight at the keeper's feet.

After a number of below-par performances from Danny Greenslade in recent weeks when he's been caught-out defensively on far too many occasions, Hereford's left-back had really perked up for this afternoon's game. With a free-kick from 30-yards in the 75th minute, he somehow manage to curl it around the wall as it struck the inside of the upright, but didn't cross the line.




It was two minutes later when Hereford put the game to bed as Mike Symons netted the third with a good team goal. Tom Owen-Evans has impressed since being brought in, and he showed his skill as he got the better of United's defence with a turn, the ball then fell nicely to Mike Symons to slot home at the far-post.






Even with the victory sealed, Hereford continued to push for a fourth. The best chance of the remaining ten minutes saw Calvin Dinsley's shot from the edge of the area go narrowly over the crossbar with the backpedaling keeper beaten.

FT: Hereford 3 - FC United of Manchester 1
Att: 1,067 (135 away)
Sponsors' MotM: Mike Symons

Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, McGrath, Cullinane-Liburd, Smith (c), Dinsley, Owen-Evans, Finn, Lloyd, Symons.
Subs: Roberts, White, O'Sullivan, Green, Horsell.

FC United of Manchester: Allinson, Senior, White, O'Halloran, Lynch, Pott (c), Simoes, Wallen, Peers, Willoughby, Banister.
Subs: Palinkas, Milligan, Jones, Crawford, Roache.