Report: Hereford 2 - Alfreton Town 1

Hereford finally returned to winning ways in the league this afternoon as they beat Alfreton Town 2-1. Mike Symons tapped the ball home in the 18th minute to give the hosts the lead, but after dominating the majority of the game went on to concede three minutes from time as Craig Hobson headed home a free kick. But the Bulls weren't deterred as they surged forward looking for the winner, and James Roberts smashed home a penalty in injury time to secure all three points.

With Mike McGrath leaving the club earlier this week by mutual consent, this made way for Tommy O'Sullivan to return in midfield. Recent signing James Wesolowski still hadn't fully recovered from his hamstring strain picked up in training just over a week ago, 

It was a slow start for both sides, and other than an early free kick into the box from Danny Greenslade, which was flapped at by the keeper after Symons flicked it on, Adam Curry cleared the ball off the line but the linesman's flag was up regardless.

For Alfreton, their only chance within the opening 10 minutes was a speculative effort from central midfielder Nathan Hotte which Hereford keeper Matt Yates watched fly over his crossbar.

Three consecutive corners for the hosts failed to amount to anything of note, but as the third was pumped clear Keiran Thomas powered down the right wing and a tenacious tackle saw him regain possession. Still determined, Thomas carried on down the wing before being brought to an abrupt halt by Sam Ramsbottom well-outside the area, being shown a yellow for his troubles.The resulting free kick didn't threaten the keeper as Greenslade's ball went behind for a goal kick.

With 18 minutes on the clock, some good build-up play from Hereford saw them take the lead. With Tom Owen-Evans evading a number of challenges on the left, he managed to find Kyle Finn near the byline. The Coventry City loanee wasted no time in crossing the ball into the box, where Mike Symons was waiting to tap the ball home from close range.

Owen-Evans almost doubled Hereford's lead moments after Symons' opener, but Ramsbottom was able to deny him.

The Bulls' attention that had to be turned to dealing with a period of pressure from Alfreton, culminating in the Reds coming close to scoring an equaliser from a corner. 

After some neat passing play on the edge of the 18-yard box, James Clifton whipped across into the area which was put behind for a corner. Clifton's corner was hit into the air as Hereford tried to clear the danger, but an Alfreton head connected with it and went narrowly over.

Mike Symons 'Held' By Alfreton Captain Martin Riley

As the Bulls started to get back into the driving seat, two great chances were denied by the woodwork. The first saw an ambitious volley from Tom Owen-Evans rattle the underside of the crossbar before going back into the box where Tommy O'Sullivan's powerful follow-up shot hit the upright and went behind.

As the end of the half neared Hereford continued to push forward and work countless balls into the box, but lacked an end product. Alfreton had a penalty shout in the last few moments of added time as James Clifton went down under pressure from Tommy O'Sullivan, but the referee wasn't interested.

HT: Hereford 1 - Alfreton Town 0

Marc Richards' side would've been hoping to carry their good first half performance into the second, but an early half-chance for the visitors saw Clifton's long attacking throw go to waste as nobody was near the back-post to meet it.

Other than that, the half got off to a slow start and Alfreton manger Billy Heath would've been hoping that making two changes in as many minutes would've livened his side up, bringing on Craig Hobson and Callum Chettle as fresh legs up front.

Instead of injecting some energy into Alfreton, it was Hereford who started to look more dangerous. On loan captain Harvey Smith did well as he headed wide from a corner, before George Lloyd burst into the box under pressure but saw his effort palmed away by the keeper.

Another decent bit of play followed as Hereford looked more confident creating chances. George Lloyd sent Kyle Finn on his way down the left, but after he whipped in a cross defender Adam Curry beat Mike Symons to the ball.

At the start of a tense final ten minutes, it was Kyle Finn again who did well to work in a cross from the left to beat a crowd of players, but somehow the goalkeeper got a touch before it reached George Lloyd waiting at the far-post.

Three minutes from time Alfreton netted an equaliser and it looked as if Hereford might have to settle for a draw despite being on top for most of the game. After the Bulls conceded a needless free kick in a dangerous position, it was taken quickly by the Reds with Reece Styche beating former captain Jordan Cullinane-Liburd as substitute Craig Hobson headed home.

Hereford were quick to go forward and try to regain the lead, and three minutes later they had a penalty. It was Mike Symons who was brought down within the area, as referee James Bell pointed immediately to the spot.

Up stepped substitute James Roberts, and he smashed the spot kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, even with the keeper going the right way.

Despite conceding another pointless free kick, Hereford survived the final few minutes to ensure they bagged their first three points from a game since August.

FT: Hereford 2 - Alfreton Town 1

Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, O'Sullivan (Roberts - 71'), Cullinane-Liburd, H. Smith (c)🔶, Dinsley🔶, Owen-Evans, Finn, Lloyd, Symons⚽️.

Subs not used: White, Murphy, Dielna, Horsell.

Alfreton Town: Ramsbottom, Clackstone (Styche - 77'), Allan, Lynch, Riley (c), Curry, Clifton, Hotte (Hobson - 58'), Peniket🔶, Platt, Bateson (Chettle - 60').

Subs not used: Nicholson, Clarke.

Sponsors Man of the Match: Mike Symons

Attendance: 2082