Report: Hereford 1 - Brackley Town 3

Hereford's six game unbeaten run at home was brought to an abrupt end on Saturday afternoon as Brackley Town knocked the Bulls out of the FA Trophy.

Brackley Town are the holders of the Trophy and were well-organised in their 3-1 win at Edgar Street, with another injury time goal for Josh Gowling nothing more than a consolation.

There was just the one change from the side that rescued a point against Chorley last weekend, Eliot Richards was promoted from the bench as he took Calvin Dinsley's place in midfield.

Having signed an 18-month contact with the club this week, Kyle Finn showed his intentions from the off, with his shot from range in the second minute skimming the top of the crossbar to go harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

Hereford then put themselves under pressure as Shepherd Murombedizi was brought down on the edge of the box. The resulting free kick was struck at the four-man wall, and was deflected behind for a corner, but Brackley failed to make it count and the attack petered out.

James Roberts was next to surge forward for Hereford in the 12th minute, but he couldn't keep his shot from 20-yards down and it sailed over the target despite Mike Symons and Kyle Finn offering support on either flank.

The release of goalkeeper Martin Horsell left some supporters questioning the decision yesterday, but Matt Yates showed the crowd what he could do, denying Lee Ndlovu the first goal of the afternoon. Josh Gowling failed to deal with a ball over the top, with Yates managing to get enough on a fierce shot from Ndlovu to tip it over the bar for a fruitless corner.

Having shaded the opening, Brackley went on to draw first blood as Cullinane-Liburd was penalised for an infringement on the edge of the box. Referee Richard Hulme immediately pointed to the spot and unstepped Shane Bryrne to dispatch the ball past Matt Yates.

The FA Trophy holders showed they were keen to go the full distance again this year, with another two efforts somehow not finding their way into the back of the net. Yet again Hereford failed to deal with a long-ball forward from the visitors, with Murombedizi's low drive flashing across the face of goal as it went wide of the far post. Two minutes later Yates was able to parry another powerful effort from range as Adam Walker searched for a goal.

As the half hour marked passed, Hereford pushed forward in numbers and it was Eliot Richards who had a crack at goal, but Danny Lewis managed to push Richards' powerful drive wide at the far post.

Brackley defended heavily when Hereford were in position and the Bulls found it hard to break them down, despite having their fair share of possession before the break they couldn't make the most of it.

With half time minutes away, two free kick for the hosts could've seen them score the equaliser, but both free kick from Eliot Richards were headed wide as keeper Danny Lewis watched on.

James Roberts Is Brought Down

But Theo Warton's Header Goes Wide

Having taken their time with free kicks throughout the half, Brackley were denied their second with a corner being headed home seconds after the referee blew for half time. Richard Hulme ignored the protests from Brackley and Hereford went into the break just the one goal down.

Half time: Hereford 0 - Brackley Town 1

Being denied a goal before half time, Brackley ensured that there was two goals separating themselves from Hereford as Lee Ndlovu netted a minute into the second half. As Matt Lowe swung in a cross from the left, Ndlovu slid the ball home at the back-post with the scrambling Yates rendered helpless.

Facing an uphill battle to even force a replay on Tuesday night, the Bulls had plenty of pressure to deal with and a third goal seemed a matter of when, not if.

Both sides made changes, for Hereford on came Keyon Reffell and Tommy O'Sullivan, but their fresh legs weren't enough to prevent Brackley increasing their lead.

In the 65th minute another good cross from left-back Matt Lowe found Shaun Jeffers in front of goal, and with a neat finish he slotted the ball home.

The Whites still had chances of their own, but they weren't enough to thwart a well-organised Brackley back-line. Three chances in three minutes at Edgar Street saw Cullinane-Liburd's cross turned towards goal by Theo Wharton, but his effort was dealt with. The keeper then had two easy balls to deal with, the first was a weak header from Tom Owen-Evans after a cross in from Keyon Reffell, before Danny Greenslade's cross was gathered ahead of Reffell.

The Bulls Had Several Chances To Reduce The Deficit

Looking to see the game out with the score at 3-0 and seven minutes left to play, Brackley opted to shore up their defence by bringing on Ellis Myles, but it was after this that Hereford livened up.

There were two chances for Joel Dielna to pull a goal back, the first from a free kick which was just palmed away, before a powerful strike was well-saved by the keeper after being teed-up by Theo Wharton.

Close.

Keyon Reffell was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet two minutes from time, but an acrobatic save from the keeper denied him his first goal since returning from injury.

Hereford's hero last weekend Josh Gowling scored another injury time winner this afternoon, but his header in the 91st minute was too little too late for the Whites. As a corner came, Gowling was there to head the ball home to reduce the deficit.

Full time: Hereford 1 - Brackley Town 3
Attendance: 1,569 (60 away)

Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, Wharton, Cullinane-Liburd (c), Gowling, Richards (Dielna - 77'), Owen-Evans, Finn (O'Sullivan - 57'), Roberts (Reffell - 57'), Symons.

Subs not used: H. Smith, Dinsley.

Brackley Town: Lewis, Lowe, Franklin (Myles - 83'), Bryne, G. Walker, Dean (c), Murombedizi (Fairlamb - 62'), Armson, Ndlovu, Jeffers (Nti - 90'), A. Walker.

Subs not used: McAunden.