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| Curtis Pond had chances to score the equaliser deep into injury time |
The Bulls, who made three changes to the side that beat Blyth Spartans 5-2 last weekend, did well to absorb pressure from Gateshead, a full-time side that dominated possession, for most of the game and could have cancelled out Marcus Dinanga's goal with chances in the last 10 minutes - including Curtis Pond heading inches wide from a corner.
The game got off to a quiet start, with Gateshead causing problems for the Bulls' back five - a tactic forced of Paul Caddis after losing wingers Yusifu Ceesay and Tope Obadeyi before the game. Gateshead tried working their way through Hereford’s defence, getting the better of Nathan Cameron before Kyle Howkins mopped up the loose ball. But possession was soon back with Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans on the left, whose lofted shot was saved by Pond underneath the crossbar.
At the other end of Edgar Street, Jason Cowley did well to force the ball out for a Hereford throw - with a surprisingly long throw from Ollie Southern, on the right of the back five, seeing the ball fall to Alex Babos. His rising shot was well wide and almost went out for a throw.
Gateshead were soon back threatening, Joe Grayson ran onto the end of a pass down the right and despite calls from the Meadow End of offside, flashed a cross across the face of goal which was narrowly missed by the lurking Derby County loanee Dajaune Brown. Ben Worman, who only joined the Heed a matter of weeks ago, then picked the ball up on the right of the box and his shot could only ripple the side netting.
Young Heed defender Will Constantin then blazed an effort into the Meadow End as the domination continued, but Pond was rarely tested between the sticks.
The Bulls were still putting Gateshead under pressure at times, with Mendes frequently getting forward from his defensive midfield slot to test the visitors' defence. One of his crosses was just headed out ahead of the advancing attack before Paul Downing tried to pick out Jason Cowley with a searching ball to no avail.
Mendes then also deserved praise for helping Pond to keep the score level. Lirak Hasani's goal-bound volley was put up into the air as Pond saved with his feet, before Mendes was on hand to head away from the goal line - had he got this wrong, it could've
broken the deadlock.
Despite the missing wingers being evident, Mendes again was causing problems on the left. He sent Cowley on his way who was just beaten to the ball by Harrison Bond who'd raced out of the box. Another long throw, a favourite for the Bulls on Saturday, was sent into the box but after falling to Babos he was unable to turn his way back towards goal and conceded a free kick halfway inside Gateshead’s half.
There was more pressure from the Heed after passing the half-hour mark, first Connor McBride struck the upright with Pond at full stretch before a soft penalty appeal after Aurio Teixeira collided with a player in the box.
Cowley had the perfect chance to take the lead a minute before the break, picking the ball up on the edge of the area before turning his way into a good position - but his shot struck Louis Storey, one of the three defenders in front of keeper Bond, and the ball went behind for a fruitless corner.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Gateshead 0
The second half started in the same vein as the first, with Gateshead having a lot of the ball but struggling to get through Hereford's defence. The side were set up to play neat-passing football and you were sometimes left wondering whether a quick, whipped cross would've been more beneficial.
Andy Williams, held largely at bay by Gateshead, soon made way for Adam Rooney after picking up a shoulder knock late in the first half just as Gateshead's coach Carl Magnay was booked for over-the-top protesting.
As for chances, Gateshead had already seen a Ben Worman shot sail wide and for the hosts, Cowley’s shot from outside the box couldn't make it through a crowded area as Storey was once again on hand to deal with the danger.
Lassana Mendes then found himself in the referee's notebook, shortly before being replaced by Jordan Lyden, after a late challenge on Grayson. The defensive-minded player was forced off with an injury after a lengthy stoppage for treatment, being replaced by Ed Francis.
For Gateshead, Evans was then cautioned after getting in the way of Pond's kick, with a big reaction for the Hereford number one.
Southern, who had a solid game at right-back and was often the instigator of some bright breaks for the Bulls, found Cowley with a neat cross-field move. But as the striker squirmed his way along the edge of the 18-yard box, he couldn't do enough to get a shot away.
With the score still level, the Whites won a corner as Aaron Skinner's cross was deflected behind. Alex Babos's inswinging delivery from the left fell into a crowded six-yard box with the ball evntually popping out to Cowley, but his overhead kick from 12 yards was relatively tame and an easy save for Bond.
Then, almost inevitably, Gateshead took the lead in the 77th minute. After coming on for Lirak Hasani, Marcus Dinanga broke the deadlock as he latched onto the end of a backwards header from captain Nathan Cameron, looping the ball over Pond.
Paul Caddis's makeshift side tried to respond immediately from a corner, but couldn't get a meaningful shot away from an outswinging corner before an infringement deep in Gateshead's half.
But a spark soon saw Hereford come to life, with a flurry of late chances which could've seen the game go to penalties after 90 minutes.
First up was a dangerous free kick to the back post, but substitute Lyden was judged to have handled the ball as the Bulls tried to fight their way back into the game.
This was followed up by Cowley trying to find Adam Rooney at the backpost, but the attack thwarted by some brave defending.
Passing the 90-minute mark, a Teixeira cross found Cowley at the back post but his head agonisingly clipped the crossbar - the first chance in the seven minutes added on.
Two late corners then saw Pond travel the full length of the field to try and get his name on the scoresheet, but with his two
headers couldn't find the equaliser - the first deflected wide
and the second somehow staying out and going wide.
It was a good effort from Hereford against their well-organised and well-drilled full-time opponents, but ultimately a place in the quarter finals wasn't to be. Had there not been the last-minute changes to the side and with a couple more players available, it could have been a different story.
Full time: Hereford 0 - Gateshead 1
Attendance: 2,263 (63 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Ollie Southern
Hereford: Pond, Southern, Howkins, Downing, Cameron, Skinner, Mendes (Lyden 66), Teixeira, Babos, Cowley, Williams (Rooney 54)
Subs not used: Sterry, Walby
Gateshead: Bond, Constantin, Storey, Grayson (Francis 64), Worman, Hannant, Stott, Hasani (Dinanga 74), Evans, McBride (Whelan 54), Brown.
Sub not used: Cassap