Match report: Iwunze’s moment of quality seals deserved win for determined Bulls

Harrison Iwunze's second-half goal was enough to secure three points over Marine

Hereford are off the mark in the National League North after beating Marine 1-0 at a sun-drenched Edgar Street.

On a warm summer’s Saturday afternoon on what must be the greenest grass in Herefordshire, the Bulls gave a dominant, albeit not overly clinical, performance to secure their first win.

A solitary goal from Harrison Iwunze was enough for the bossy Bulls, but they had dominated possession and deserved to bag the win.

After the opening day’s 2-1 defeat at Buxton, Harry Tustin, Jordan James and Kyle Howkins came into the starting XI for Jordan Williamson, Liam Roberts and the suspended Preston Bitemo.

Attacking the Meadow End in the first half, the Bulls set the tone early, moving the ball sharply and forcing Marine backwards. James’ quick reactions on the right created the first opening, keeping the ball in play and feeding Cawley Cox, whose improvised volley drifted across goal. Cox remained heavily involved, drawing fouls and linking play, while Howkins headed over from a Luke Spokes free‑kick as Hereford pressed for an early breakthrough.

Marine responded with spells of tidy possession, and Fin Sinclair‑Smith went close when a ricochet sat up kindly for him, only for his volley to flash wide. The best chance of the half fell to Hereford, though, when Billy Phillips struck a fierce effort that required the goalkeeper to tip onto the bar. Kam Kandola, donning the captain’s armband in place of the injured Lewis Hudson, nodded the resulting corner just over.

Hereford’s approach play was encouraging, with clever link-up play between the new-look side, but the finishing touch continued to elude them. Cox combined neatly with Spokes late in the half to break into the box, yet his strike flew off target, leaving the sides level at the interval.

Half time: Hereford 0 - Marine 0

Marine emerged with intent, sending an early low ball across the six‑yard area that travelled untouched. Cox then pounced on a loose back‑pass, rounded the goalkeeper and looked certain to score, but Marine scrambled back to block his eventual shot.

The game tightened as both sides traded half‑chances and defensive interventions. Will Merrett produced a vital recovery tackle to halt Potter on the counter, while Tustin’s persistence earned corners and kept Marine pinned back. Spokes continued to dictate set‑pieces, sending one free‑kick narrowly over as Hereford’s pressure grew.

Manager Aaron Downes introduced Williamson and Iwunze on 69 minutes, and the changes proved decisive.

With 14 minutes remaining, Iwunze isolated his defender, shifted the ball neatly and drove a low effort that squeezed past the goalkeeper. Edgar Street erupted, and Hereford finally had the goal their play had threatened.

Spokes almost added a second with a superb free‑kick that was clawed away at full stretch, but the closing stages belonged to Marine as they pushed for an equaliser.

The Bulls were forced to dig deep in stoppage time. Williamson’s knock across the six‑yard box lacked a finishing touch, and moments later Kandola produced a crucial challenge at the opposite end to snuff out a dangerous Marine break.

The visitors then missed their clearest chance of the afternoon when Irish right-back Isaac Abankwah, unmarked six yards out, headed wide. It proved the final scare, and Hereford saw out the remaining seconds to secure a deserved victory.

Full time: Hereford 1 - Marine 0

Attendance: 2,932 (57 away)

Sponsors' man of the match: Kam Kandola

After the frustration of Buxton, this was exactly the reaction Downes wanted: committed, organised and ultimately rewarded, but perhaps not as clinical. With Radcliffe visiting on Tuesday, the Bulls head into their next fixture with confidence restored and their first win on the board.

Hereford: Richardson; Skinner, Kandola (c), Merrett, Martin (Williamson 69’); Tustin, Cox (Iwunze 69’), Spokes, James; Phillips (Roberts 90+2’); Howkins.

Subs not used: Waldron, Lewis, Tolley, Jones.

Marine: Barrett; Abankwah, Doyle, Whelan, Drysdale; Sinclair‑Smith, McAleny (McDonald 60’), Jolley (Kattah 87’), Wardle, Darby (Hilton 79’); Hodkin (Potter 46’).

Subs not used: McIntyre, Butler, Huby.