Hereford make it 20 on the bounce

Handshake Time

Hereford FC made it 20 wins on the bounce with a convincing 4-1 away victory at Coleshill Town on a wet and windy 3G pitch. An own goal by Rob Evans got the ball rolling, before John Mills nodded in from close-range. Mustaphu Bundu scored the pick of the goals just before the break, before the hosts pulled one back through Ricardo Reid. Mills however had the final say, stroking in from six yards to add some gloss to the result.

Both Adam Page and Pablo Haysham missed out through injury, so there were starts on either wing for Joe Tumelty and Bundu. The hosts boasted an impressive home record, having won their previous six, whilst Hereford had won their past eight away games on the bounce. In fact, the last time Hereford recorded a defeat was against Coleshill, when they were victorious at Edgar Street in August, winning a thriller 5-4.

Coleshill started brightly with a long-range effort pushed away by Harvey Rivers in the opening exchanges. Bundu showed some neat touches and forced the first-save from the home ‘keeper after gliding past his marker on the left-wing. 

The opening goal of the game came following good work from Mills. He latched onto a threaded ball down the right wing and dazzled the intentions of the covering defender,  Rob Evans, before delivering a cross to the back-post where the right-back, under pressure from Mike Symons flicked the ball into his own net.

Mike Symons Pressure Resulted In Hereford's First Goal

Soon after, Hereford were two up courtesy of Mills. It started with the leading marksman on the half-way line as his pass found Bundu. The Hartbury college student waltzed past three men, and inside the box, leaving the ‘keeper and right-back on the floor, but he couldn’t fix his feet to fire home; the ball though broke to Tumelty and his powerful cross across the box deflected up to Mills, who headed in from two yards.

John Mills Nodded The Ball Past The Keeper For Hereford's Second

Coleshill looked to regain a foothold in the game but they were largely left to shots from outside the box and Rivers wasn’t troubled. At the other end, Mills flicked over at the front-post following good work from Tumelty, and just before half-time, Bundu had all but sealed the match. He linked up with Mills on the edge of the box, before dragging the ball past his man and firing in off the inside of the post, with the outside of his boot.

Mustapha Bundu With Hereford's Third

Peter Beadle’s men had all but sealed the three points going into the second-period but still threatened to add further goals. Bundu again was involved, superbly nutmegging the right-back inside the area and cutting back for Symons, who had a left-foot shot blocked by the ‘keeper’s legs. Joel Edwards landed awkwardly on his shoulder and was replaced by Dylan Bonella. Coleshill missed a good opportunity at the far post, their attacker heading over after a long boot forward was nodded back across goal. Rivers had to be on hand to make some smart stops as the hosts threatened down the right wing.

With Tumelty and Bundu making way for Max Kontic-Coveney and Anthony Robbins, Beadle looked to sure up the midfield but Coleshill gave themselves a fighting chance when Reid controlled a pass in the box and swept past Rivers to make it 3-1. Yet it was Hereford who finished proceedings with the final goal with three minutes of normal time remaining. A hooked pass over the back-line released Symons, who composed himself inside the area to pull back to Mills and the striker grabbed his second by slotting into the corner.

On a blustery afternoon in Warwickshire, it could have proven to be a tough afternoon for Hereford but having coming out of the blocks quickly, the game was pretty much over after 13 minutes when Mills made it two. Once again, the strength in depth has been evident and there was quality across the pitch. Bundu was a handful throughout the game, showing confidence on the ball and taking his goal well and it would be hard to look further than him for man of the match. With Edwards picking up an injury, and Ryan Green failing to finish the game with a tight hamstring, Beadle will be pleased to have a free mid-week, and next weekend presents an opportunity to give fringe players a run out, when Bromyard visit Edgar Street in the Herefordshire Senior Cup. The next league match is not until the 19^th December, when Lye Town host Hereford.

Hereford: Rivers, Oates, Green, Willets, Edwards (Bonella), Tumelty (Robbins), Purdie, Birch, Bundu (Kontic-Coveney), Mills, Symonds.

Subs not used: Moreira, Grant.

Attendance: 565

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