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| Joel Edwards Leading Out Hereford Along With Mascot Alfie From Ross Juniors |
As expected for this afternoon's match against Coventry Sphinx, Hereford manager Pete Beadle made a handful of changes to the side that beat Westfields 3-0 on Boxing Day. Nathan Summers got his first start since resigning for the Bulls, with Dylan Bonella and Joe Tumelty also being named as part of the starting XI. Jimmy Oates and Aaron Birch dropped to the bench, with Mike Symons being rested as Nathan Hughes was named as a sub.
As the game got off to a slow, scrappy start in the same manner as Saturday’s city derby, a foul by Rob Purdie 20-yards out led to a free kick in a promising position for the visitors, but goalkeeper Martin Horsell in the Hereford goal had little trouble in claiming Jack Rooney’s low drive.
With 8 minutes on the clock, Mustapha Bundu’s snapshot forced keeper Louis Connor into making a fine save, punching the ball over the crossbar for a corner. Dylan Bonella delivered the ball into the heart of the box, and after Nathan Summers had a strike well-saved by the keeper, Mills delivered the ball into the path of Jamie Willets, who made no mistake in striking low past Connor.
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| Jamie Willets With Hereford's Opening Goal |
Neither side created much in the way of chances throughout the majority of the first half, but just shy of the 20-minute mark striking-duo John Mills and Pablo Haysham combined effectively on the left flank; Mills took a throw quick to Haysham, but his cross was too far ahead of Bonella on the far side of the box as the ball harmlessly went behind for a goal kick.
Five minutes later Haysham was rewarded for his determination to chase a long ball, switching to Mustapha Bundu on the opposite wing. As Bundu did well to get past his marker, he crossed the ball back to Haysham in the box, whose effort went behind off the outside of the post.
With 27 minutes on the clock, Coventry managed to pull themselves back level. Jacob Dobbs broke away from midfield after John Mills gave the ball away cheaply, unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area. Despite Martin Horsell doing well to block the shot, David Blenkinsopp was first to react to the rebound, burying the ball into the back of the net infront of a well-populated Meadow End.
7 minutes from half time, Hereford grabbed their 100th goal this season. Pablo Haysham played a neat through ball to John Mills, and as Mills created space for himself in the box, picked his spot beating Connor with his left-footed effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
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| John Mills Scores Hereford's Second Of The Afternoon |
Just before the break, the hosts increased their lead to two goals. Mustaphu Bundu intercepted a headed clearance from Jack Downes on the edge of the area, and after rounding captain Thomas Muldoon, sent his curling right-foot shot low to the left of the diving Louis Connor.
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| Mustapha Bundu Lines Up The Shot For Hereford's Third |
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| And Celebrates In Front Of An Empty Section Of The Len Weston Stand |
HT: Hereford 3 - Coventry Sphinx 1
Eight minutes after the restart, a long clearance found Mustapha Bundu and he offloaded the ball to Pablo Haysham further upfield. As Haysham broke into the box, he was brought down.
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| Pablo Haysham About To Be Brought Down |
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| Did Haysham Think It Was A Penalty? |
Despite calls from the home side that it should be a penalty, referee Alan Robinson awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area, before dismissing Mark Albrighton for his second bookable offence. From the free kick, Purdie tested the keeper with a low shot to the right of the goal, but following a goalmouth scramble Connor eventually claimed the ball.
In the 61st minute, Pablo Haysham burst through the centre of the Coventry defence, and in front of an expectant home crowd, slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
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| Haysham Scores Hereford's Fourth Goal |
A handful of chances then followed for the home side. Firstly Joe Tumelty saw his rising shot beat the crossbar after being set up by John Mills, then minutes later Pablo Haysham’s shot was deflected behind for a fruitless corner.
As the game entered its final 10 minutes, a beautiful through ball to John Mills from Purdie on the right, left him with just the keeper to beat. As Mills all-too-easily rounded Connor, he had little trouble in tapping the ball into the back of an unguarded net.
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| John Mills Gets Around Keeper Connor |
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| And With No One Else To Beat Scores Hereford's Fifth Goal Of The Afternoon |
The Whites continued to dominate play as they searched for a 6th goal. Pablo Haysham could’ve grabbed his second in the 80th minute when his headed effort from Joel Edwards' cross narrowly went wide of the target; but Haysham was rewarded for his efforts in the 82nd minute, when through on goal he made no mistake in tucking the ball home.
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| Pablo Haysham Makes It Six For Hereford |
Deep into injury time a Hereford corner lead to a string of saves by Louis Connor. As Purdie found Haysham on the edge of the 18-yard box, his powerful strike was parried, before a follow up shot by Purdie was also kept out.
FT: Hereford 6 – Coventy Sphinx 1
Att: 2,910
Sponsors’ MotM: Mustapha Bundu
Hereford: Horsell, Green, Edwards (C), Bonella, Willets, Summers, Tumelty (Robbins – 69’), Purdie, Mills (Hughes – 80’), Haysham, Bundu.
Subs not used: Oates, Birch, Rivers.
Coventry Sphinx: Connor, Muldoon (C), Sockett, Downes, Rooney, Albrighton, Dodds, Grocott, Blenkinsopp, Rankin, Thomson.
Subs: Wilson, Akinuli, Downie, Barnett, Brown.
