The Bulls are through to the First Round of the 2018/19 Buildbase FA Trophy after a fantastic second-half performance against FC United of Manchester saw them record a deserved 3-1 victory.

Both sides started the match quickly and were moving the ball with real zip around a wet Edgar Street pitch. The first chance of the match saw Mike Symons go close to connecting with a George Lloyd cross, but the forward could not reach his fellow frontman’s deep delivery.

A few moments later Kyle Finn’s cross struck the post and almost went in, but FC United’s Goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson recovered well to gather the ball.

A penalty may well have been awarded to Hereford on a different day with Tom Owen Evans felled in the box by Joel Senior, but the Referee Lewis Smith was not interested, simply shaking his head.

As has been the case on many occasions this season though, the Bulls started the match the brighter side but ended up conceding the first goal.

As the half continued, the Bulls continued to play well as they had done before conceding. Mike McGrath had an opportunity to deliver in a free-kick in a great position, but the ball was well cleared.

The visitors were denied a second after some brilliant goalkeeping from Hereford ‘Keeper Matt Yates. He saved United Striker Kurt Willoughby’s edge-of-the-box effort well before reacting excellently save to Jack Banister’s rebounded volley. With the half-time whistle looming, FC United went in hunt of adding to their undeserved lead.

Jack Banister was the player causing problems for the Bulls in first-half stoppage time but his curling shot from inside the box was well saved once again by Matt Yates. With fifteen minutes to go in the match, Hereford had won themselves a free-kick. Left-back Danny Greenslade unleashed a rasping effort at goal from around 30-yards and it looked goalbound, but although it beat Allinson it hit the inside of the left post and went out for a goal-kick. The Edgar Street crowd were delighted with what they were seeing!

Moments later Hereford’s third goal finally came, and it was an exquisite team move that resulted in ‘The Beast’ Mike Symons scoring his first goal of the 2018/19 season.

A fantastic second-half performance meant that the Hereford Bulls were just too much for United, and the match turned out to be a reverse scoreline of the last time the Greater-Manchester outfit visited Edgar Street.

Fulltime: Hereford FC 3 – 1 FC United of Manchester.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.