Town 1 Hereford United 3
Town: Chris Weale, Jermaine Grandison, Luke Summerfield, Darren Jones, Rob Purdie, Marvin Morgan, Jon Taylor, Asa Hall (Aaron Wildig 84), Lee Collins, Paul Parry (c ), Jeremy Helan (Jamie Proctor 78)
Subs: Joe Jacobson, Mark Wright, Matt Richards, Terry Gornell, Joe Anyon,
Hereford United: James Bittner, Andy Gallinagh, Joe Heath, Harry Pell, Stefan Stam (c ), James McQuilikin (Brian Smikle 76), Will Evans, Sam Clucas, Ryan Bowman, Josh O'Keefe (Luke Graham 87), Chris Todd
Subs: Simon Clist, Dan Hanford, Phil Marsh, Kyle Perry
Ref: Gary Sutton
Assistants: Adam Matthews and Sarah Garratt
Fourth Official: Paul Rees
Attendance: 3251 (897)
Graham Turner makes three changes to the starting line-up from the side that started against Colchester United last Saturday. In come Rob Purdie, Asa Hall and Marvin Morgan with Matt Richards, Joe Jacobson and Jamie Proctor dropping down to the bench.
Town once again started a game badly and were 1-0 down with less than 2 minutes on the clock, first a long shot from outside the Town box was tipped round the post by Weale. The corner came across and was cleared, but the ball came back in and Town failed to deal with it, it dropped and there was Will Evans to smash the ball home from close range.#
Town had a great chance to level things minutes late following good pressing from Jon Taylor, he challenged for the ball and it spun to Morgan, he drove in a shot that had Bittner beaten but it hit the inside of the post and came back out, Parry was near by but couldn't readjust to tap the ball home and the chance was gone.
Things got worse for Town just after the 10 minute mark when a quick Hereford attack saw them pushing Town back, the visitors defence were backing off with Ryan Bowman on the ball he hit a superb shot from the outside of the box that flew into the top corner of the Town net.
Town were creating chances though and were going close to nicking a goal back with good deliveries from the right-hand side, first Darren Jones headed just wide of the mark and then Marvin Morgan met a Jermaine Grandison cross well but put his header the wrong side of the post.
Town grabbed an important goal back just before the half-hour mark after being awarded a free-kick around 30 yards out from the Hereford goal after Hall was fouled. Parry and Summerfield were stood over the ball, but it was Summerfield who took the shot and hit a superb kick that flew in low at the base of the post to make it 2-1 and game on.
The goal really knocked Hereford and it was the visitors after that who were well on top and the more likely to score. Town were playing some good football and were really piling the pressure on, chances fell to Taylor and then a good chance for a head for Hall from a Grandison cross and finally a flick header from Parry from a Purdie free-kick.
The chances were still being created by Town and Helan was causing a lot of problems down the Town left. Purdie fired in a good effort after a free-kick was taken short to him and moments later Darren Jones powered forward before driving in a great long range effort that Bittner did well to hold onto.
Half-time: 1-2
Town were still looking strong after the restart with good shots on goal from Grandison and Helan, but the best effort came from Summerfield. It was in the 13th minute when Town were awarded a free-kick after Rob Purdie was clattered, Jon Taylor lifted the ball into the box, Hereford failed to deal with it and it dropped to Summerfield on the edge of the box, there was a crowded penalty box in front of him but he curled a lovely shot goal wards that beat Bittner's dive but hit the foot of the post and went behind for a Hereford goal kick.
It was actually Hereford who were the ones to get the next goal after Lee Collins was adjudged to have tripped Ryan Bowman as he burst into the Town box, it looked a little harsh from the press box. It was Bowman who placed the ball and calmly slotted the ball the opposite side to Weale's dive.
The goal knocked Town back but they were still creating chances and looking to try and get something from the game. Morgan had a couple of good efforts but Town were finding it hard to break down the resolute Hereford defence. The best chance dropped to Jon Taylor late on who showed good feet in the box to find the space to hit in a good looking shot but Bittner was equal to it pulling off a smart save.
All in all a disappointing exit from Town who had shown good character to bounce back after the two early goals but after the restart they didn't continue that fight and made a sad exit from the FA Cup.
Full-time 1-3