Town: Chris Neal, Jermaine Grandison, Joe Jacobson, Ian Sharps (c ), Mark Wright, James Collins, Matt Richards, Dave McAllister, Jon Taylor, Carl Regan, Terry Gornell

Subs: Sean McAllister, Nicky Wroe, Lionel Ainsworth, Ben Smith, Romaine Sawyers

Hereford United: Adam Bartlett, Ryan Green, Harry Pell, Michael Townsend, Rob Purdie, Nicky Featherstone, Yoann Arquin (Richard Peniket 77), Delroy Facey (c ) (Tom Barkhuizen 46), Joe Colbeck, Ben Purkiss, Will Evans ( Nathan Elder 68)

Subs: Sam Clucas, David Cornell

Ref: M Naylor
Assistant: J Farries and S Knapp
Fourth Official: R Corp

Attendance: 3515 (1256)

Graham Turner is forced into changes with Shane Cansdell-Sherriff missing through injury and Marvin Morgan through suspension, in comes Carl Regan at right-back with Jermaine Grandison moving to centre-back and Terry Gornell into the forward line alongside James Collins.

It became apparent from the first kicks of the game that the Edgar Street pitch was a little wet which was causing a few of the players from both sides to lose their footing at vital times.

There were good sights of the goal early on for both sides but Town had the better with first Terry Gornell shooting just wide and then Jon Taylor had a good shot blocked at the vital moment.

Hereford looked dangerous when they got round the Town box and a neat back heal from Facey put Featherstone in on the Town goal but Ian Sharps was alert and put in a perfectly timed slide tackle to snuff out the goalscoring opportunity.

Town grabbed the early advantage with a lovely goal from Terry Gornell, It started with Jon Taylor winning a corner, this was swung over from Richards, Hereford couldn't clear the ball and Town kept the pressure on, the ball came out to Jacobson who played it to Wright, he played it back to Jacobson who delivered a lovely cross to find Gornell and he put a lovely header past Bartlett to make it 1-0 to Town.

Hereford's play was more direct and they looked to get the ball forward quickly, this didn't sit well with some of the home faithful but it looked to be their best way of getting at the visitors. Just before the half-hour mark it nearly paid off when a high ball into the Town box was headed away by Grandison, it dropped to Will Evans on the edge of the box who hit a lovely first time shot but Chris Neal was alert and got his body behind for an important stop.

Then moments later Town grabbed a lovely second goal, this time Town went more direct with a ball in behind the Bulls defence that found Collins, he showed good strength to hold off his markers and then run forward before hitting in a lovely low shot from outside the box that flew past the full length dive of Bartlett and in at the foot of the post to make it 2-0 to Town.

Town were looking comfortable at 2-0 but were still getting at the homeside and looking to add to their lead. Hereford were pushing and trying but seemed to have little that was causing Town much trouble.

Half-time: 2-0

Hereford started the half with a change in personnel bringing on their top scorer Tom Barkhuizen in place of Delroy Facey, but it was Town who had the bes6t early change after Jon Taylor had fed the ball to James Collins who then put in a great dipping shot that Bartlett did well to tip over the bar.

It was still an open game with both sides looking to attack when they got the chance to. Town went close with a Mark Wright free-kick and Hereford saw a Joe Colbeck long range shot fizz just wide of the Town post.

Hereford did look strong when they got the ball down and manage to get some space to attack the Town defence, Chris Neal had been having quite a quiet afternoon but when called upon he stood up to the plate, and when Barkhuizen fed a ball to put Arquin in on goal Neal was at his best to come out big and pull off an important block save.

The second half didn't have as many chances or shots from Town but they were comfortable for the half and in control for much of it. It didn't make for goalmouth excitement but it showed a good side at the top of their game.

Town nearly finished the game with third goal after a quick break saw McAllister fed the ball to Jon Taylor out on the right, he pushed inside and drove towards the box before putting a lovely ball in behind the Bulls defence for James Collins, he drove in a good looking shot from a tight angle but it was inches wide of the target.

Full-time: 2-0