



Captain Joel Edwards Leading Out Hereford This Afternoon At Edgar Street Ahead of this afternoon’s game against Taunton Town, manager Peter Beadle made two changes to the side that narrowly beat Mangotsfield United midweek. Ryan Green started in favour of Clayton Fortune and Rob Purdie replaced Jamie Molyneux on the left of midfield.





Despite having the first chance of the game, Hereford were second-best through the first half. A solo John Mills effort whistled wide of the post within the opening two minutes following a long kick downfield from goalkeeper Alex Harris.





Taunton’s Matt Wright, who had once been on the books at Crystal Palace, had an early shot after beating Hereford’s defence, but his right-footed effort hit the side-netting.





With seven minutes on the clock, a smart move by Mike Symons released John Mills down the right flank, before he switched the ball to Rob Purdie. But after breaking towards goal, the 34-year olds’ shot was pushed wide by Peacocks stopper Lloyd Irish.





After looking lively on the ball, in the 17th minute the visitors took the lead. Taunton did well to work the ball out to Matt Wright on the right, before his drilled shot across Harris found the back of the net.









Hereford almost replied immediately with Rob Purdie’s rising effort hitting the crossbar.



Rob Purdie's Shot Hot The Crossbar. Moments later, Jimmy Oates and Tristan Plummer linked up well down the right, but after crossing the ball in to John Mills, his lofted effort easily cleared the crossbar.





Within three minutes of the first goal, Taunton doubled their lead. Jordan Rogers played neat through-ball to the largely unmarked right-back Pierce Mitchell, who made no mistake in powerfully volleying the ball past Harris.













A goal-line clearance from Ryan Green denied ex-Bull Ross Staley from adding to the goal tally. Taunton remained firmly in control of the game for the remainder of the first half, despite little goal-mouth action for either side.





HT: Hereford 0 – Taunton Town 2





After a disappointing first half no changes were made by Beadle after the break, but the Bulls got the second period off to a brighter start. Taunton conceded an early corner as Ed Palmer put Mike Symons’ well-worked cross behind, but the visitors quickly cleared the danger.





Jordan Rogers could’ve got his second goal with 50 minutes on the clock, but his long-range effort just cleared Harris’ crossbar.





Three minutes later Hereford did pull a goal back through John Mills. As Mike McGrath’s inswinging corner bounced around in the box, Mills finally managed to get enough on the ball to force it over the line.





The Corner Came In And Initially Fell Between Tristan Plummer and Ross Staley











Man of the Match Jimmy Oates worked hard down the right wing, firstly his cross somehow evaded three White shirts, before a second was headed over by Mills.





In the 70th minute the Peacocks conceded a free kick after fouling substitute Jamie Molyneux on the right wing. Rob Purdie delivered the ball into a congested penalty area, as John Mills saw his powerful shot blocked before Joel Edwards' diving header was wide of the mark.





Hereford kept pushing for the equaliser with chances from Rob Purdie, Tristan Plummer and Mike McGrath. A scuffed clearance fell to Purdie, but his volley was straight into the arms of the keeper before Plummer repeated the trick less than a minute later.



With 78 minutes on the clock, Mike McGrath fired a free kick straight into the four man wall following a foul on Plummer.





10 minutes from time a strong penalty shout for Hereford was waived away by referee Simon Brown. After cutting into the box, Tristan Plummer was seemingly tripped by Ollie Chamberlain before being shown a yellow card for simulation.



Tristan Plummer Is Brought Down But The Referee Books Him For Diving Substitute Pablo Haysham’s shot from 18-yards easily cleared the crossbar and Ryan Green could only find the side-netting deep in injury time, but Taunton ended the Bulls’ unbeaten run of 26 games seeing the game out 2-1 winners.





FT: Hereford 1 – Taunton Town 2

Att: 2,913 with 77 in the away enclosure

Sponsors’ MotM: Jimmy Oates





Hereford: A. Harris, Oates, Edwards (c), Edge (Molyneux – 54’), Green, Preece, Plummer, McGrath, Mills (Haysham – 71’), Purdie, Symons.

Subs not used: Williams, Barnes, Horsell.





Taunton Town: L. Irish, Mitchell, Staley (B. Palmer – 66’), O. Irish, E. Palmer, Villis, White, Trowbridge (c), Wright, Rogers (Veal – 70’), Chamberlain.

Subs not used: Duff, Searle, Hoyle.





Next Game: Yate Town Away on Saturday 21st January at 3pm



