Ebbsfleet United 0-1 Hereford United

Unlikely striker Josh O'Keefe came off the bench to fire Hereford into the second round of the FA Trophy. 

Bulls fans battled through hours of rain to make it to Stonebridge Road, although the away followed was reduced as supporters took part in the fundraising trek from Malvern to Edgar Street, bringing in vital funds for the club. There was no segregation, so no official figure of how many Hereford fans were in the crowd of 651. 

Stefan Stam Captained the Bulls

Before kick off, Martin Foyle had said that top scorer Ryan Bowman  was missing through injury. He initially made five changes, with Marley Watkins returning on the right wing after injury. Harry Pell, Brian Smikle, Kyle Perry and Phil Marsh also started, with Simon Clist, James McQuilkin, Sam Clucas and Josh O'Keefe dropped to the bench. Then 15 minutes before kick off, we got news that Watkins didn't feel 100% in the warm up, so Clucas started after all. 

Rare start for Phil Marsh

Chances in the first half were few and far between. Smikle had the best one for Hereford on four minutes, when he scooped over at the far post after a good cross from Clucas. At the other end, Ebbsfleet didn't really test James Bittner. 

Kyle Perry watching Paul Lorraine - later they clashed and Lorraine was sent off

Ebbsfleet could've gone in front with four minutes of the first half remaining. A Lanre Azeez corner was headed onto the inside of Hereford's post by Luke Graham, and thankfully Bittner was there to smother the loose ball.

The game was stopped for two minutes whilst a steward removed what was said to be fox excrement

Hereford never really got going in the opening period, but neither did Ebbsfleet. The most interesting moment was when the game was stopped for a couple of minutes so that fox excrement could be removed from the side of the pitch. 

The second half started as the first half ended, with Ebbsfleet dominating. Azeez again provides a decent cross which Hereford dealt with, but moments later the home side were down to ten men. With most eyes in the Hereford area, a scuffle broke out at the other end between Kyle Perry and Fleet's Paul Lorraine. The defender appeared to strike out at him, and the assistant flagged furiously.

Lorraine protesting his innocence

 The referee ran the length of the field and then sent him off. He was still protesting as he was being led down the tunnel. 

That was Hereford's cue to improve, but the home side continued to push. They had a shout for a penalty, and Andy Gallinagh cleared another ball off the line. Tom Phipp had a good shot from 20 yards too, which Bittner pushed behind for a corner. 

Then Martin Foyle made changes. Perry was brought off for O'Keefe who made an impact up front. With eighteen minutes to go, he found space on the edge of the box, turned well and drilled into the bottom corner. Finally, a Hereford goal. 

The Bulls grew in confidence. Clucas fired a decent ball across the face of goal, and then did well in the dying stages to retain possession. 

James Bittner keep a clean sheet

This was not a memorable encounter. It won't be etched in FA Trophy folklore for years to come. But the record books will show a Hereford win, and that's good enough for me.

Hereford United: Bittner; Gallinagh, Graham, Stam, Heath; Clucas, Pell, Evans, Smikle, Marsh (McQuilkin 76), Perry (O’Keefe 63). Subs not used: Hanford, Clist.

Ebbsfleet: Edwards; Stone, Walsh, Lorrain, Howe (Greenhalgh 80), Azeez, Carew, Barrett (Ada 53), Phipp, Godden, Enver-Marum. Subs not used: Menz, Blake,Bellamy.

Few stats from this game. Suffice it to say it was wet and three Hereford players were booked. They were Joe Heath, Sam Clucas and James Bittner.

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