MATCH REPORT | Hereford 0 - 3 Hemel Hempstead Town

Written by Dean Scarman

Emirates FA Cup – Third Qualifying Round Replay

Edgar Street, Hereford

Goals: Millar Matthews-Lewis 53’, Finley Wilkinson 90+2’, George Williams 90+5

After the well-matched, feisty affair that was the 2 – 2 stalemate at the Focus on Saturday afternoon, the two teams met again in Hereford. A stadium steeped in FA Cup history, a fitting night for the Tudors to make some history of their own. A couple of changes from the Saturday team saw fresh legs and a change in attitude due to

the atmosphere and the style of Hereford’s play at home. This was shown in the first 10 minutes, when both Lewis Hudson and Remaye Campbell went close, the latter’s shot deflected onto Johnson’s crossbar. Hemel’s first half-chance coming from a Devante Stanley cross narrowly missing everyone in the box after 24 minutes.

A scrappy first half was dominated as expected by the Bulls, with the back line dealing with the pressure and Johnson making some routine but solid saves to keep the Tudors in the tie. At the end of the half, after good work from Isiah Noel-Williams, the ball was worked out to Sam Adenola, who put the ball into the side netting. That was the closest Hemel would come in the half.

Photography by Jemma Sear

Half Time – Hereford 0 – 0 Hemel Hempstead Town

A change in formation and personnel at half-time, with George Williams coming on for Charlie Rowan seemed to spark the Tudors into life, and they started the second half with much purpose and playing on the front foot, taking the game to Hereford. After 51 minutes, the pressure paid off. A poor decision to pick up a backpass from Theo Richardson gave Hemel an indirect free kick just outside the six-yard box. Millar Matthews-

Lewis neatly finished the free-kick, but the referee bizarrely called for a retake, which bamboozled both sets of players. Millar then put the ball low to the keeper’s right on the retake to give the Tudors a deserved lead.

Then it was double-down time for Hemel as the pressure increased from the Hereford attack. Solid defensive work coupled with a bit of luck saw the Tudors through most of it, Hereford’s best chance coming after 68 minutes, a brilliant run from Sam Osborne on the left ended in a 25-yard thunderbolt clattering off Johnson’s crossbar – Preston Bitemo unable to turn in the rebound from 6 yards out.

As the fourth official’s board read 7 minutes, Johnson played a ball direct up the middle, and Finley Wilkinson latched on, took on the defender, and slotted past the keeper. A fantastic finish to finish the tie.

The win was cemented 3 minutes later when Hamza Semakula worked the ball down the right and crossed for a waiting George Williams to head in for a third. An incredible performance on a tough night for the Tudors, showing true grit and determination to get over the line and keep themselves in the FA Cup.

Photo Credit: Jemma Sear

Special shout to the 16 travelling supporters, who made the long journey on short-notice, on a Tuesday night. It’s a level of commitment that shows how much this team means. Hemel now travel to Chippenham Town on Saturday in the National League South, before entertaining Yeovil Town in the Fourth Qualifying round on Saturday week.