BRAVE Hereford’s journey in the FA Cup is over after the Bulls went down 2-0 to Fleetwood Town.

But Beadle’s men will look back on this with much regret as there really wasn’t much to separate the two sides – apart from two identical corners.

The fact that the tallest player on the pitch was given so much space – on two occasions – will make this defeat a tough one to swallow for Hereford fans.

To see Cian Bulger rise once unchallenged to open the scoring in the 10th minute was bad enough. But the second goal that essentially killed this cup tie off will be painful viewing when the Hereford players and coaching staff look over the highlights.

The crowd could see it was going to be a goal as the corner kick made its way into the box, such was the space that Bulger was given to head home in the 58th minute.

Up until then, Hereford were very much in the contest and, despite not seeing much of the ball, could easily have gone in at the break level. Keyon Reffell really should have done better when the ball broke to him 12 yards out after great work by Garyn Preen, but he sliced his right-footed drive narrowly wide with only the keeper to beat.

Hereford had started the second half much the better side and looked the most likely to score. They had Fleetwood pinned back and the League One side were misplacing passes and looking unsettled.

However, their nerves were put at ease with the second goal and Fleetwood should have put the tie well and truly out of sight by adding a third but Aiden O’Neil some how managed to blast over from six yards when it seemed easier to score on the hour mark.

But willed on by more than 4,000 boisterous home fans, Hereford still created chances to drag themselves back into the game.

Calvin Dinsley came close to recreating the magic of the first tie but his two attempts from 20 yards flew high and wide. And John Mills, a peripheral figure in the first half but with more company in the second, shaved the post with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area.

But, as much as they tried, Hereford could not force their way back into the match and the last non-league side bowed out of the FA Cup - and missed the chance to play Leicester City in front of the BBC cameras - because of the way they defended two set-pieces.