JOE Tumelty has admitted he put too much pressure on himself to perform well during the early part of his Hereford FC career.

Tumelty has divided opinion among Bulls fans this season and has been in and out of the side.

But manager Pete Beadle has kept faith in him and Tumelty rewarded him with two fine goals against Heanor Town yesterday.

"When I first came, there were a few things going on and I struggled," admitted Tumelty. 

"I think it was playing here in front of so many, I put too much pressure on myself coming back to my home town club.

"It almost got the better of me, but before Salisbury, I had a chat with the gaffer and obviously the goal [at Salisbury] helped me out a lot.

"Since then, I think I've been a lot better and a lot more confident.

"In probably the first three months, I hadn't shown the fans what I am capable of, but I'm the only person who can show people what I can people and, over the last month, I have started to show more of what I want to do."

Tumelty's turnaround started last month when he scored the winning goal in the FA Vase semi-final second leg at Salisbury that sealed Hereford's place at Wembley. 

"I've never had a feeling like it, it was so surreal and you would be mad if it didn't put you on a bit of a high," added Tumelty.

"Since then, it has definitely helped and my performances have definitely benefited from it."

Tumelty would ideally like to play through the middle.

"In my head, I don't really see myself as a wide man," he said.

"I feel more confident from the left, but ideally I would like to play more centrally.

"I will play wherever, but I think from the left and coming inside on my stronger foot is more beneficial for me than playing on the right.

"I was chuffed with the two goals [yesterday] and my overall performance was alright.

"After missing a couple the other night at [Sporting] Khalsa, I was happy to get on the scoresheet.

"The penalty would have been nice, but it was one of them.

"I have been trying to tell the boys it was a good save, but they're not really having it - they think it was a rubbish penalty, but I don't mind it."