McCombe and Robinson shoot down Hartlepool
6:00pm Saturday 1st December 2007
Hereford United 2 Hartlepool United 0
HEREFORD United eased into the third round of the FA Cup after adding another scalp to their lists of giants killed.
Goals from John McCombe and Theo Robinson put the Bulls in with the big boys for the second successive season as they saw off League 1 Hartlepool in a repeat of the victory eight years ago.
The Bulls are in the third round for the 15th time in their 83-year history, with five of those occasions taking place in Graham Turner's 12-year reign.
And the £24,000 prize money, plus a share of an improved gate of 3,801, will improve what is already looking a promising season financially.
Hereford were forced into one change with Lee Collins preferred to Trent McClenahan at right-back.
The Australian, however, did not have to wait long for his reappearance as he was called into the fray after 25 minutes when on-loan left-back Robbie Threlfall left the field on a stretcher.
The Liverpool player suffered suspected ankle ligament damage in a midfield challenge.
The Anfield youngster is unlikely to return to action this side of the New Year.
In a lively opening, with both sides playing attractive and attacking football, there were chances at both ends.
James Brown's searing drive just cleared the angle of post and bar after two minutes but the Bulls hit back with a powerful long-range drive from Trevor Benjamin claimed by keeper Jan Budtz.
A Theo Robinson shot was pushed behind for a corner before the injury to Threlfall caused a lull in proceedings which both sides took some time to recover from.
But then it was Hartlepool who dominated possession for a while although Bulls keeper Wayne Brown was rarely seriously tested.
As half-time approached, Hereford began to find their stride again and Benjamin headed just wide after Toumani Diagouraga's effort had been blocked.
Brown then saved well from Michael Nelson's long-range effort before Hereford took the lead in first-half injury time.
The Hartlepool defence failed to deal with a Kris Taylor free-kick and McCombe poked the ball into the net from close in.
The visitors pressed strongly at the start of the second period but Hereford retained their threat as Sam Gwynne underlined his promise with good work on the right.
From one of the teenager's runs, Ben Smith just failed to get in a shot before the Pool defence booted the ball to safety.
Gwynne's most significant contribution of the afternoon came, however, at the other end.
Richie Barker, who had previously narrowly cleared the bar with an overhead kick, powered in a header from Ritchie Humphreys' corner.
But Gwynne was perfectly placed on the goalline to block before thumping the ball out of danger.
Almost immediately, Hereford broke away and Taylor slipped a pass to Robinson whose curling drive, hit with the outside of his right boot, speared past Budtz and into the corner of the net.
And Hereford almost made it three in injury time.
Substitute Steve Guinan rounded the keeper from Robinson's pass but was unable to get much power behind his shot which a defender cleared off the line.
Hereford: Brown; Collins, McCombe, Beckwith, Threlfall (McClenahan, 25 min); Gwynne (Johnson, 88 min), Smith, Diagouraga, Taylor; Robinson, Benjamin (Guinan, 61 min). Subs not used: Ingham, Palmer.
Hartlepool: Budtz; Nolan (Monkhouse, 84 min), Nelson, Antwi, Humphreys; Moore (Mackay, 66 min), McCunnie (Liddle, 54 min), Boland, Brown; Barker. Subs not used: Lee-Barratt, Porter.
Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands).
Attendance: 3,801 (238 from Hartlepool).
Goals: McCombe, 45 mins, 1-0; Robinson, 85 mins, 2-0.
Yellow cards: Hereford - Beckwith, foul, 54 mins; Diagouraga, foul, 79 mins; Hartlepool - McCunnie, foul, 50 mins.