Full-time: Hereford United 2 Lincoln City 0 (From Hereford Times)

Full-time: Hereford United 2 Lincoln City 0

9:40pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010

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TWO goals from recalled Gavin McCallum gave Hereford three vital points in their battle against relegation.

The 22-year-old struck a goal in each half to leave the Bulls nine points clear of the drop zone.

Hereford boss John Trewick made five changes from the team beaten at Port Vale.

The Bulls chief handed Football League debuts to young defenders Tyler Weir and loanee Paul Downing.

James McQuilkin was included in place of the injured Jamie Tolley and forwards McCallum and Craig King were also promoted from the bench.

Hereford, after some toing-and-froing in midfield were the early stages, were the first to offer a threat.

Leon Constantine got away on the right but his cross was claimed by keeper Rob Burch.

Immediately, at the other end, a cross by Paul Green flashed across the Hereford goal without anyone able to get a touch.

Lincoln had to make a early change when injury forced Nathan Baker out of the fray with Moses Swaibu taking his place after just nine minutes.

After further midfield jousting, Lincoln finally forced a corner on 24 minutes.

An intricate move from the flag-kick ended with Brian Gilmour curling a shot well wide of the target.

Good play by McCallum won Hereford their first corner four minutes and it brought the opening goal.

Constantine got his head to Pugh’s cross and Lincoln hesitated as McCallum pounced to lash a close-range shot past Burch.

McCallum should have added another within 90 seconds when he was put clear by Lunt but saw his shot blocked by Burch’s legs.

Midfielder Lunt then tried his luck with a 20-yard left-foot effort which was comfortably held by Burch.

Two minutes before the break, only an excellent tackle by Adam Watts took the ball off Constantine as the big striker prepared to shoot.

Downing met McCallum’s corner but headed a long way wide of the Lincoln goal.

Hereford started the second half in lively fashion and McCallum got up well to meet a Sam Gwynne cross but headed just wide of an upright.

The Bulls were almost caught out immediately at the other end when Adam Bartlett pulled off a good parry from Scott Kerr’s fierce shot.

The Bulls were out of luck when a thundering drive came back off the woodwork in the 52nd minute with Burch beaten.

Hereford did extend their lead 10 minutes into the second period.

A mazy run by Pugh took the winger through the Lincoln defence and he slipped the ball to McCallum who made no mistake from 10 yards.

Lincoln tried to hit back and Clark Keltie’s header from a Gilmour cross was comfortably held by Bartlett.

But the visitors were out of luck on 76 minutes when a header by Lenell John-Lewis from Keltie’s corner thudded against the underside of the bar and rebounded to safety.

And there was another let-off for the Bulls moments later when Gwynne clearly bundled Gilmour over in the area only for referee Roger East to wave play on.

But Hereford managed to hold out and were good value for their three points and King missed a great chance when he knocked Constantine’s cross wide from three yards with the goal gaping.

Hereford: Bartlett; Gwynne, Jones, Downing, Weir; McCallum, McQuilkin, Lunt, Pugh; Constantine, King. Subs not used: Adamson, Lowe, Jones, Sonko, Done, Manset, Elford-Alliyu.

Lincoln: Burch; Green, Watts (Clarke, 74 min), Baker (Swaibu, 9 min), Anderson; Hughton, Oakes (Facey, 52 min), Keltie, Kerr, Gilmour; John-Lewis. Subs not used: Musselwhite, Conner, Gordon, Lennon.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 1,429 (including 100 from Lincoln).

Goals: McCallum, 29 min, 1-0; McCallum, 55 min, 2-0.

Yellow cards: Hereford – Lunt, foul, 45 min; Gwynne, kicking ball away, 57 min; Lincoln – Swaibu, foul, 51 min.

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