Full-time: Cambridge United 1 Hereford United 3 (From Hereford Times)

4:59pm

HEREFORD boss Martin Foyle, somewhat surprisingly, retained an unchanged team for the visit to the R Costings Abbey Stadium.
Although there were rumblings that Marlon Jackson might come back into the side, Ryan Bowman and Chris Sharp continued in attack.
And Chris Carruthers continued to have to wait for his opportunity at left-back with James Musa holding his place.

There was an early injury to Stefan Stam who came off worse in a collision with Tom Elliott but recovered without treatment.
Cambridge almost took the lead on five minutes when Joe Anderson’s free-kick came through a crowd of players and almost took James Bittner by surprise.
At the last minute, the keeper dived and got his hand to the ball to turn it behind for a corner before Rory McAuley could get to the loose ball.
It was all Cambridge in the opening stages with Hereford struggling to get hold of the ball at all.
Josh O’Keefe was cautioned after nine minutes for a foul on Anderson but it looked a little harsh.
And, with Hereford still pinned back, a woefully mis-placed pass by Marley Watkins set up Liam Hughes for a shot which was about as bad as Watkins’ pass.
Finally, Hereford made some inroads and a fine run by Sam Clucas forced a corner, which came to nothing.
Kingsley James also picked up a caution for a foul on 19 minutes.
The Bulls brought a save from Craig Ross on 20 minutes with Ryan Bowman cutting into the area but scuffing his effort straight at the keeper.
Hereford were starting to get on top but there was not much in the way of shots until O’Keefe let fly with a terrible effort from 25 yards which went high over.
At the other end, Bittner had to make a save when Michael Gash got his head to an Anderson cross.
Clucas was next to try his luck with a curling effort which Ross saved without too much alarm.
Cambridge’s Elliot was next into the book for a foul on Luke Graham, who had an excellent start to the match.
The centre-back joined the attack for a free-kick on 35 minutes and sent a header from a James cross wide of the target.
Ross had to dive to hold a low drive from Bowman as the Bulls piled on the pressure.
Bowman contrived to get in the way of a Clucas pile-driver in Hereford’s next attack with the ball heading goalwards.
Hereford were awarded a penalty on 39 minutes when Josh Coulson handled a Watkins corner.
Bowman hit the penalty straight down the middle for his 16th goal of the season.
As Cambridge tried to strike back, Elliott headed an Anderson free-kick powerfully but straight at Bittner.
Elliott tested Bittner again in stoppage time but again the keeper was well-placed to bring off the save.
Cambridge pushed forward at the start of the second period and Luke Berry drilled a shot just over in the 48th minute.
Hereford, however, hit back and O’Keefe headed in a minute later only for the strike to be ruled out for a foul.
Cambridge broke straight down the other end and substitute Tom Shaw smashed home the equaliser from 20 yards with virtually his first touch of the ball.
O’Keefe headed over an Andy Gallinagh cross as Hereford sought an immediate response.
Luke Berry became the fifth caution for a foul on Clucas with Watkins curling the free-kick well over.
Over-officious referee John Hopkins added Gash and Watkins to his growing collection and had the home fans baying their disapproval at some of his decision-making.
Hereford regained the lead on 70 minutes in fortuitous circumstances.
Clucas let fly from 25 yards and his shot was deflected home by Rossi Jarvis for an own goal.
Hereford gained another penalty on 74 minutes when Harrison Dunk brought down Marlon Jackson.
Bowman again had no difficulty in scoring from the spot.
Cambridge tried to hit back and enjoyed a long period of pressure before skipper Kevin Roberts headed over.
Clucas showed some neat control to get in a shot which deflected behind for a corner on 82 minutes.
Bowman skated through the Cambridge back-line shortly afterwards and saw a shot saved when a pass to Clucas might have brought greater reward.
Jackson almost added a fourth after a fine run but shot high over as the game went into the four minutes of stoppage time.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Gallinagh, Graham, Stam, Musa; Watkins (McDonald 80), O’Keefe, Graham, Clucas; Bowman, Sharp (Jackson 62). Subs not used: Heath, Carruthers, Smikle.
Cambridge: 4-4-2: Ross; Roberts, McAuley, Coulson, Anderson (Shaw 46); Berry (Reed 77), Jarvis, Hughes, Dunk; Gash, Elliott (Brighton 70). Subs not used: Hedge, Wassmer.
Referee: John Hopkins (Essex).
Attendance: 2,171 (including 161 from Hereford).
Goals: Bowman pen, 40 min, 0-1; Shaw, 51 min, 1-1; Jarvis og, 70 min, 1-2; Bowman pen, 75 min, 1-3.
Yellow cards: Hereford – O’Keefe, foul, 9 min; James, foul, 19 min, Watkins, foul, 64 min; Cambridge, Elliott, foul, 32 min; Jarvis, 41 min, dissent; Berry, foul, 53 min; Gash, dissent, 62 min.

4:51pm

Jackson almost adds a fourth after a fine run but shoots high over as the game goes into the four minutes of stoppage time.

4:46pm

Bowman skated through the Cambridge back-line shortly afterwards and saw a shot saved when a pass to Clucas might have brought greater reward.

4:42pm

Clucas shows some neat control to get in a shot which deflects behind for a corner on 82 minutes.

4:41pm

Cambridge try to hit back and enjoy a long period of pressure before skipper Kevin Roberts heads over.

4:28pm

Over-officious referee John Hopkins adds Gash and Watkins to his growing collection and has the home fans baying their disapproval at some of his decision-making.

4:12pm

Cambridge break straight down the other end and substitute Tom Shaw smashes home the equaliser from 20 yards with virtually his first touch of the ball.
O’Keefe heads over an Andy Gallinagh cross as Hereford seek an immediate response.

4:10pm

Hereford, however, hit back and O’Keefe heads in a minute later only for the strike to be ruled out for a foul.

4:09pm

Cambridge push forward at the start of the second period and Luke Berry drills a shot just over in the 48th minute.

3:43pm

As Cambridge try to strike back, Elliott heads an Anderson free-kick powerfully bit straight at Bittner.

3:38pm

Bowman contrives to get in the way of a Clucas pile-driver in Hereford’s next attack with the ball heading goalwards.

3:37pm

The centre-back joins the attack for a free-kick on 35 minutes and sends a header from a James cross wide of the target.
Ross has to dive to hold a low drive from Bowman as the Bulls pile on the pressure.

3:33pm

Hereford are starting to get on top but there’s not much in the way of shots until O’Keefe lets fly with a terrible effort from 25 yards which goes high over.
At the other end, Bittner has to make a save when Michael Gash gets his head to an Anderson cross.
Clucas is next to try his luck with a curling effort which Ross saves without too much alarm.

3:18pm

Finally, Hereford make some inroads and a fine run by Sam Clucas forces a corner, which comes to nothing.

3:14pm

And, with Hereford still pinned back, a woefully mis-placed placed by Marley Watkins sets up Liam Hughes for a shot which is about as bad as Watkins’ pass.

3:09pm

It’s all Cambridge in the opening stages with Hereford struggling to get hold of the ball at all.

3:08pm

Cambridge almost take the lead on five minutes when Joe Anderson’s free-kick comes through a crowd of players and almost takes James Bittner by surprise.
At the last minute, the keeper dives and gets his hand to the ball to turn it behind for a corner before Rory McAuley can get to the loose ball.

3:05pm

There’s an early injury to Stefan Stam who comes off worse in a collision with Tom Elliott but recovers without treatment.

2:43pm

HEREFORD boss Martin Foyle has, somewhat surprisingly, retained an unchanged team for the visit to the R Costings Abbey Stadium.
Although there have been rumblings that Marlon Jackson might come back into the side, Ryan Bowman and Chris Sharp continue in attack.
And Chris Carruthers continues to have to wait for his opportunity at left-back with James Musa holding his place.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Gallinagh, Graham, Stam, Musa; Watkins, O’Keefe, Graham, Clucas; Bowman, Sharp. Subs not used: Heath, Carruthers, Jackson, Smikle, McDonald.
Cambridge: 4-4-2: Ross; Roberts, McAuley, Coulson, Anderson; Berry, Jarvis, Hughes, Dunk; Gash, Elliott. Subs not used: Hedge, Shaw, Reed, Wassmer, Brighton.
Referee: John Hopkins (Essex).