Full-time: Hereford United 2 Newport County 3 (From Hereford Times)

9:48pm

HEREFORD contrived to lose a lead in the final 10 minutes as Newport continued their march to the play-offs.
The Bulls twice went ahead through Josh O’Keefe penalties with Lee Mishull twice levelling before Robbie Willmott grabbed a stoppage time winner.
Hereford boss Martin Foyle, as expected, brought Marlon Jackson and Andy Gallinagh into the side following the goalless draw with Nuneaton Town.
But there was some surprise that Jackson replaced top-scorer Ryan Bowman who had gone down with illness and was unavailable.
Two former Bulls Tony James and Byron Anthony were included in the Newport defence.
Hereford revamped their formation and went with three at the back and five in midfield with Joe Connor as a holding midfielder.
After a lively start from both sides, Hereford conceded a free-kick 30 yards out.
Andy Sandell sent in a curling shot which flew straight into James Bittner’s arms.
Shortly afterwards, Christian Jolley showed pace as he cut in from the left and his fiercely driven shot again went straight at Bittner.
Stefan Stam surged out of defence and forces a diving save from Lenny Pidgeley in Hereford’s first real effort on goal.
It was Newport who were having the better of the attacking and Danny Crow drilled a shot just wide from the edge of the area.
Newport won the first corner on 19 minutes. Sandell sent in the cross but it was too deep and Marley Watkins cleared.
Jolley, who was looking a particular threat, popped up again on the left and cut into the area before drilling a shot across goal and wide.
Jolley powered in another effort after 24 minutes which drew a superb save from Bittner.
Rhys Griffiths headed in the rebound but from an offside position.
Hereford broke out and Kingsley James found some space on the right to deliver a cross but Sam Clucas elected to shoot with his weaker right foot and the ball flew harmlessly over.
Clucas should have done better on 32 minutes when the ball reached him on the edge of the area.
He shot with his left foot but although seeking placement over power, sent the ball the wrong side of a post.
Sandell was booked on 34 minutes for interrupting Watkins in full flow.
Chris Sharp got plenty of power behind a 38th minute drive from the edge of the area but Pidgeley caught the ball in the top-left corner of his goal.
Hereford won a penalty on 40 minutes when Jackson was brought down by David Pipe.
Watkins’ penalty was saved by Pidgeley but the ball rebounded and Pipe handled, resulting in another penalty.
O’Keefe tried his luck this time and found the back of the net with a well-struck shot.
Bittner came to Hereford’s rescue at the other end, flying through the air to hold a shot from Griffiths as Newport attempted an immediate response.
Sandell tried his luck from distance as the second half gets underway.
But Hereford struck back in lively fashion and O’Keefe’s pass gave Jackson a chance to shoot with his drive well saved by Pidgeley.
The Newport keeper had to dive again on 57 minutes to grasp a low drive from Jackson after a promising move down the left.
But Newport went close on 59 minutes when Lee Minshull headed wide from a good position.
Minshull headed wide again from a Michael Flynn cross shortly afterwards.
Newport continued on the attack and win a corner on 71 minutes.
A second flag-kick followed almost immediately, with a third in quick succession.
But the Bulls defence was up to the task and held firm on each occasion.
The goal arrived on 72 minutes.
Sharp failed to prevent Sandell getting in a cross from the left and Minshull nodded in at the far post from two yards out.
Within a minute, Hereford were awarded another penalty.
Smikle’s shot was handled by Pipe and O’Keefe rifled home another excellent spot-kick.
Newport were back on level terms on 81 minutes.
Sandell again delivered the cross which Musa failed to cut out and Minshull headed in.
Newport went ahead two minutes into stoppage time.
Robbie Willmott beat Musa for pace and, with Bittner slow to come off his line, lobbed the ball neatly into the corner of the net.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Connor, Graham, Stam, Musa; Watkins (Smikle 58), James, O’Keefe, Clucas; Jackson (Carruthers 82), Sharp. Subs: Gallinagh, Heath, Carruthers,  McDonald.
Newport: 3-4-3: Pidgeley; James, Yakubu, Anthony; Pipe, Minshull, Flynn, Sandell; Crow (Willmott 67), Griffiths (Donnelly 58), Jolley. Subs not used: Julian, Hughes, Thomson.
Referee: Rob Whitton (Essex).
Attendance: 2,519 (Including 1,162 from Newport).
Goals: O’Keefe pen, 41 min, 1-0; Minshull, 72 min, 1-1; O’Keefe pen, 74 min, 2-1; Minshull, 81 min, 2-2; Willmott, 90 min, 2-3.
Yellow cards: Hereford – O’Keefe, foul, 61 min; Bittner, dissent, 64 min; Newport – Sandell, foul, 34 min; Willmott, goal celebration, 90 min.

9:14pm

Minshull heads wide again from a Michael Flynn cross shortly afterwards.

9:05pm

But Newport go close on 59 minutes when Lee Minshull heads wide from a good position.

9:03pm

The Newport keeper has to dive again on 57 minutes to grasp a low drive from Jackson after a promising move down the left.

8:55pm

But Hereford strike back in lively fashion and O’Keefe’s pass gives Jackson a chance to shoot with his drive well saved by Pidgeley.

8:54pm

Sandell tries his luck from distance as the second half gets underway.

8:30pm

Bittner comes to Hereford’s rescue at the other end, flying through the air to hold a shot from Griffiths as Newport attempt an immediate response.

8:25pm

Chris Sharp gets plenty of power behind a 38th minute drive from the edge of the area but Pidgeley catches the ball in the top-left corner of his goal.

8:21pm

Clucas should have done better on 32 minutes when the ball reaches him on the edge of the area.
He shoots with his left foot but although seeking placement over power, sends the ball the wrong side of a post.

8:13pm

Hereford break out and Kingsley James finds some space on the right to deliver a cross but Sam Clucas elects to shoot with his weaker right foot and the ball flies harmlessly over.

8:11pm

Jolley powers in another effort after 24 minutes which draws a superb save from Bittner.
Rhys Griffiths heads in the rebound but from an offside position.

8:09pm

Jolley, who is looking a particular threat, pops up again on the left and cuts into the area before drilling a shot across goal and wide.

8:06pm

Newport win the first corner on 19 minutes. Sandell sends in the cross but it’s too deep and Marley Watkins clears.

8:04pm

It’s Newport who are having the better of the attacking and Danny Crow drills a shot just wide from the edge of the area.

8:04pm

Shortly afterwards, Christian Jolley shows pace as he cuts in from the left and his fiercely driven shot again goes straight at Bittner.
Stefan Stam surges out of defence and forces a diving save from Lenny Pidgeley in Hereford’s first real effort on goal.

7:55pm

After a lively start from both sides, Hereford concede a free-kick 30 yards out.
Andy Sandell sends in a curling shot which flies straight into James Bittner’s arms.

7:48pm

Hereford have revamped their formation and are going with three at the back and five in midfield with Joe Connor as a holding midfielder.

7:32pm

HEREFORD boss Martin Foyle, as expected, brings Marlon Jackson and Andy Gallinagh into the side following the goalless draw with Nuneaton Town.
But there’s some surprise that Jackson replaces top-scorer Ryan Bowman who has gone down with illness and is unavailable.
Two former Bulls Tony James and Byron Anthony are included in the Newport defence.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Connor, Graham, Stam, Musa; Watkins, James, O’Keefe, Clucas; Bowman, Sharp. Subs: Gallinagh, Heath, Carruthers, Smikle, McDonald.
Newport: 3-4-3: Pidgeley; James, Yakubu, Anthony; Pipe, Minshull, Flynn, Sandell; Crow, Griffiths, Jolley.
Referee: Rob Whitton (Essex).