Full-time: Hereford United 1 Hyde 2 (From Hereford Times)

9:35pm

HEREFORD were unable to hold on to a half-time lead which had come courtesy of Josh O’Keefe’s first-half goal as they slipped to defeat against Hyde.
The impressive visitors thoroughly deserved their win which helped them to complete a double over the Bulls.
HEREFORD boss Martin Foyle mades two change after the defeat at Gateshead.
Stefan Stam returned to the Bulls defence in place of Rod McDonald with Marley Watkins back on the right flank.
James Musa, who has glandular fever and has returned to Fulham, dropped out to accommodate the return of the flying winger with Chris Carruthers reverting to left-back as United returned to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
New signing Craig Jones was named among the substitutes, alongside top-scorer Ryan Bowman.
There was lively start from both sides with the pitch, which was cleared of a couple of inches of snow this morning by a 43-strong band of volunteers, looking better than anyone might have dared to expect.
Chris Sharp’s neat pass sent Marlon Jackson away on the right and his drag-back just failed to reach Sam Clucas as the Hyde defence intervened.
Sharp again showed up well in another raid down the right but his cross was gratefully grasped by keeper David Carnell.
Hereford forced the first corner on 11 minutes and it almost brought the first goal.
Stefam Stam met Clucas’ cross and his header was destined for the bottom left-hand corner but hit Jamie Milligan on the line who was able to complete the clearance.
At the other end, Milligan’s pass sent Louis Almond in behind the defence but his cross eluded James Bittner and flashed through the goalmouth without anyone able to get a touch.
Hyde were looking dangerous on the attack and Scott Hogan shot wastefully over from a great position after more astute play by Milligan.
Hogan almost opened the scoring again on 17 minutes when Bittner got a touch to turn his effort behind for a corner.
As Hereford resumed the attacking, Jackson missed a good chance, seizing on Sharp’s flick but shooting tamely straight at Carnell.
Jackson was close to opening the scoring on 22 minutes when he challenged Carnell as the pair raced for a short back pass from Luke Ashworth.
The keeper just got the ball and both ended up on the ground injured but recovered quickly after treatment.
The Bulls took the lead  on 25 minutes.
Jackson slipped the ball back to O’Keefe whose shot from 25 yards was deflected past Carnell.
The goal did little to stifle Hyde’s attacking impetus and Bittner had to make a good save to turn a shot from Matthew Blinkhorn past a post.
Liam Tomsett’s drilled effort from the edge of the area on 39 minutes was also only just wide of the target.
Milligan was next to try his luck, smashing a 20-yarder just inches past the angle of post and bar.
Hyde won their sixth corner of the half on the stroke of half-time and the ball was returned to Milligan whose low drive was saved by the diving Bittner.
Hereford’s Sharp smashed a shot wide as the second period opened with swift attacks from both sides.
Although Hyde played some neat attacking football, it was Hereford who had the next effort with O’Keefe blasting over from 20 yards.
Bittner had to make an excellent save, on 56 minutes, diving to parry and then grasp a Hogan 20-yarder.
At the other end, substitute Bowman’s low drive was saved by Carnell.
Tomsett was unlucky, too, with a low drive which skidded past a post with Bittner stretching.
Hyde were back on level terms on 64 minutes.
Louis Almond’s cross was blocked but the ball flies into the air and Alex Brown headed in.
Hyde took the lead on 74 minutes with an excellent strike.
Almond showed excellent control to flick the ball over the shoulder of Stam before smashing a shot past the helpless Bittner.
Jones and Brian Smikle were introduced in quick succession as Foyle sought to claw back.
But Hereford only just avoided a third goal when Bittner touched a shot from Almond on to the outside of a post.
As time ran down, Clucas saw a shot blocked for a corner which came to nothing.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Connor (Smikle 76), Graham, Stam, Carruthers; Watkins, O’Keefe (Jones 77), James, Clucas; Jackson (Bowman 55), Sharp. Subs not used: Heath, McDonald.
Hyde: 4-5-1: Carnell; Brizell, Ashworth, Dennis, Griffin; Hogan (Moses 90), Milligan, Tomsett, Brown, Almond (Poole 90); Blinkhorn (Jevons 88). Subs not used: Poole, McNiven, Williams.
Referee: Dean Treleaven (West Sussex).
Attendance: 1,152 (including 52 from Hyde).
Goals: O’Keefe, 25 min, 1-0; Brown, 64 min, 1-1; Almond, 74 min, 1-2.

4:56pm

As time runs down, Clucas sees a shot blocked for a corner but it comes to nothing.

4:41pm

But Hereford only just avoid a third goal when Bittner touches a shot from Almond on to the outside of a post.

4:38pm

Jones and Brian Smikle were introduced in quick succession as Foyle sought to claw back.

4:20pm

Tomsett is unlucky, too, with a low drive which skids past a post with Bittner stretching.

4:17pm

Bittner has to make an excellent save, on 56 minutes, diving to parry and then grasp a Hogan 20-yarder.
At the other end, substitute Bowman’s low drive is saved by Carnell.

4:13pm

Although Hyde play some neat attacking football, it’s Hereford who have the next effort with O’Keefe blasting over from 20 yards.

4:06pm

Hereford’s Sharp smashed a shot wide as the second period opened with swift attacks from both sides.

3:46pm

Hyde win their sixth corner of the half on the stroke of half-time and the ball is returned to Milligan whose low drive is saved by the diving Bittner.

3:41pm

Milligan is next to try his luck, smashing a 20-yarder just inches past the angle of post and bar.

3:39pm

Liam Tomsett’s drilled effort from the edge of the area on 39 minutes is also only just wide of the target.

3:32pm

The goal does little to stifle Hyde’s attacking impetus and Bittner has to make a good save to turn a shot from Matthew Blinkhorn past a post.

3:23pm

As Hereford resume the attacking, Jackson misses a good chance, seizing on Sharp’s flick but shooting tamely straight at Carnell.

3:19pm

Hogan almost opens the scoring again on 17 minutes when Bittner gets a touch to turn his effort behind for a corner.

3:17pm

Hyde are looking dangerous on the attack and Scott Hogan shoots wastefully over from a great position after more astute play by Milligan.

3:15pm

At the other end, Milligan’s pass sends Louis Almond in behind the defence but his cross eludes James Bittner and flashes through the goalmouth without anyone able to get a touch.

3:14pm

Hereford force the first corner on 11 minutes and it almost brings the first goal.
Stefam Stam meets Clucas’ cross and his header is destined for the bottom left-hand corner but hits Jamie Milligan on the line who is able to complete the clearance.

3:08pm

Sharp again shows up well in another raid down the right but his cross is gratefully grasped by keeper David Carnell.

3:05pm

There’s lively start from both sides with the pitch, which was cleared of a couple of inches of snow this morning by a 43-strong band of volunteers, looking better than anyone might dare to expect.
Chris Sharp’s neat pass sends Marlon Jackson away on the right and his drag-back just fails to reach Sam Clucas as the Hyde defence intervenes.

2:39pm

HEREFORD boss Martin Foyle makes two change after the defeat at Gateshead.
Stefan Stam returning to the Bulls defence in place of Rod McDonald with Marley Watkins back on the right flank.
James Musa drops out to accommodate the return of the flying winger with Chris Carruthers reverting to left-back as United return to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
New signing Craig Jones is named among the substitutes, alongside top-scorer Ryan Bowman.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Connor, Graham, Stam, Carruthers; Watkins, O’Keefe, James, Clucas; Jackson, Sharp. Subs not used: Heath, McDonald, Smikle, Jones, Bowman.
Hyde: 4-5-1: Carnell; Brizell, Ashworth, Dennis, Griffin; Hogan, Milligan, Tomsett, Brown, Almond; Blinkhorn. Subs not used: Poole, Jevons, Moses, McNiven, Williams.
Referee: Dean Treleaven (West Sussex).