AFTER their ignominious exit from the FA Cup 10 days previously, Hereford have now been dumped out of the Red Insure - formerly the Southern League - Cup at the preliminary round stage to lower-graded opposition.

Near rivals Cinderford Town looked set to progress in normal time thanks to Garyn Preen's goal, but Gary O'Neill equalised from the penalty spot in the last minute following a moment of madness by Town keeper Alex Harris.

Sam Akinde, who was brought down for the penalty, headed Hereford in front in extra-time only for Steve Vetier's reckless challenge to allow Ethan Moore to level again from the spot.

In the shoot-out, Harris redeemed himself by saving spot-kicks from Daniel O'Reilly and - brilliantly - from Obi Onyeike, to ensure that it would be the Foresters who entertain Swindon Supermarine in the first found.

While Hereford were downcast at the defeat, two members of the Cinderford squad with long-standing Hereford connections were delighted with the win.

"After going 2-1 down, I thought we were dead and buried but we brought it back and got the win," said midfielder Josh Emery, an Eastnor cricketer whose father Steve played around 300 games for the Edgar Street club.

"It's great for us against a full-time team.

"Compared with when I was a scholar at Cheltenham and coming over here and sitting on the bench, it's completely different now but hopefully things will soon be on the way back up again for the club.

Manager John Brough, who spent three seasons at Hereford and counted an FA Cup goal against Tottenham Hotspur among his United highlights, pointed up his young midfielder's local connection.

"Josh was with me at Cheltenham and it didn't quite work out for him there but seeing an Emery back playing at Edgar Street, where his dad Steve played for so long, was a good occasion for him," said Brough.

"I'm disappointed we didn't put the game to bed in the 90 minutes but Hereford plugged away and took it to a nail-biting finish.

"We won on penalties but I think we deserved the result overall.

"We must have been into double figures on chances and the Hereford keeper made some really good saves.

"It's been a good night for Cinderford to come to Hereford and get a scalp."

Hereford: Viner, Onyeike, O’Reilly, O’Neill, Barrientos, Gregory, Fortnam-Tomlinson (Kone 81), Hall, Diop (Akinde 74), Agombar (Yafai 66), Vetier. Subs not used: Roberts, Oyibo.

Cinderford: Harris, Nelmes, Keightley, Oldham, Sheehan, Haile (Paddock 46), Emery (Turley 77), Powell, Moore, Lloyd (Morgan 66), Preen. Subs not used: Thomas, Donaghue.

Referee: Christopher Husband.

Attendance: 226 (including 46 from Cinderford).

Goals: Preen, 77 min, 0-1; O’Neill pen, 89 min, 1-1; Akinde, 108 min, 2-1; Moore pen, 116 min, 2-2.

Penalties: O'Neill, 1-0; Preen, 1-1; Vetier, 2-1; Moore, 2-2; O'Reilly saved, 2-2; Oldham miss, 2-2; Yafai, 3-2; Powell, 3-3; Onyeike saved, 3-3; Paddock, 3-4.

Yellow cards: Hereford – O’Reilly, foul, 85 min; Barrientos, foul, 94 min; Hall, foul, 108 min; Cinderford - Emery, foul, 12 min; Sheehan, foul, 48 min; Moore, retaliation, 108 min.

It's very sad to see it as it is now. I wasn't even sure if I would see anyone that I recognised but I did, which was nice.

I just hope that everyone will get behind the club and builds it up again to where it should be, certainly in the Conference and then one day back in the Football League.