Half-time: Tamworth 0 Hereford United 2 (From Hereford Times)

Half-time: Tamworth 0 Hereford United 2

8:37pm Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Reports By Richard Prime

MARLEY Watkins' early strike and a penalty from Harry Pell gave Hereford a half-time advantage after an eventful first 45 minutes which also saw Bulls striker Marlon Jackson sent off.

Tamworth, playing down the slope, mounted the early attacks with tall striker Adam Cunnington winning a couple of dangerous headers.

Bulls skipper Luke Graham was briefly forced off the field, injured while protecting his keeper Dan Hanford who was preparing to gather a through ball.

Hereford forced the corner on six minutes but Graham was unable to control his header from Simon Clist’s cross.

After eight minutes, Hereford were in the lead.

A long-free-kick from Chris Carruthers reached Watkins on the edge of the area and he held off his marker to lash a low shot into the corner of the net.

Tamworth, however, should have levelled eight minutes later.

A free-kick from the left sailed over the Hereford defence to the unmarked Oji who sliced his shot horribly wide from a great position.

Marlon Jackson had to receive treatment shortly afterwards after a horrid challenge from Lloyd Kerry who was lucky only to receive a yellow card.

Tamworth continued to attack and Dan Hanford pushed a Cunnington shot behind for a corner on 21 minutes.

On 23 minutes, off the ball, Tamworth defender Scott Barrow went to the ground and Jackson was issued with a straight red card.

The home side sought an immediate advantage and Hanford produced a brilliant flying save to deny Kerry.

And the Bulls keeper did well minutes later to leap to grab a cross from Peter Till.

Hanford did brilliantly again on 31 minutes, racing out to block as the unmarked Till looked certin to score from a long through ball.

On 33 minutes, Watkins raced clear into the area at the other end and was brought down by Tom Marshall.

Marshall received a yellow card and Harry Pell side-footed home the spot kick.

Graham did well to head a dangerous cross behind as Tamworth mounted another aerial attack.

Another fine save from Hanford kept the Hereford goal intact when Kerry launched a bullet drive from the edge of the area in first-half stoppage time.