Bulls in command against Grimsby.

3:47pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

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GOALS from skipper Ben Smith and top scorer Theo Robinson gave Hereford a 2-0 lead against Grimsby at half-time.

The day was assured of a carnival atmosphere after promotion had been achieved the previous week.

And a large crowd packed into Edgar Street to see the players and staff presented with their medals before the kick-off.

The initial exchanges were, as was to be expected with neither side having anything really to play for, very scrappy.

The first serious shot did not arrive until the 20th minute when Johnson raced forward from midfield to drive a 20-yard effort just wide.

But it took a fine save from Esson to prevent Grimsby from taking the lead five minutes later.

The ball rebounded to Danny Boshell and his drive was heading into the bottom corner until the debutant keeper dived to palm the ball behind for a corner.

Hereford had to be content with long-range efforts for a while – Taylor and Toumani Digouraga blasting wide – before taking the lead on 35 minutes.

Guinan’s pass picked out Taylor to find Smith whose first-time shot beat Phil Barnes.

But Hereford almost gifted the Mariners an equaliser two minutes later.

Diagouraga’s back pass went straight to Danny North whose shot from six yards was brilliantly pushed away by Esson.

Hereford pressed forward again immediately and Taylor and Guinan set up a shooting effort for Theo Robinson only for the Bulls top scorer to blaze over.

The teenager only had to wait a couple of minutes to make amends, though, seizing on a Taylor pass to slide a shot past Barnes.