HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling praised his side’s concentration levels as they booked a place in the FA Cup third qualifying round with a 1-0 win over Bromsgrove Sporting.

Ryan McLean’s second half goal separated the sides and Hereford kept their first clean sheet in five matches.

The Bulls avoided an FA Cup upset with Sporting sitting a league below their hosts.

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“They are always hard games as they are the league below and in a sense we are expected to win,” said Gowling talking to Keith Hall.

“I think we controlled the game from start to finish. I thought we could have been a bit more clinical to be honest and at the back end of the game they were putting a lot of balls into the box when really the game should have been dead and buried.

“I thought our concentration levels were excellent today, if you look at some of the goals that we’ve conceded this season they’ve been from mistakes.

“I felt today we were just on it and it was a professional performance. When we did turn balls over we turned them over in good areas which enabled us to get bodies back behind the ball so that was really pleasing.”

The Bulls made five changes from the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat at Brackley Town on Tuesday night with Cian Tyler, Jack Evans, Zak Lilly, Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Miles Storey all losing their starting places.

Goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards and James Caton made their home debuts while Harry Pinchard, Jethro Hansen and Thierry Latty-Fairweather all started.

“We haven’t won,” added Gowling.

“When you look at it and where are the areas. I’ve got great staff and we sit down and when we’re not winning we look at areas we need to improve on and things that we’re doing that impact that.

“We sat down and made them changes. We made a few tactical changes today and fortunately it was enough for us to get the win.”

Caton made his first start for Hereford during an even first half before making way at half-time after picking up ‘a niggle’.

Miles Storey replaced the winger and made an immediate impact as the game opened up and Hereford took the victory.

“With Ryan (McLean) and Miles (Storey) they are lightening quick but at times we turn the ball over a lot,” added Gowling.

“The idea of playing Caton in there today was to obtain possession a little bit and just get hold of the game at times.

“I thought he did that quite well, he came off at half-time because he had a bit of a niggle. When you get Ryan and Miles on the ball they are absolutely electric.”