HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling lamented his side conceding two ‘poor goals’ as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Kettering Town.

After their weekend FA Cup stardom, the Bulls were brought back to earth with the defeat in front of just 576 fans at Latimer Park.

A slip by Orrin Pendley allowed Gary Stohrer to fire the hosts ahead in the first half and then a lapse in concentration by defender Jordan Thompson resulted in Tyrone Lewthwaite running in to net a second.

“Two poor goals,” said Gowling talking to Terry Goodwin.

“The first one Orrin (Pendley) has slipped over, I’ve no idea why we are passing it back to him in the box in the first place. The second one is a poor one as well.

“We huffed and puffed in the end. I don’t think we gambled well enough in the end. We did win quite a few first contracts inside the box.

“The goalkeeper has made an excellent save from Aaron (Amadi-Holloway) but as a whole it wasn’t good enough.”

The Bulls started well and Harry Pinchard's sixth minute corner found the head of Tyrone Barnett whose effort was deflected over.

However, the Poppies responded and called goalkeeper Dale Eve into action on 22 minutes denying a dipping shot from Keaton Ward.

The deadlock was broken nine minutes later when Pendley slipped after Luke Haines had passed the ball back to the defender allowing Stohrer to take full advantage firing the ball home.

A second goal seven minutes into the second half killed the contest as defender Thompson was beaten by his marker out wide Lewthwaite skipped away before finding the net.

Hereford are caught asleep again on 57 minutes when a quick free-kick allowed Kettering to race through on goal, but Eve saved down low.

Jack Evans almost pulled Hereford back into the match but saw his effort at the back post blocked after Jack Holmes had driven into the box.

Aaron Amadi-Holloway switched from playing centre-half to centre forward in a move which nearly paid off as the marksman found himself in on goal forcing a save from goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes.

However, Hereford created their own problems and an intercepted pass allowed Keaton Ward to test goalkeeper Eve.

In the last 15 minutes Hereford pushed forwards but Kettering defended resolutely with Amadi-Holloway, Pinchard and Miles Storey all having efforts blocked or off-target.

The Latimer Park pitch is often criticised and Gowling again lamented the surface for not allowing his side to play passing football.

“We’re not the only ones who struggle here, they’ve lost two games at home all season,” added Gowling.

“We know the reasons why they’ve lost two games all season, it’s not going to get any better let’s be honest about it (the Kettering pitch).

“It’s every year. You come here and you can’t play football, it’s a leveller. It’s not an excuse but it’s not great (the pitch). It is what it is and our attitudes weren’t good enough today in respects of working hard, pressing and winning second balls.

“They were better than us and that’s why they won the game.”

Hereford: Eve, Hodgkiss, Evans, Haines, Amadi-Holloway (Caton 90), Pinchard, Storey, Hanson, Pendley (Thompson 45), Barnett, Holmes (Derricott 65)

Unused subs: Thompson-Sommers, Campbell