Hereford record back-to-back home wins despite red card

Keziah Martin’s looped first half corner which was dropped into his net by goalkeeper Tom Donaghy was all that separated the sides at the break.

Then in the 70th minute the game changed when a late Kandola challenge resulted in pushing between the sides.

Bulls boss Aaron Downes said he was ‘surprised’ by the red card decision by referee Jake Allsop and was ‘unable to say’ what he believed in fear of being ‘reprimanded’.

Despite being down to 10 men Downes’ side rallied and hit on the counter-attack with Harrison Iwunze and Billy Phillips goals sealing the points.

A close opening to the match burst into life on the 11th minute mark when Phillips saw his powerful effort blocked.

From the subsequent corner Martin’s set-piece proved challenging for goalkeeper Tom Donaghy who could only drop the ball down into his own net.

Moments later Martin repeated the corner routine and under pressure from Kyle Howkins the Radcliffe goalkeeper could only palm the ball off his own post to safety.

Radcliffe remained a threat at the opposite end and Rio Clegg found himself in a dangerous position before firing over.

Luke Spokes was next to test the visitors’ goal as the defence backed away from him, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

Hereford’s best chance to double their lead came on 31 minutes when Phillips crossed inside the six-yard box for an unmarked Cawley Cox whose side-footed effort was saved at close range by Donaghy before the marksman fired the rebound over.

Radcliffe almost punished their hosts immediately on the counter-attack but Clegg watched his effort beat the goalkeeper and sail inches wide.

Kyle Howkins was next to keep Hereford ahead as he denied Harley O’Grady-Macken’s goal-bound effort.

Harry Tustin also tested the Radcliffe goal before the break with a mazy run which had the defence retreating before seeing his low shot saved.

Will Merrett played another key role at the central of the Bulls defence and made two key blocks early in the second half.

Cox went close again on the hour mark after Spokes cut inside and saw his shot palmed to the striker whose header was deflected onto the crossbar.

Momentum could have shifted on 70 minutes when Kandola caught his opponent with a late challenge resulting in pushing between the players and coaches, before referee Allsop branded a red card to the Bulls man.

After scoring the winner on Saturday substitute Harrison Iwunze was introduced and sent a driven effort inches wide.

At the opposite end goalkeeper Richardson made a crucial save to deny the header of substitute Jordan Hulme with eight minutes remaining.

Bulls substitutes Waldron and Iwunze combined to score the vital second goal with the former beating his marker and racing down the wing before crossing for the Notts County loanee to net his second goal in as many games.

Radcliffe had one last push and Brad Jackson forced Richardson into another low save.

Hereford completed the win in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Phillips broke from his own half and beat the covering defender before netting past the goalkeeper.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Kandola, Merrett, Martin (Waldron 76), Tustin (Roberts 88), Cox (Iwunze 64), Spokes, James, Phillips, Howkins

Unused subs: Williamson, Lewis, Tolley, Jones