Town Win Bullfight

New chairman Willie Carson was delighted to see his new club surge past the winning post but it took a storming finish down the home straight to avoid an afternoon of agony.

Town trailed at half-time and another famous cup shock was on the cards.

You could almost hear the paint peeling off the Town dressing room walls as Roy Evans and Razor Ruddock 'suggested'to their players that they may care to step up a gear.

They certainly needed to after Hereford shook off the disappointment of falling behind to Danny Invincible's 10th-minute strike to roar back to seize the initiative.

Thankfully for the home fans, Paul Edwards chose the best possible time to open his Town account while Bobby Howe's late winner put paid to the prospect of a tricky replay at Edgar Street.

But the Conference side deserved their standing ovation at the end, having played their full part in the sort of occasion that makes the FA Cup so special.

Roy Evans was forced to reshuffle his pack yet again due to injury and suspension.

Matt Hewlett's troublesome knee saw him heading for a Saturday morning date with the surgeon, while Andy Gurney began a two-match suspension.

Paul Edwards was given his first start for a month and this saw David Duke switch to the right, at the expense of Mark Robinson.

Backed by more than 1,500 noisy followers, the Bulls started confidently and Bart Griemink had to make a hurried clearance with barely 12 seconds on the clock.

But the home side quickly regained their composure and Wayne Carlisle thumped a second-minute effort wide of Matt Baker's left post.

The Hereford keeper had made a name for himself after a stunning display in the first round of the competition and he did his professional prospects no harm at all with a quality display between the sticks at the County Ground.

Baker's first serious save of the game came in the seventh minute when he saved a powerful shot from the hugely impressive Duke.

At the other end Razor Ruddock made a timely tackle to thwart the lively Gavin Williams.

But the goal Town needed to settle cup nerves came in the 10th minute.

Baker's clearance was headed back into the danger area by Ruddock and Danny Invincible sprinted through to coolly slam the ball into the bottom corner.

However, rather than triggering a rout, the goal seemed to inspire the visitors and they were level within two minutes.

James Quiggin's corner arrived at the feet of Williams some 30 yards out.

The Hereford man took a step back and unleashed an absolute screamer which flew past Griemink.

It was a goal of sublime quality and the ball was in the net the moment it left the player's Beckham-style white boot.

Williams immediately pointed out his feat to Neil Ruddock, who had ominously taken the mickey out of the player's boots as the teams came out for the match.

Town realised they had a real battle on their hands and upped the tempo.

Eric Sabin broke the offside trap in the 22nd minute and cut in from the right. Sadly, he could not find the necessary composure to beat Baker.

With Town having no luck on goal from close range, the player-coach decided a shot from distance was required.

Ruddock connected with Baker's hoof downfield to hammer back a shot/clearance from 70 yards.

It did not have the accuracy to find the net but it certainly had the keeper sweating for a moment.

If level-pegging with a non-League side was not bad enough, worse was to follow.

Hereford skipper Ian Wright was allowed too much room and time as he met a 27th-minute corner to head his side in front.

The national scribes in the press box licked their lips at the prospect of another FA scalp for the minnows.

But Town dug deep and fought hard to level matters before the break.

A Ruddock free-kick in the 34th minute found Invincible but the Aussie's close-range shot was deflected wide.

But Town should have drawn level just moments later when Sabin was hauled down in the box but referee Phil Joslin dismissed loud spot-kick appeals.

Duke saw another effort saved by Baker and Bobby Howe, in the for the injured Hewlett, blazed over just before the break.

With teacups lying smashed in the home dressing room and tongue-lashings completed, Town came out to salvage their FA Cup dream.

The players showed they were not prepared to accept the old line about 'it's not our day' and set about Hereford with a real intensity.

Baker was lucky to stay on the field when he handled outside his box (an offence which saw Griemink red-carded last season) and Ruddock's resulting free-kick was scrambled away.

But Town finally hauled themselves level in the 53rd minute, courtesy of a terrific goal from the man of the match.

Hereford had no answer to Paul Edwards' pace and trickery down the left and it suddenly struck home how much the Mancunian has been missed.

He picked the ball up on the left, jinked past three defenders and hammered home a terrific shot from a difficult angle.

It was his first goal for the club and how he deserved it.

You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief but Town kept their foot on the throttle and pressed for a winner.

Tony James intervened in the nick of time on the hour as Sabin looked poised to head home Invincible's right-wing cross and Sabin was involved again three minutes later, failing to get enough power into a scissor kick.

But the Bulls still posed a threat on the break through Williams and German teacher Robin Elmes.

Williams' quick thinking from a throw-in put Parry through in the 70th minute and Matt Heywood had to intervene swiftly to snuff out the danger.

The visitors could find no answer to Edwards' pace but the winger's speed also proved a problem for his own side on occasions.

Another blistering run and cross saw the ball whipped across the face of goal, but neither Invincible or Carlisle could get an outstretched boot to the ball.

Town survived a 75th-minute penalty claim before they grabbed the winner their second half display deserved.

Sabin miscued on the edge of the area and the ball spun invitingly into the path of Howe.

The Geordie showed great composure to guide his shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The job was almost done but there was still time for Invincible to drag a shot agonisingly wide and Carlisle saw his excellent free kick turned round the post by Baker.

Sabin was denied a goal in injury time when his header was cleared off the line but the referee's whistle signalled the end to an exciting afternoon.

Victory netted Town a guaranteed £30,000 and the new chairman will be hoping that the players did enough to tempt back the majority of a 7,000-plus crowd for Saturday's league game with Huddersfield.