HARTLEY WINTNEY 1, HEREFORD 4

HARTLEY Wintney’s excellent FA Vase run was ended by a strong Hereford side in the delayed fifth-round tie at the Memorial Playing Fields.

However, the Combined Counties League has still provided one of the Vase quarter-finalists, with Camberley Town drawn away to Hereford on Saturday, February 20.

Hereford, like Aldershot Town before them, rose from the ashes of a club that had been wound up. Hereford United, famous FA Cup battlers who once beat Newcastle United, competed as high as the old Division Two after gaining admittance to the Football League in 1972.

But the club fell on hard times and was wound up in 2014. Hereford FC was formed almost immediately and, having inherited the Edgar Street ground, now plays in the Midland League Premier Division in the ninth tier of the English football pyramid – the same level as the Combined Counties Premier.

Hartley Wintney put up a valiant fight in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,300, but Hereford – still known as the Bulls – played a brand of high-tempo football that swept them into the quarter-finals with goals from Mustapha Bundu (2), Mike Symons and Joe Tumelty.

Ross Cook converted a second-half penalty for the Row’s consolation goal.

Both sides ended the game with ten men. Hereford defender Ryan Green was sent off and Cook, Hartley Wintney’s highly-rated striker, was dismissed after a late second yellow card.

Hereford, runaway leaders in their league, receive £2,500 for a fifth-round FA Cup victory, while Hartley Wintney pocket £2,000.