HEREFORD FC are into the hat for the FA Cup third round draw after holding League One side Fleetwood Town 1-1 at Highbury Stadium.
The Bulls matched their opponents – who are 89 places above them in the league pyramid – for large periods of the game and deserved their replay.
The sides will go again in the week beginning Monday, December 11.
Calvin Dinsley was Hereford’s hero, scoring a screamer in the 23rd minute before Fleetwood equalised six minutes later.
The Bulls did have the scare of seeing a Fleetwood shot come back off a post in the dying moments, but it was Pete Beadle and his team’s day.
Fleetwood had the first chance of the game when Wes Burns headed over when well placed following a 19th minute Ashley Hunter cross.
Billy Murphy – who was making his debut for Hereford after signing from Bath City – then drove wide before the Bulls remarkably went ahead.
There seemed little danger when Dinsley picked the ball home from outside the box, but his pile-driver gave Chris Neal in the Fleetwood goal no chance.
However, Hereford’s lead lasted only six minutes.
Fleetwood already went close to levelling the game when Kyle Dempsey saw his shot saved before Devante Cole was on hand to chest home Lewie Coyle’s cross.
Hereford had a great chance to restore their lead on the stroke of half time, but John Mills saw his effort cleared off the line.
In the second half, Dara O’Shea tried his luck for Hereford from distance in the 57th minute, while at the other end, Burns’ cross evaded all of this team mates in the six yard box.
Then, Martin Horsell had to be alert in the Hereford goal to deny Ashley Hunter with 18 minutes remaining.
As the clock ticked down, Ashley Hunt struck the inside of the post for Fleetwood, but the miss summed up the hosts’ day.
Hereford: Horsell, Oates, O'Shea, Dinsley (Haysham 87), Green, Deaman, Preen, Murphy, Mills, Reffell, Smith (Symons 75).
Subs not used: Page, Preston, Franklin, Bird, Harris.
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