ETHAN FREEMANTLE came off the bench to score a second half winner for Hereford against a defiant Warrington side.

Jason Cowley gave Hereford the lead before Warrington were reduced to nine men after Connor Woods and Bohan Dixon saw red, and although the visitors found an unlikely equaliser from the spot, Freemantle stepped up to score the decisive goal.

Warrington were reduced to ten men after 24 minutes when Woods was shown a straight red card for headbutting Tom Pugh after the midfielder had pulled his shirt back.

The Bulls made the player advantage count in the 26th minute when a heavy touch from goalkeeper Daniel Atherton allowed Cowley to pounce and slot the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

It went from bad to worse for Warrington in the 38th minute when Dixon was shown a second yellow card for his challenge on Aurio Teixera, leaving the Yellows down to nine men.

Warrington, however, found a way back into the game in first-half stoppage time when Sean Williams converted from the spot after Josh Amis was clipped by Nathan Cameron in the box.

Hereford pressed for a second goal after half-time with Pugh firing an effort on goal in the 55th minute which saw Atherton pressed into action to deny the Scunthorpe loanee.

Atherton was in inspired form as he made a fine double save to deny Paul Downing’s powerful long-range drive before saving Cowley’s follow-up effort with his feet in the 60th minute.

The Bulls broke the deadlock in the 77th minute when substitute Freemantle latched onto Alex Babos’ cross before redirecting it into the bottom right-hand corner of Atherton’s net.

Warrington had a huge opportunity to equalise when Matthew Griyotsi found Isaac Buckley-Ricketts inside the box in the 89th minute but the forward could only prod wide.

Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Livingstone (Arthur 56), Teixeira, Downing, Ceesay, Babos, Cowley, Pugh (Rooney 75), Tolley (Freemantle 56), Cameron

Unused Subs: Southern, Howkins