BATTLING BULLS’ FITTING RADFORD TRIBUTE
heReFORD paid tribute to FA Cup hero Ronnie Radford as they went out in the competition’s first round — but not before giving 2008 winners Portsmouth a real fright in a cracking tie.
A minute’s applause for the Bulls favourite, who passed away during the week, was followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ as the clock showed 11 minutes — the number he wore when scoring one of the all-time great Cup goals against newcastle 50 years ago. hereford keeper Dale eve was first called into action to keep out Reeco hackett on 14 minutes.
But the Bulls stunned their illustrious visitors with a 26th minute opener. Former Portsmouth player Miles Storey (right) — fittingly wearing the no 11 shirt — muscled hackett off the ball after a loose pass and charged forward before slotting beyond keeper Josh Griffiths. hackett made amends by levelling seven minutes later, rifling into the roof of the net from close range, before Portsmouth took charge in the second half. Colby Bishop glanced a header into the corner from skipper Clark Robertson’s corner on 63 minutes and Pompey wrapped things up on 80 minutes when Joe Piggott tucked away a third. Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley said: ‘We had a difficult first half for sure, we knew it was going to be our toughest game of the season. ‘hereford as a club were a credit to themselves, they were outstanding. I’m sure the coaching staff will be really proud of their efforts.
‘We had to find a lot of character, our young players will have learned a lot tonight. Ultimately we found a way. I love football and I love the FA Cup. This is raw and real and the hereford supporters were brilliant. ‘It was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford and it was a brilliant night to be able to celebrate his life.’ Pompey striker Bishop added: ‘When you come to places like this, you know it’s going to be tough. You just have to weather the storm. In the second half, they got a bit tired and we worked the ball better.’
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY eased into the second round with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to fellow League One side Morecambe. Josh Windass fired Wednesday ahead in the 29th minute at hillsborough with a superb strike from outside the area after being set up by Reece James, his fifth goal of the season. Winger Alex Mighten, on loan from nottingham Forest, added the second in the 65th minute, his first goal in five games for Darren Moore’s side.