Hereford beat 10-man Ebbsfleet after the match was delayed by 90 minutes because the visitors' coach broke down.

Marley Watkins opened the scoring for the hosts when he slotted home Sean Canham's pass, before returning the favour for Canham to head home himself.

Liam Bentley saw red for a second yellow, and Chris Carruthers fired in from 25 yards to make it 3-0.

Moses Ashikodi pulled one back from six yards, Ryan Bowman headed in for 4-1 and Joe Howe hit back from 20 yards.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Hereford manager Martin Foyle told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"I am delighted with the three points and in the first half I thought we played some outstanding football.

"We played at a good tempo after what had been a long delay - and it felt like a long delay for the players as they had been hanging around for hours on end.

"But we got out of the blocks and started the game well and goals went in so at half-time it was a case of could we keep it going?

"It's hard as we have been there as players and you take your extra touches but we stopped doing the things we were doing so well in the first half."

Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent:

"It wasn't the ideal start (arriving late) but I'm not making excuses for that, their players had to wait around as well.

"I'm disappointed at the first half display, we dropped off and let their players have it all their own way.

"When you do down to 10 men you have to put the extra yard in. What you want is that sort of effort with 11 men.

"I'm disappointed with the sending off, his studs were a bit up but they weren't above the ball."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Hereford United

  • 12 Hanford
  • 02 Gallinagh
  • 05 Townsend
  • 06 Graham
  • 08 Carruthers
  • 04 Pell
  • 07 Watkins (Evans - 79' )
  • 11 Clist
  • 18 Clucas Booked (Smikle - 88' )
  • 10 Canham
  • 21 Nicholls (Bowman - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Bittner
  • 17 Evans
  • 20 Sammons
  • 22 Smikle
  • 19 Bowman

Ebbsfleet United

  • 01 Edwards
  • 04 Ada
  • 06 Lorraine Booked
  • 02 Stone (Azeez - 82' )
  • 11 Phipp
  • 14 Howe
  • 15 Barrett
  • 16 Bellamy Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 07 Enver-Marum (Walsh - 46' )
  • 09 Elder
  • 10 Ashikodi (Greenhalgh - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 12 McNeil
  • 03 Blake
  • 17 Greenhalgh
  • 18 Azeez
  • 05 Walsh
Ref: Huxtable
Att: 1,906

Match Stats

Shots

21 8

On target

14 5

Corners

7 5

Fouls

7 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:22 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:43

Foul by Chris Carruthers on Neil Barrett, free kick awarded. Neil Barrett restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:27 Goal scored

Goal - Joe Howe - Hereford 4 - 2 Ebbsfleet Joe Howe finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hereford 4-2 Ebbsfleet United.

90:00 +0:56

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Lanre Azeez from the right by-line, Dan Hanford makes a comfortable save.

88:48

Brian Smikle provided the assist for the goal.

88:48 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Bowman - Hereford 4 - 1 Ebbsfleet Ryan Bowman finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Hereford 4-1 Ebbsfleet United.

87:08

Corner from the left by-line taken by Brian Smikle,

87:08 Substitution

Substitution Samuel Clucas goes off and Brian Smikle comes on.

85:49

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ben Greenhalgh played to the near post, save by Dan Hanford.

83:44

The referee blows for offside. Dan Hanford takes the indirect free kick.

81:26 Substitution

Substitution Lanre Azeez comes on in place of Craig Stone.

80:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Neil Barrett on Samuel Clucas. Indirect free kick taken by Dan Hanford.

78:48 Substitution

Substitution Will Evans comes on in place of Marley Watkins.

78:29

Effort from outside the area by Neil Barrett goes wide right of the goal.

77:39

Sean Canham takes a shot. Save made by Preston Edwards.

76:25

Indirect free kick taken by Preston Edwards.

76:25 Booking

Booking Samuel Clucas is given a yellow card.

76:17

Patrick Ada fouled by Ryan Bowman, the ref awards a free kick.

74:40

Corner taken by Marley Watkins from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Neil Barrett.

74:02

Sean Canham takes a shot. Preston Edwards makes a brilliant save.

72:55 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Bowman joins the action as a substitute, replacing Tom Nichols.

72:27

Shot by Craig Stone from outside the box goes over the target.

71:52

Harry Pell takes a shot. Save by Preston Edwards.

70:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Phipp by Marley Watkins. Free kick taken by Ben Greenhalgh.

67:21 Substitution

Substitution Ben Greenhalgh comes on in place of Moses Ashikodi.

66:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean Canham by Phil Walsh. Chris Carruthers takes the free kick.

63:53

Marley Watkins takes a shot.

62:45

Sean Canham is ruled offside. Preston Edwards takes the free kick.

61:24

The offside flag is raised against Nathan Elder. Dan Hanford restarts play with the free kick.

59:48

The ball is sent over by Moses Ashikodi.

56:44

The referee blows for offside against Nathan Elder. Luke Graham takes the free kick.

56:08

The ball is sent over by Craig Stone, comfortable save by Dan Hanford.

55:55

Sean Canham is ruled offside. Preston Edwards restarts play with the free kick.

53:59

Outswinging corner taken by Tom Phipp from the right by-line, Marley Watkins manages to make a clearance.

53:19

Moses Ashikodi takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Graham.

52:31

A cross is delivered by Moses Ashikodi, comfortable save by Dan Hanford.

51:58

Corner taken right-footed by Tom Phipp to the near post, Harry Pell makes a clearance.

49:17

Assist on the goal came from Joe Howe.

49:17 Goal scored

Goal - Moses Ashikodi - Hereford 3 - 1 Ebbsfleet Moses Ashikodi grabs a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hereford 3-1 Ebbsfleet United.

48:04 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Carruthers - Hereford 3 - 0 Ebbsfleet Goal scored by Chris Carruthers from outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hereford 3-0 Ebbsfleet United.

46:48

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Marley Watkins. A cross is delivered by Samuel Clucas, clearance made by Craig Stone.

46:18

Harry Pell takes a shot. Preston Edwards makes a save.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Phil Walsh comes on in place of Liam Enveer-Marum.

45:00 +2:37 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:25

Free kick taken by Michael Townsend.

45:00 +1:25 Dismissal

Dismissal Liam Bellamy sent off.

45:00 +1:14

Liam Bellamy concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Nichols.

45:00 +0:10

Tom Phipp takes the outswinging corner, Andy Gallinagh makes a clearance.

44:38

Tom Phipp delivers the ball, blocked by Chris Carruthers.

42:02

Tom Nichols takes a shot. Patrick Ada makes a clearance. Corner taken by Simon Clist played to the near post, Close range headed effort by Harry Pell misses to the right of the goal.

39:15

Andy Gallinagh takes a shot.

38:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Phipp on Samuel Clucas. Andy Gallinagh takes the free kick.

37:54

Nathan Elder takes a shot. Comfortable save by Dan Hanford.

36:03

Assist by Marley Watkins.

36:03 Goal scored

Goal - Sean Canham - Hereford 2 - 0 Ebbsfleet Sean Canham grabs a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Hereford 2-0 Ebbsfleet United.

34:30

The ball is delivered by Marley Watkins,

33:59

Samuel Clucas takes a shot. Blocked by Patrick Ada.

33:29

Marley Watkins fouled by Joe Howe, the ref awards a free kick. Harry Pell takes the direct free kick.

32:35

Tom Nichols produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.

30:49

Tom Nichols takes a shot. Preston Edwards makes a comfortable save.

29:46

Unfair challenge on Nathan Elder by Michael Townsend results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Liam Enveer-Marum, clearance made by Andy Gallinagh.

29:07

Samuel Clucas crosses the ball, Joe Howe manages to make a clearance.

28:07

Samuel Clucas takes a shot. Blocked by Patrick Ada. Short corner taken by Marley Watkins.

27:38

Liam Enveer-Marum takes a shot. Save by Dan Hanford.

26:23

Assist by Sean Canham.

26:23 Goal scored

Goal - Marley Watkins - Hereford 1 - 0 Ebbsfleet Marley Watkins scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hereford 1-0 Ebbsfleet United.

25:22

Centre by Chris Carruthers, blocked by Craig Stone.

25:02

Tom Phipp crosses the ball, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.

23:36

The ball is delivered by Liam Bellamy, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.

23:04

Unfair challenge on Neil Barrett by Simon Clist results in a free kick. Joe Howe restarts play with the free kick.

22:27

Marley Watkins has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

20:30

Nathan Elder fouled by Michael Townsend, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Moses Ashikodi.

20:00

Joe Howe sends in a cross, Chance falls to Nathan Elder who heads at goal, save by Dan Hanford.

19:26

Chris Carruthers produces a cross, Paul Lorraine makes a clearance.

18:45

Tom Nichols delivers the ball, Sean Canham takes a shot. Save made by Preston Edwards.

17:56

Harry Pell takes a shot. Save by Preston Edwards. The ball is sent over by Andy Gallinagh.

14:41

The ball is swung over by Chris Carruthers, Patrick Ada manages to make a clearance. Simon Clist takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Neil Barrett.

11:14

Chris Carruthers restarts play with the free kick.

11:14 Booking

Booking Paul Lorraine goes into the book.

10:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Simon Clist by Paul Lorraine.

9:36

Chris Carruthers delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Craig Stone fouled by Michael Townsend, the ref awards a free kick. Preston Edwards restarts play with the free kick.

9:36 Booking

Booking Liam Bellamy shown a yellow card.

9:30

Harry Pell fouled by Liam Bellamy, the ref awards a free kick.

8:54

Marley Watkins delivers the ball, Patrick Ada manages to make a clearance.

8:07

The ball is swung over by Andy Gallinagh, Sean Canham takes a shot. Blocked by Joe Howe.

7:02

Effort on goal by Marley Watkins from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

5:28

The assistant referee signals for offside against Samuel Clucas. Preston Edwards takes the free kick.

2:43

The ball is swung over by Moses Ashikodi, save made by Dan Hanford.

2:13

The ball is swung over by Chris Carruthers, clearance made by Joe Howe.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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