Hereford 0-2 Fleetwood: Cian Bolger brace sets up FA Cup third round tie with Leicester City and a reunion with former Cod Army striker Jamie Vardy

  • Hereford held Fleetwood to a 1-1 draw in the initial tie at the Highbury Stadium  
  • Cian Bolger had the visitors in front just 10 minutes into the game on Thursday 
  • Central defender Bolger got his second of the night after 58 minutes of play 
  • Fleetwood will now host Leicester City in the FA Cup third round in January 

The Jamie Vardy party will return to the venue where the spotlight first flickered after Fleetwood Town set up an FA Cup third round meeting with Leicester by defeating Hereford.

Edgar Street has played host to perhaps the most famous FA Cup moment of all in Ronnie Radford's glorious strike but there was to be no giant-killing this time as Fleetwood edged a close contest against the team 85 places below.

The magic instead comes from Vardy heading back to the club where he scored so many goals that Leicester made him the most expensive non-league player in history in a £1million transfer five years ago.

Fleetwood's Cian Bolger rises highest to head past Hereford goalkeeper Martin Horsell

Fleetwood's Cian Bolger rises highest to head past Hereford goalkeeper Martin Horsell

Bolger celebrates putting Fleetwood in front against Hereford on Thursday night

Bolger celebrates putting Fleetwood in front against Hereford on Thursday night

PLAYER RATINGS 

Hereford (4-3-3): Horsell 6; O'Shea 6, Deaman 7, Green 7, Oates 6; Reffell 6, Dinsley 7, Murphy 6; Preen 7.5 (Smith 69'), Mills 7, Symons 7

Subs not used: Page, Preston, Haysham, Bird, Franklin, Harris

Booked: Dinsley 

Manager: Pete Beadle 7

Fleetwood (3-5-2): Cairns 6; Eastham 7, Bolger 8, Cargill 7; Burns 6 (Coyle 66' 6), Sowerby 7, Glendon 6 (Schwabl 83'), O'Neil 6, Bell 7; Cole 6, Hiwula 7 (Hunter 72' 6)

Subs not used: Neal, Pond, Nadesan, Biggins 

Booked: Bolger 

Manager: Uwe Rosler 7

MoM: Bolger

Ref: David Coote 7

Attendance: 4,235  

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Fleetwood have since risen to League One but the £171,000 cash prize that will come from hosting the tie live on the BBC is sure to come in most useful.


Hereford, founded in 2014 as a phoenix club from Hereford United, have gained two promotions in their short time but were still the lowest team left in this year's competition at 143 in the pyramid. 

So to go down fighting against Uwe Rosler's team should be regarded an achievement for the seventh-tier side.

The 4,195 home fans that had come in hope of an upset will though be disappointed at the manner of Fleetwood's near-replica goals.

In the tenth minute George Glendon produced an inswinging delivery and Cian Bolger rose highest to head in. 

It was the Fleetwood captain's first goal since March.

He scored his second in the 58th minute when Glendon lofted in a corner to again take advantage of slack marking.

Hereford's best moment came in the 22nd minute when John Mills capitalised on a mistake by Baily Cargill to set clear Keyon Reffell. 

Reffell's shot made the net ripple to prompt hundreds to their feet but the ball had gone the wrong side of the post. 

Captain Bolger was busy throughout the evening as he tried to stop Hereford attacking

Captain Bolger was busy throughout the evening as he tried to stop Hereford attacking

Hereford had a chance when Keyon Reffell got beyond Bolger but he didn't get much further

Hereford had a chance when Keyon Reffell got beyond Bolger but he didn't get much further

Former Fleetwood striker Jamie Vardy tweeted this picture of him in a Cod Army shirt

Former Fleetwood striker Jamie Vardy tweeted this picture of him in a Cod Army shirt

In the second half Calvin Dinsley hit a powerful shot over and John Mills saw a neat free-kick brush the side-netting as Hereford tried to mount a comeback.

At the other end Lewie Coyle clipped the crossbar for Fleetwood with a shot from range.

By the final whistle the 140 committed away fans that had travelled down from the north-west coast knew where the story would be. 'Vardy's coming home,' they chanted. 

Rosler said: ‘The chairman has reminded me in the last week every day that the income is massive. We focus on Jamie Vardy when the time is right.’

FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW 

Jan 5: Liverpool v Everton; Man Utd v Derby

Jan 6: Fleetwood v Leicester; Middlesbro v Sunderland; A Villa v Peterboro; Birmingham v Burton; Blackburn v Hull; Bolton v Huddersfield; Bournemouth v Wigan; Brentford v Notts Co; Cardiff v Mansfield; Coventry v Stoke; Doncaster v Rochdale; Exeter v West Brom; Fulham v So’ton; Ipswich v Sheff Utd; Man City v Burnley; Millwall v Barnsley; Newcastle v Luton; QPR v MK Dons; Stevenage v Reading; Gillingham/Carlisle v Sheff Wed; Watford v Bristol City; Wolves v Swansea; Wycombe v Preston; Yeovil v Bradford; Norwich v Chelsea

Jan 7: Newport v Leeds; Shrewsbury v West Ham; Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon; N Forest v Arsenal

Jan 8: Brighton v Crystal Palace 

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The players walked out to a fantastic atmosphere at Edgar Street in the FA Cup second round

The players walked out to a fantastic atmosphere at Edgar Street in the FA Cup second round

Bolger gets ready to lead his players out on a cold Thursday night in Hereford  

Bolger gets ready to lead his players out on a cold Thursday night in Hereford  

Edgar the Hereford mascot inspects the pitch ahead of the FA Cup second round kick-off

Edgar the Hereford mascot inspects the pitch ahead of the FA Cup second round kick-off

Hereford's club shop was filled with various garments, including this Christmas jumper

Hereford's club shop was filled with various garments, including this Christmas jumper

Hereford supporters enjoy a drink ahead of the FA Cup replay against Fleetwood

Hereford supporters enjoy a drink ahead of the FA Cup replay against Fleetwood