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Eastleigh snapped a run of three straight defeats courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Boreham Wood in Saturday’s meeting between the teams.
Lee Bradbury’s men opened the scoring 11 minutes shy of the interval through Tristan Abrahams, and that was enough to secure all three points.
As a result, the Spitfires sit ninth in the National League table, two points behind the last playoff spot albeit having played a game more.
Up next is the challenge of an opposing outfit who have only suffered one defeat in the previous 18 editions of this fixture dating back to 2014.
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
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“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life
However, Saturday’s hosts are unbeaten in all but one of their last 13 matches on home turf heading into this weekend’s contest in front of what is sure to be an expectant home support.
Wrexham had to settle for a share of the spoils when they took on York City in a 1-1 stalemate at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday.
Nigel Atangana was hauled off in the first half of Eastleigh’s victory over Boreham Wood last time out, making the midfielder a doubt for this one.
With two goals in his last three home appearances for the hosts, Tristan Abrahams will be looking to come up with the goods for his side once again.
Thomas O’Connor came off the bench to good effect for Wrexham last time out, and the Ireland international could be rewarded with a place in the starting XI.
Off the back of a two-goal haul in the last clash between Saturday’s opponents back in August, 27-year-old Elliott Lee is one to look out for.
Eastleigh possible starting lineup:
McDonnell; Rutherford, Maghoma, Langston, Kelly; Lloyd, Cisse, Carter; Abrahams, Whitehall, Hill
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Howard; McFadzean, Tunnicliffe, Tozer, Hayden, Forde; Lee, Young, Jones; Mullin, Palmer
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Phil Parkinson’s men broke the deadlock in the 88th minute through Thomas O’Connor and were on course to come away with all three points before Immanuelson Duku levelled matters in second-half stoppage time.
Having picked up 47 points from 21 games so far, the Red Dragons are second in the league standings, one point behind Notts County at the top of the pile.
Currently with the second-fewest goals conceded away from home in the entire division, Saturday’s visitors will be confident of keeping their opponents at bay this weekend.