Preview | Hereford FC (A)

13 October 2023

Hereford FC vs Rochdale AFC | Saturday 14th October 2023, Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Edgar Street, 3pm

Dale's Emirates FA Cup campaign begins with a trip to Hereford FC this weekend, in the fourth qualifying round of the competition.

Read all of the pre-match build-up below.

Fans should note that, if the match ends in a draw, the replay will be played at the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday 17th October, 7.45pm kick-off.

ADMISSION DETAILS

Dale fans can pay on the day at Hereford, using cash or card at their Ticket Office.

Click HERE for full ticket details.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW

Ian Henderson spoke to the Club's website ahead of the game, where he reminisced about his favourite FA Cup memories with Dale.

Click HERE to watch his pre-match interview in full, or read what he had to say HERE.

TEAM NEWS

Dale will be without both George Nevett and Kairo Mitchell, who are on international duty for Wales Under-19s and Grenada, respectively.

THE OPPOSITION

This will be the first time Dale have faced Hereford FC since they were founded in 2014.

Supporters will remember our encounters with Hereford United, who were dissolved earlier that same year.

Since the phoenix club was founded, the Bulls have risen to the National League North, where they currently sit 16th in the table.

Former Birmingham City defender Paul Caddis is their Manager, having taken over in the summer.

They have former Dale loanee Paul Downing amongst their ranks, as well as former EFL players Nathan Cameron and Adam Rooney.

GROUND GUIDE

Dale fans can find some information on visiting Egdar Street HERE.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides, although there were 46 matches between Dale and Hereford United.

Dale won 11, with 16 wins for Hereford and 19 draws.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Andrew Humphries will be the referee for Saturday’s game. He is in his first full season at National League level, and also regularly referees in Premier League 2.

Lewis Mansfield-King and Kerian Forrest are assistant referees, with Liam Corbett as fourth official.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Supporters can listen to live commentary from the tie, via Dale Player. There will be no stream available of the match.

Click HERE for full details on signing up for live commentary.

There will also be live updates via the club’s official twitter account.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Hereford FC 1-0 Dale

14 October 2023

Dale were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, after a 1-0 defeat at Hereford FC.

Ethan Freemantle’s 78^th minute goal proved to be the difference in a game where Dale saw the majority of the ball but couldn’t find a route to goal.

Jimmy McNulty made three changes to the side from last weekend. Cian Hayes made his full debut, whilst Kyle Ferguson and Ian Henderson returned to the starting line-up. First-year scholars Corey Edwards and Isaac Burgess were on the substitute’s bench.

Dale controlled the opening stages of the tie, with Ryan East being denied by two saves from Hereford goalkeeper Curtis Pond, whilst he and Adam Clayton both had efforts from the edge of the area well blocked by the home defence.

Henderson did have the ball in the back of the net, but his header from Hayes’ whipped cross was ruled out for offside.

The hosts had arguably the best chance of the opening period, when veteran Adam Rooney latched on to a ball over the top of the Dale defence, but his well-struck volley was turned over by the superb, outstretched arm of Louie Moulden.

Hayes had a decent opportunity for Dale, meeting Sinclair’s cross at the back post with a volley, but he didn’t fully catch the chance, firing into the arms of Pond.

The Fleetwood Town loanee also had the final effort of the half, forcing the goalkeeper into a low save with a right foot effort, after being found by Harvey Gilmour.

After the break, Hayes continued to be a threat, seeing a shot blocked and another well saved by Pond after stepping inside a defender.

Moulden had to make a strong save to his left to deny Alex Babos, whilst Pond also had to make a fingertip save to turn Gilmour’s free-kick over the bar.

Kwaku Oduroh made a superb block on the line to deny Freemantle, but the Hereford man converted the only goal of the game minutes later, finishing off after the hosts had stolen possession off Dale high up the pitch.

McNulty’s men saw plenty of the ball as they pushed to try and find an equaliser, but they couldn’t test Pond in the Hereford net, and this season’s FA Cup campaign came to an end at the first hurdle.

Dale XI | Moulden, East, Ebanks-Landell, Sinclair, Clayton, Keohane, Oduroh, Hayes, Gilmour, Ferguson, Henderson.

Unused subs | B Kelly, Rodney, Uchegbulam, McDermott, Afuye, Edwards, Burgess