Hereford see off Salisbury to reach FA Vase final at Wembley

Striker Mike Symons and Joe Tumelty were the Hereford heroes as they completed a 3-1 aggregate win against Salisbury to reach the FA Vase final.

Former Gloucester City front man Symons poked in a first-half leveller, after Steve Walker had given Whites a lead on the day.

But substitute Tumelty’s cool finish with 11 minutes to go sent the Bulls, and their 650 travelling fans, to Wembley in style.

Hereford, second placed in the Midland Football League Premier Division, took a slim advantage into the match thanks to a first leg goal from Mustapha Bundu.

But Steve Claridge’s hosts put the game back to parity in the 18th minute when Tom Whelan’s deep free-kick found its way to Walker, who managed to find space to bring the ball down and prod in.

Hereford were struggling to keep possession with the hosts pressing high up the pitch, but they put themselves back on the road to Wembley three minutes before half-time.

The goal profit returned after Ross Staley’s shot deflected into the path Symons who tapped in at the back post.

Hereford had never been to Wembley in their previous guise as Hereford United, which folded after 90 years.

Livewire winger Bundu found himself clean through on Charlie Searle’s goal for a golden chance after the break but could not find the angle to beat the ex-Havant gloveman.

Sierra Leone man Bundu was given an even better chance to guarantee Hereford’s route to the final from the spot, after Pablo Hasham was fouled by Whelan, but the wide man saw his penalty saved.

Wessex Premier League leaders Salisbury’s hopes were finally ended when Tumelty was fed by Haysham on the edge of the area, before curling into the bottom corner.

It could have been even more emphatic but Rob Purdie could only strike the post from his clever set piece – but by then the ‘Que Seras’ were being sung by the visiting supporters.