Port Vale battled to a deserved 2-0 victory despite being reducted to ten man against Hereford.
Davies and Richards on target in 2-0 win
Port Vale battled to a deserved 2-0 victory despite being reducted to ten man against Hereford.
Vale were dominant in the opening stages and it was no surprise when Craig Davies sped onto a ninth minute pass from Louis Dodds to round Adam Bartlett and slide the ball into an empty net.
Micky Adams' team should have put the contest to bed as Dodds squandered a fine chance before clipping another attempt against a post. Marc Richards also went close before Hereford almost struck back when ex-Vale striker Leon Constantine headed Marc Pugh's corner against a post.
The visitors must have fancied their chances five minutes before half-time when Vale winger Lewis Haldane stupidly got himself sent off for a second bookable offence.
Hereford debutant Lateef Elford Alliyu guided an effort narrowly wide, but Vale wrapped up the points in stoppage time when defender Lee Collins went on a rampaging 50-yard run to tee up Richards.
There was still time for visiting defender Ryan Valentine to get sent off for a late challenge on Sean Rigg to complete a miserable day for the Bulls.