HEREFORD United will welcome Eastwood Town back to Edgar Street tomorrow night for a FA Trophy fifth round replay after a far-from-easy draw at Coronation Park.

The pitch was heavy after recent rain and snow and featured a prominent slope so, all in all, was never really likely to suit Hereford's usual flowing style.

The Bulls made 10 changes from the starting line-up which had featured against Northwich in the GLS Cup the previous Tuesday with only Graham Hyde playing in both games.

There was a debut for West Bromwich Albion youngster Brian Smikle who has signed for Hereford on work experience until the end of the season.

Hereford made the early running as Danny Carey-Bertram and Craig Stanley both sent long-range drives wide of the target.

But Eastwood, who disposed of higher-graded Hayes and Worksop earlier in the competition, gave evidence of their threat on 11 minutes.

The Unibond League Division One side's top-scorer Peter Knox seized on hesitancy by Tamika Mkandawire to race into the area and round Craig Mawson, only to hammer his shot against an upright.

As Hereford regained the initiative, Rob Purdie sent Carey-Bertram away but the youngster again blazed wide of the target.

Then Danny Williams was fouled on the edge of the area but got up to drive his free-kick harmlessly into goalkeeper Danny Bryant's arms.

Carey-Bertram, twice, and Stanley failed to hit the target as Hereford had much the better of the remainder of the first period.

The Bulls, with the benefit of the slope, began the second-half strongly and Bryant saved well from Purdie's header after a Williams cross.

Then Bryant did well to push a powerful drive from Simon Travis on to an upright but Eastwood survived the pressure to break out and take the lead.

The dangerous Knox out-witted Travis on the left and his cross was pushed out by Mawson to Deon Meikle who slotted home from close range.

Hereford continued to pressurise, forcing a stream of corners, but, with efforts from Purdie, Williams and Hyde flying wide or put behind for flag-kicks, time seemed to be running out.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining, referee Steve Bratt spotted a foul on sub Lee Mills by Matt Millns and pointed to the penalty spot.

Tony James stepped up to send Bryant the wrong way with his confidently-struck spot-kick.

Eastwood continued to show their resilience, however, and it took a fine save from Mawson to push away a low drive from Knox three minutes later and earn Hereford a second chance in the replay.

Hereford: *Mawson 8, Travis 7, James 7, Mkandawire 6, Robinson 6, Smikle 6 (Brown 78), Hyde 6, Stanley 7, D Williams 7, Carey-Bertram 6, Purdie 6 (Mills 71). Subs not used: Green, Tretton, Scott.

Attendance: 985.