A MEMORABLE strike by Jon Brady at Milton Road deservedly earned Hereford United their place in the FA Cup second round.

Brady cracked home a shot from the edge of the area after a fine run by Ryan Green down the left had ripped the Cambridge defence apart.

Hereford started as if they intended to have the game wrapped up inside the first 20 minutes with the Bulls totally dominating play.

Brady's early shot was comfortably saved, while powerful drives from Andy Williams and Rob Purdie flashed inches wide of the goal.

Jamie Pitman was also close to opening the scoring following some good work by Guy Ipoua before Nationwide South side Cambridge enjoyed their best spell of the game in the lead-up to the interval.

Mark Molesley's cross-shot flashed across the goal and wide, Dale Binns crashed a shot just wide and Paul Booth might have done better with his shot from the edge of the area after a weak defensive header from Green had set up the opening.

Hereford snatched back control at the start of the second period and Ipoua went close to opening the scoring with an overhead kick from an Alex Jeannin free-kick.

Youngster Williams, who had sent a flicked header flashing across goal, then crashed a powerful drive inches wide from the edge of the area.

Pitman went close with a 25-yarder in the 65th minute before Cambridge provided one of their few real moments of danger.

Top scorer Booth seemed set to get on the end of a long punt forward until goalkeeper Craig Mawson, back in for the unavailable Wayne Brown, came racing out of his area to hack the ball clear.

It proved a crucial save as, five minutes later, Brady produced his excellent strike to notch his first goal since the Hereford Senior Invitation Cup final with Westfields in August to settle the tie.

Boss Graham Turner said: "It was just as tough as we expected after having them watched.

"I would have settled for the draw before Jon Brady scored such a great goal for us.

"We are having a mediocre season in the league and getting through to the next round will give everybody a huge lift."

City boss Graham Roberts admitted he was pleased to run Hereford so close.

And Brady said of his goal: "It was an enjoyable finish. I think the pass was meant for Graham (Evans). I made a late run and I managed to connect with it quite nicely."

HEREFORD: Mawson, Green, Mkandawire, James, Jeannin, Brady, Stanley, Pitman, Purdie, Ipoua, Williams (Evans 69). Subs not used: Knurek, Beckwith, Carey-Bertram, Ferrell.

ATTENDANCE: 1,116.