MATHIEU Manset was at the centre of events as the Bulls progressed to the second round of the FA Cup.

Manset scored the first Hereford goal after six minutes but was sent off later in the first-half.

Hereford gave a full debut to Edrissa Sonko, who took the place of the injured Sam Gwynne in central midfield.

With Mark Marshall ineligible, Jon Godsmark was recalled on the right of midfield.

After a scrappy opening, Hereford took the lead with just six minutes played.

Kenny Lunt played the ball through to Craig King and although keeper Kevin Scriven parried his effort, Manset followed up to force the ball home.

Sutton enjoyed a period of attacking in response and Bartlett dived to hold a Sonny Cobbs header from Alan Pouton’s free-kick.

Manset came close to a second in the 13th minute when Scriven raced off his line to beat the Frenchman to Sonko’s through pass.

The Ryman Premier Division outfit were the first to force a corner, on 16 minutes, but Pouton’s cross flashed through the area without anyone getting a touch.

The League Two hosts far from drawing strength from the goal, found themselves under pressure and Keith Lowe cleared off the line after Bartlett dropped a Billy Hawes long throw.

The Bulls, however, should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when King and Lunt worked the ball to Godsmark, unmarked and with just Scriven to beat.

However, the on-loan winger’s control was poor and the keeper raced off his line to block.

A shot by Pouton brought a regulation save from Bartlett as Sutton sought to hit back, while Lowe headed a Godsmark corner wide at the other end. The game flared up in the 27th minute when there was an altercation in midfield involving Manset and Pouton. The Sutton man ended up rolling on the ground while referee Steve Rushton consulted with his colleagues.

The resulting red card for Manset provoked a furious reaction on the Hereford bench while Pouton made a remarkably swift recovery.

Sutton sought to take advantage of their numerical superiority and Danny Blachett nodded Jason Goodliffe’s header from another Billy Hawes long throw off the line.

King and Godsmark made a complete hash of a two-on-one situation as Hereford made a rare break out.

Hereford’s fury was revisited just after the break when Darren Jones’ header from a Ryan Valentine was clearly handled out of play for a corner.

Despite Hereford’s protests, Rushton stood by his decision.

Sutton forced Hereford back into defence and Bartlett pulled off a fine save to turn a Billy Hawes pile-driver behind for a corner.

Hereford, although a man short, produced some enterprising attacks and King set up Marc Pugh for a shot which Scriven held at the second attempt as Godsmark closed in.

Hereford were again denied a penalty when Pugh’s run was blocked off by Jason Goodliffe.

With the Bulls still attacking, Pugh’s corner skimmed off the head of Jones and went out for a goal-kick.

As the half progressed, Sutton piled more and more men forward.

But it was the Bulls who scored again four minutes from the end.

Goodliffe handled the ball as he went to ground under pressure from Pugh and Valentine scored from the spot.

Hereford: Bartlett; Lowe, D Jones, Blanchett, Valentine; Godsmark (Done 89), Sonko, Lunt, Pugh (McCallum 89); King, Manset. Subs not used: Adamson, Rose, Constantine, Green, Tolley.

Sutton: Scriven; B Hawes, Goodliffe, Thomas (Perkins 46), Bray; Hann, Cobbs, Pouton, J Hawes (Joseph 46); Gargan, McKimm (Phillips 72). Subs not used: El-Salahi, Dos Santos, Watts, Smith.

Referee: Steve Rushton (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 1,713.