ADAM Bartlett was the Hereford hero as the Bulls progressed to the southern semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tonight.

The Bulls keeper saved three penalties in the shoot-out after the scores had been tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Jason Demetriou levelled in stoppage time after Leon Constantine gave United a 25th-minute lead.

Hereford’s pressure paid off when Gavin McCallum produced a neat turn on the edge of the area and pulled the back for Constantine to fire into the net.

They might have extended their lead eight minutes later with a fine move which saw Mark Marshall crack the ball wide of the post.

Orient almost made a perfect start to the second period as Robin Jarvis was only denied by Bartlett’s fine block. The Bulls keeper continued to have plenty to do with the home side pushing for an equaliser.

Ten minutes from time, Bartlett pulled off a fine stop from Sean Thornton’s 25-yard free-kick.

But his luck was out in the third minute of injury-time when Demetriou struck a low shot into the corner of the net.

However, the Bulls prospered in the penalty shoot-out with Bartlett saving from Thornton, Charlie Daniels and Luke Summerfield.

Sub Jamie Tolley missed for Hereford but Keith Lowe, Kenny Lunt and McCallum scored.

Hereford: Bartlett; Lowe, Green, Blanchett, Rose; Marshall (Godsmark 69), Lunt, Sonko, Done; McCallum, Constantine (Tolley 69). Subs not used: Adamson, King, Dennehy.

Attendance: 1,282.

Meanwhile, Evesham United lost 1-0 at Zamaretto League rivals Stourbridge in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup quarter-finals tonight.