FA Vase semi-final first leg:

Hereford 1

(Bundu, 49)

Whites 0

SALISBURY failed to score for the first time in 40 matches as their FA Vase semi-final first leg ended in a slim defeat to favourites Hereford at a crackling Edgar Street.

The Bulls hold the advantage at the halfway stage thanks to teenager Mustapha Bundu's soaring header in the 49th minute.

The Sierra Leonean, 19, towered over George Colson and diverted his header, from fellow Hartpury College student Jimmy Oates' floating delivery, deep into the bottom corner.

That eased an agitated home contingent who were still berating Pablo Haysham's disallowed goal for handball two minutes before half time.

The university undergraduates linked up once more to set up Ross Staley, who was denied twice by the bar, then Bunda rattled the woodwork in a frenetic three minutes.

Steve Walker mustered the visitors' best effort with a close-range header that was majestically clawed away by Martin Horsell - leaving the Whites goalless since the opening day of the season at Brockenhurst on August 8.

Steve Claridge's men arrived in Herefordshire in style - travelling up on Portsmouth's luxurious first team coach.

The chief named a much-changed side for the historic occasion, plumping for eight changes from the team which had their game with Horndean abandoned at half time when it was 2-2 on Tuesday night.

Defenders Callum Hart, George Colson and Steve Walker, who scored twice, were the only players to retain their place in the starting XI.

But with just nine minutes on the clock, Claridge was forced to use his first substitute. Elliot Wheeler made his first appearance in the competition as he replaced Calum Brockway, who fell awkwardly on his right shoulder, the one he dislocated last month, and was stretchered off.

That was the second incident in what was a stop-start opening after Aaron Birch suffered a head injury following a collision with Whites skipper Kane O'Keefe.

Once the game restarted, barrel-chested striker Mike Symons, starting ahead of top scorer John Mills, with 44 to his name this term, lived up to his nickname the Beast, showing almighty strength going forward.

He held the ball well and made it difficult for the visiting back four to nullify the threat.

Bundu then won a free kick on the edge of the area but watched his chance go wide of Charlie Searle's goal.

The Whites were outmuscled in the physical battle and didn't find any real rhythm until the half hour mark. That was also down to the tremendous work of Welsh defender Ryan Green, a former pro who played 13 times with Claridge at Millwall in 2001/2002, marshalling the line robustly.

Outlet Dan Demkiv produced a good cross along the six-yard box which no one was there to meet before winning a free kick which Tom Whelan whipped into the area but Walker was unable to make a connection.

With the visitors enjoying their best spell, they nearly found themselves victims of a Maradona-esque handball two minutes before the break in a peculiar incident which was initially given by Staffordshire referee Stephen Martin.

Staley's cross on the right was met by the leaping Haysham who used his hand to punch the ball over the on-rushing Charlie Searle and into the roof of the net.

As Hereford celebrated in front of the faithful crammed inside the Meadow End, Searle led protests from the Salisbury camp alongside a sea of blue shirts while Steve Claridge, like never before, sprinted up the touch line to confront the assistant.

And following a long discussion between Martin and the linesman, the referee gave a free kick to Salisbury and booked Haysham for handball, causing boos to ring around the ground at half time.

Justice had been done for the Whites but a sluggish start to the second period saw them concede in the 49th minute.

The agile Bundu rose above Colson and powerfully directed Oates' cross into the bottom corner past Searle.

Then on 60 minutes the Bulls saw three efforts cannon off the woodwork in as many minutes.

Oates picked out Bundu again and this time pulled out a delightful Johan Cruyff turn past Colson and pulled it back for Staley, who was denied by the woodwork before stabbing the upright.

And two minutes later Bundu was first to Rob Purdie's set piece but his header ricocheted off the crossbar.

Whites were on the ropes and Claridge freshened things up with the introduction of Taurean Roberts, who scored one and set-up another in the quarter final, replaced Demkiv and swapped wings with Danny Young.

He made an instant impact with his pace, causing a challenge for right back Oates and, suddenly with 13 minutes to go, Salisbury looked like snatching an equaliser.

Sam Wilson got the better of his man and sprinted down the right and looked up where he crossed for a loitering O'Keefe on the edge of the box, who screwed his shot into the stands.

Then three minutes later their best chance landed.

Set-piece specialist Whelan picked out Walker at the far post, only to be denied by a world-class save from former Salisbury City keeper Martin Horsell.

Salisbury continued to press for a goal but were left empty-handed on the day.

Nonetheless, the 537 vocal supporters in the Len Weston Stand didn't look too disheartened as they know it's all to play for in what is expected to be a sell-out at the Ray Mac on Saturday for the second leg.

Whites (4-3-3): Searle, Colson, Walker, Brockway (Wheeler, 9), Hart, O'Keefe (c), Whelan, Munday, Demkiv (T Roberts, 67), Young, Wilson.

Subs not used: Jarvis, Matthews, S. Roberts.

Hereford (4-4-2): Horsell, Oates, Green (c), Summers, Edwards, Bundu, Birch, Purdie, Staley (Grant, 76), Haysham (Bonella, 86), Symons (Mills, 83).

Subs not used: Pilling, Willets.

Att: 4,683 (including 537 SFC fans).

Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).

Journal star man: Steve Walker - He was rock solid at centre half, terrifically containing Hereford's front man Mike Symons.