Gillingham avoided an FA Cup upset with a 2-0 victory at Hereford, thanks to Jayden Clarke’s deflected goal and a late Tom Nichols penalty.
The League Two visitors got off to a fast start, with Scott Malone’s effort from outside the box forcing Curtis Pond into a low save.
Jonny Williams then made a surging run into the Hereford box after 14 minutes, but his acrobatic effort was also denied by the Bulls’ goalkeeper.
Stephen Clemence’s reign as Gillingham manager got off to a flying start when Clarke’s 23rd-minute effort took a wicked deflection past Pond.
Connor Mahoney came within an inch of doubling the visitors’ lead 10 minutes later, but his curling effort rattled a post.
Hereford had to wait until the hour mark for their first chance, when Lassana Mendes found the run of Kidderminster loanee Ethan Freemantle, who fired into the side netting.
Paul Caddis’ side craved an equalizer and came close four minutes later when Adam Livingstone’s cross fell kindly for Freemantle, who shot wide.
Nichols hit Hereford on the break with four minutes remaining, running through on goal before being adjudged to have been clipped by goalkeeper Pond.
The veteran forward regained his composure to score from the spot.
