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Hereford United gained a vital single goal victory at Dover this afternoon to ease their relegation fears The Bulls were without Matt Clarke suspended and Matt Baker, ankle injury; so Stuart Jones continued in goal and Jimmy Quiggin returned to mid field with John Shirley and Scott Goodwin filling the full back positions. Gavin Williams and Rob Elms led the attack. The first half was one of missed chances. Elms hit the side netting, and both Paul Parry and Gavin Williams smashing headers over. In the second half Elms should have done better when he shot wide after a Scott Goodwin cross. United goal keeper Jones had a better game than last Tuesday saving several Dover attempts. With 10 minutes to go substitute Steve Pierce picked up a loose ball on 25 yards, which he lobbed over the Dover keeper to give Hereford the lead. Hereford move one place up the table after todays result.
Piearce hero as
Bulls finally win
Dover
Athletic 0 - 1 Hereford United
Hereford United ended a run of four
consecutive defeats when they beat bottom of the league
Dover Athletic at the Crabble today.
The Bulls needed a late goal from substitute Steve Piearce to win the points after an impressive performance from United goalkeeper Stuart Jones, who kept the home side out on several occasions.
Matt Clarke was suspended for the game, and Ian Rodgerson not fully recovered from a foot injury, so the two were absent from the starting eleven. Hereford coach Phil Robinson drafted in Jimmy Quiggin and Rob Elmes as his line-up underwent a re-shuffle. Dover, who sacked Neville Southall as manager this week, named ex-Hereford man Kristian James on the bench.
The opening half was a tense affair with few real goalscoring chances. Openings were created but few were converted into serious efforts on goal. Gavin Williams should have put Hereford ahead after eleven minutes when he hit a curling twenty five yard free kick over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Williams wasted another chance before Robinson hit the side netting.
In the Hereford goal, Jones was forced to punch clear a cross-cum-shot from Dover wing back Steve Norman, and then proceeded to turn a Scott Ramsay shot around the post with a superb diving save.
As the half came to a close, Rob Elmes hit his header over the bar and then Tony James allowed Kevin Seabury through at the other end, only for Jones to make another impressive save to keep the scores level. In added time at the end of the first half, both Paul Parry and Gavin Williams missed good headers to put the Bulls ahead, and so the crowd of 952 were left without a goal at the break.
A transformation occurred at the break, with Dover reformed and ready to attack. In fact, they dominated for spells of the second period and were unlucky to eventually lose the game.
Jamie Day struck from twenty yards just five minutes into the half, but the midfielder hit his left-footed angled shot just wide of the target. That came after Rob Elmes had headed over a Gavin Williams corner at the other end. Dover, at that time, were making the most of their possession and substitute Chris Allen ran rugged John Shirley on the Dover left wing.
Hereford, though, came back and Jimmy Quiggin failed to beat goalkeeper Hyde after a Paul Parry corner from the left. On the hour mark, Scott Goodwin placed a cross to Rob Elmes from deep on the left wing, but the ex-Halesowen striker flashed his header wide.
With twenty five minutes remaining, Jones was called into action again as Seabury fired a low shot into the corner. Hereford's stand-in 'keeper made a low dive to turn the ball around the post after Seabury was fed through by Ramsay.
Graham Turner, the Hereford chairman, then made the crucial substitution. Quiggin was removed and replaced by Steve Piearce, and at first made little impact. Ramsay continued to pressure the Hereford goal as he headed the ball at Jones, and then Chris Allen crossed the ball across goal but nobody was there to connect.
Then Piearce made an impact. With ten minutes left, he picked up a loose ball and proceeded to lob it over Dover stopper Hyde from twenty-five yards. The ball dipped into the net, and Hereford had the goal they required.
The closing minutes were tense with Dover pushing for an equaliser, but the Bulls held on. Jimmy Strouts created Dover's best levelling chance, but he smashed his drive at the goalkeeper.
The result means Hereford move up one place in the league, and hit fourty two points for the season. Their next match is at home against Morecambe next Saturday, kick off 3pm.
The Bulls needed a late goal from substitute Steve Piearce to win the points after an impressive performance from United goalkeeper Stuart Jones, who kept the home side out on several occasions.
Matt Clarke was suspended for the game, and Ian Rodgerson not fully recovered from a foot injury, so the two were absent from the starting eleven. Hereford coach Phil Robinson drafted in Jimmy Quiggin and Rob Elmes as his line-up underwent a re-shuffle. Dover, who sacked Neville Southall as manager this week, named ex-Hereford man Kristian James on the bench.
The opening half was a tense affair with few real goalscoring chances. Openings were created but few were converted into serious efforts on goal. Gavin Williams should have put Hereford ahead after eleven minutes when he hit a curling twenty five yard free kick over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Williams wasted another chance before Robinson hit the side netting.
In the Hereford goal, Jones was forced to punch clear a cross-cum-shot from Dover wing back Steve Norman, and then proceeded to turn a Scott Ramsay shot around the post with a superb diving save.
As the half came to a close, Rob Elmes hit his header over the bar and then Tony James allowed Kevin Seabury through at the other end, only for Jones to make another impressive save to keep the scores level. In added time at the end of the first half, both Paul Parry and Gavin Williams missed good headers to put the Bulls ahead, and so the crowd of 952 were left without a goal at the break.
A transformation occurred at the break, with Dover reformed and ready to attack. In fact, they dominated for spells of the second period and were unlucky to eventually lose the game.
Jamie Day struck from twenty yards just five minutes into the half, but the midfielder hit his left-footed angled shot just wide of the target. That came after Rob Elmes had headed over a Gavin Williams corner at the other end. Dover, at that time, were making the most of their possession and substitute Chris Allen ran rugged John Shirley on the Dover left wing.
Hereford, though, came back and Jimmy Quiggin failed to beat goalkeeper Hyde after a Paul Parry corner from the left. On the hour mark, Scott Goodwin placed a cross to Rob Elmes from deep on the left wing, but the ex-Halesowen striker flashed his header wide.
With twenty five minutes remaining, Jones was called into action again as Seabury fired a low shot into the corner. Hereford's stand-in 'keeper made a low dive to turn the ball around the post after Seabury was fed through by Ramsay.
Graham Turner, the Hereford chairman, then made the crucial substitution. Quiggin was removed and replaced by Steve Piearce, and at first made little impact. Ramsay continued to pressure the Hereford goal as he headed the ball at Jones, and then Chris Allen crossed the ball across goal but nobody was there to connect.
Then Piearce made an impact. With ten minutes left, he picked up a loose ball and proceeded to lob it over Dover stopper Hyde from twenty-five yards. The ball dipped into the net, and Hereford had the goal they required.
The closing minutes were tense with Dover pushing for an equaliser, but the Bulls held on. Jimmy Strouts created Dover's best levelling chance, but he smashed his drive at the goalkeeper.
The result means Hereford move up one place in the league, and hit fourty two points for the season. Their next match is at home against Morecambe next Saturday, kick off 3pm.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 16th March
2002.
| Dover Athletic | Hereford United |
| Paul Hyde | Stuart Jones |
| Tony Browne | John Shirley |
| Steve Norman | Scott Goodwin |
| Jake Leberl | Phil Robinson |
| Lee Shearer | Ian Wright (captain) |
| Jamie Day | Tony James |
| Kevin Seabury | Jimmy Quiggin (off, 66 minutes) |
| Jimmy Strouts | John Snape |
| Keith Scott | Rob Elmes |
| Scott Ramsay | Gavin Williams |
| Neil Le Bihan (off, 51 minutes) | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Kristian James | Ian Rodgerson |
| Chris Allen (on, 51 minutes) | Lee Evans |
| Dave Bathgate | Daniel Davidson |
| Tom Hickman | Jon Hill |
| Phil Smith | Steve Piearce (on, 66 minutes) |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Jimmy Strouts (foul, 47 minutes) | Ian Wright (foul, 67 minutes) |
| Steve Nrman (foul, 60 minutes) | Gavin Williams (unsporting behaviour, 84 minutes) |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| - | Steve Piearce (80 minutes) |
| Man of the Match | Stuart Jones |
| Attendance | 952 |
| Referee | Mr. P. Crossley (Bromley) |