Fixture change
The official Hereford United website (www.herefordunited.co.uk) report that Hereford's Nationwide Conference match at Northwich Victoria has been moved to September 10th. This is because on September 3rd, the Vics play a Cheshire Senior Cup tie which takes precedence over the league.
Also, the site has revealed three new rules that have been introduced into the Conference this season:
> A maximum of eight loan players will be allowed this season, of which two can be long term.
> Substitutes must wear bibs, home team wearing red and away team wearing yellow bibs.
> Substitutions and injury time will be displayed using an electronic scoreboard device.
Also, the site has revealed three new rules that have been introduced into the Conference this season:
> A maximum of eight loan players will be allowed this season, of which two can be long term.
> Substitutes must wear bibs, home team wearing red and away team wearing yellow bibs.
> Substitutions and injury time will be displayed using an electronic scoreboard device.
AUGUST 8th
Win
pleases winger Parry
Paul Parry, the Hereford United winger, was evidently
delighted with tonight's 12-0 win over Bromyard Town in
the pre-season friendly match.Speaking after the match, he said: "We haven't score a lot of goals this pre-season. It wasn't the best of games but it was a good workout for the lads for their fitness."
"It will do confidence the world of good. Scoring a lot of goals gives the strikers and the whole team a lot of confidence."
"It would have been quite disappointing not to have scored after setting up quite a few of the goals but it came in the end."
You can here more of this interview on Hereford United ClubCall with John Williamson by calling 09068 121645. Calls cost 60p/minute.
Turner
displays confidence
The new season's just around the corner and as
well as new faces at Edgar Street, there's a new voice
for sport for Hereford United's scoreboard sponsors
Classic Gold Radio.The station that broadcasts on 954 AM in Hereford and 1530 AM across Worcester appointed United fan Andy Holmes as the new presenter of the station's Saturday afternoon sport show.
Andy's been coming to Edgar Street for fifteen years and has worked for a number of radio stations across the Midlands and the South West.
He'll be writing a column for HU-FC.co.uk throughout the season and first up this week, Andy catches up wïith United Director of Football Graham Turner.
Fresh from a sponge splattering at the club's Open Day, Graham then faced a barrage of questions from Andy...
First of all Graham, pre-season, how do you think it's gone so far?
Well we've got to discount yesterday (Sunday) really, the 5-0 nil drubbing I didn't think did us justice, they scored three in the last five minutes. I've got too say we were partly responsible with so many trialists out there, we had a completely different midfield three in the first half, two different front players and it didn't help matters - we disregard that result to a large extent - generally I've felt it's gone very well, we've got some very enthusiastic talented young players, if they put it all together we could be in for a good season. I've been delighted so far with what I've seen - attitude, spirit, and just that general feeling that we're going to be a success this season.
Obviously, you've bought in at this stage ten new players, did any of the trialists impress you yesterday?
No (laughs), not in a five nil drubbing. It wasn't easy for the existing players although I don't think many of them did that well, there's one or two performances that I felt should have been better. Having said that when it's as disjointed as it was yesterday, I can understand some poor performances. We write that off, we don't panic, we say that's out of the way, it was our first Saturday afternoon game in the heat, we needed it desperately, let's get all our mistakes out in these pre-season games, thrash out what went wrong, sort out the odd thing that did go right and then we can take it from there.
How pleased are you to be back on the playing side of things?
I'm enjoying it, in Richard O'Kelly I've got a great alley, he's a good coach, the lads have taken to him, he's got their respect already but they also like his company which is important. With him around that's added to things. I'm enjoying working with the players, there's one or two problems obviously, there always will be at a club of this size but I think we're all optimistic that we'll have a good season.
Despite all the optimism, May 2003's not going to go away just yet is it?
No, that's one thing on the playing side if you ask me if it's nice to be back in a tracksuit the answers obviously yes, but if I put my chairman's hat on you start to think about the problems. It's there, we've got to face it, we need the good will of Chelverton‚ we need the good will of the council, we have the good will of the hardcore support, so I don't see any reason why it shouldn't all be sorted out and all the problems overcome to give us a bright future here at Edgar Street.
Obviously, last season wasn't the most successful for Hereford United on the pitch, at what point haød you decided to trim the squad down to such an extent?
I think it was towards the end of the season, we looked at our position, finance played a part, but I do think a big change was required, I think sometimes players need a new club, they get stale at the same place and I think supporters sometimes want to see new faces. The ones we've brought in, I think the fans will take to. Just walking round here today you talk to one or two of the supporters and already they've got favourites out of the new players, they're talking about them and their ability. They're obviously not too down after yesterday, they know it's only a friendly, it's okay at the moment.
Some of the fans won't have got to the friendlies yet, won't have seen the new faces in the squad, who do you think they should be looking out for?
You look at Danny Williams got a lot of ability in midfield, he's probably four or five inches smaller than I would've liked but he can play the game and can set things going for us from midfield. Michael Rose is an all action left sided player, John Grant up front although he's suspenåded for the first three games, once he's settled in I'm sure he'll be a tremendous asset and his mobility and desire to score will win the crowd over. There's three for a start, we know about Jamie Pitman. Ben Smith unfortunately will miss the first couple of months but he'll make an impact when he's fully fit so I'm delighted with what I've seen from the young players, from the new faces that we've got in and the attitude of the squad as a whole makes training very enjoyable.
Will the injury to Ben Smith mean a change of tactics for the first game of the season?
Possibly, we have to adjust and certainly we're also aware of John Grant being suspended early on. I've got to try and sort out our attacking options. Intitially, I would have said that Paul Parry and Grant would have been the front players but having found out about Grant's ban we have to look at things differently. In pre-season John won't be starting as many of the games as he would have done so I can take a look at some other options. We've got a couple of candidates who are trialists but I think Parry's done very well up there with John with his mobility and touch, he's just got to prove that he can score goals as well. If he does I think he'll make an outstanding front man.
Were you aware of the situation with John Grant when you signed him?
No I wasn't, it came to light last week when Northwich phoned us. I think John felt that Northwich were going to appeal, he thought they had done but the whole sending off was unsavoury, he went head to head with another player and the player dived down on the floor and got him sent off. The reaction from the visiting manager and the linesman meant that he'd have had a chance of getting off the suspension. Northwich didn't appeal. He suspended, we've just got to get on with it.
Looking at those other possible options, Steve Guinan has played a part in a number of the friendlies and looked quite sharp, any developments with him?
Steve's done qÎuite well so we'll have to see how things look in the next week or so....
You've got the sixteen players on board at present, plenty of midfielders and defenders, so the search is now on for that elusive striker?
Yes, definitely, we've talked to people like David Kelly, a lot of experienced players, we've talked to Brett Angell and others of his calibre. If they're gettiÿng fixed up with other clubs who are paying more money then we miss out. We've had Andy Baird play for half an hour yesterday, he played quite a number of games at Wycombe to a good standard. So the type of player we're looking at is one of reasonable league experience but they've also got to have enough energy and desire now to come in and not be feeling that they're coming for their last pay days - we want some ambition from them to keep the whole thing going, so they're adding to the dressing room - that's where we've got to be very selective.
How difficult is it to find that passion amongst more experienced players?
That's one of the things that you have to look very carefully at - characters, if you know the player you've got a better chance of choosing someone who's going to have the right ingredient. For instance David Kelly, I'd workedÿ with him before and I knew what he could bring to the dressing room and what he'd do on the pitch. That's what we're looking for really, we want someone who wants to do well for Hereford United.
This season we'll be seeing two up two down in the Conference, how do you think that's going to help build up crowds at Edgar Street?
We've got to get off to a good start haven't we. If we can do that then the crowds will come back no doubt about it, the new faces will also stimulate a lot of interest. The fans are there, they're waiting to support us, if we give them something to shout about, if we give them something to cheer they'll turn up, there's no doubt about that
And having decent crowds obviously easier for the players as well?
It's lovely for players when there's a decent crowd, when they get behind the players. You look at the games that we've played in the cup, there's always been a good response from our players and they do enjoy an atmoísphere, all players do. But we know people won't just turn up, we've got to give them something to turn up for and that's with our level of performance and result.
And finally, I'm not sure what you'll be able to tell me about this one, but there's been a rumour about ex-Bull Marcus Browning returning, are there any developments on that?
He's talking to several other clubs at the moment, if he doesn't get sorted out then we'll talk to him again. We have shown some interest and have enquired about Marcus, right at the moment he's got two league clubs to speak to, if nothing materialises from them, then there's a possibility.
And they'll be more from Andy on the subject of part-timers going full time next week.
Written by Andy Holmes - 8th August 2002.
Bulls charge in
the goals
Bromyard
Town 0 - 12 Hereford United
There were celebrations all round at
Delahay Meadown tonight despite Bromyard Town taking a 12-0
thumping against Hereford United.
The Express & Star West Midlands League Premier Division side opened their new stand and were grateful that the county's premier club could make the trip to celebrate the event.
The Bulls took just one hundred and fifty seconds to take the lead as a ball from Rob Purdie was headed goalwards and pushed away by Jamie Lambert in the Bromyard goal, only for United defender Andrew Tretton to knock home. A minute later, a Paul Parry cross from the left wing found John Grant, who side-footed the ball from twelve yards past the goalkeeper and it bobbled in off the far post.
Ian Wright and Jamie Pitman both wasted openings as Hereford held onto their early advantage, which was extended on eighteen minutes. A Grant shot was parried for Purdie to follow up, but his effort was blocked by a wall of defenders. However, the ball fell to Tretton for a tap-in.
Three minutes later, it was four. Trialist Andy Baird hit a ball to the left of the box where Rob Sawyers was well placed, and he hit an angled shot into the back of the net. A similar shot from Rob Purdie on the half hour sailed over the crossbar, and Grant went closer a minute laster when he linked onto a long ball from Teesdale and shaved the woodwork.
Despite a 4-0 scoreline, Hereford appeared suspect at the back with 'keeper Ken Griffiths uncomfortable with several balls. However, Matt Clarke and Pitman linked well on the right wing which allowed the two to overlap. It was Pitman who released Grant on thirty six minutes, and from the ex-Crewe striker's cross, Rob Purdie unleashed a shot from twelve yards to make it 5-0.
Six minutes before the break, Hereford made it six goals as Purdie sailed over a corner from the left for Paul Parry to drive from twenty five yards. John Grant got a head to the ball from six yards out, as he aimed the ball downwards and goalwards.
The 6-0 half time scoreline seemed a little unfair on Bromyard, who had attempted to exploit Hereford's defensive frailties on several occasions with limited success. However, the second half saw more of the same. Andrew Tretton narrowly missed the target with a close range header just after the break, whilst a Andy Baird goal was disallowed for offside.
On fifty three minutes, John Grant did well to cut in from the left as he searched for his hatrick, and he unleashed a low drive from the edge of the box to make it seven goals without reply. The Bulls proceeded to make three changes, and one of those introduced notched the eighth goal. Steve Guinan, who had replaced Baird in attack, rounded the goalkeeper before driving the ball home whilst under pressure.
Bromyard then had their best spell of the match, as their attack led by Keith Aingel tested Hereford goalkeeper Griffiths on several occasions. However, it wasn't to last long as on sixty seven minutes, Jamie Pitman made it 9-0 with a shot from the right edge of home penalty area.
A minute later, a superb save by Lambert following a Rob Sawyers header must have boosted confidence, and the tenth goal appeared to elude Hereford who hit the side netting through Guinan and post through Rose. Furthermore, Jamie Lambert pulled off another couple of excellent stops from Bristol City youth player Nick Hartley and substitute Danny Williams.
With twelve minutes left, Danny Williams put the Bulls into double figures as he linked onto a through ball and rounded the goalkeeper, and two minutes later Paul Parry turned from provider to goalscorer as he turned in a ball from close range to make it 11-0.
The dozen was completed with five minutes to spare. Rob Purdie linked onto a good piece of build-up play on the left wing for before knocking the ball to Guinan, who ensured the rout was complete.
The introduction of coach Richard O'Kelly, aged fourty-five, with three minutes left revealed how the game was treated as a friendly encounter in what must be his last match, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career.
So it will be Hereford who will be having sweet dreams tonight, but Bromyard stopper Jamie Lambert shouldn't suffer too many nightmares despite the scoreline.
The Express & Star West Midlands League Premier Division side opened their new stand and were grateful that the county's premier club could make the trip to celebrate the event.
The Bulls took just one hundred and fifty seconds to take the lead as a ball from Rob Purdie was headed goalwards and pushed away by Jamie Lambert in the Bromyard goal, only for United defender Andrew Tretton to knock home. A minute later, a Paul Parry cross from the left wing found John Grant, who side-footed the ball from twelve yards past the goalkeeper and it bobbled in off the far post.
Ian Wright and Jamie Pitman both wasted openings as Hereford held onto their early advantage, which was extended on eighteen minutes. A Grant shot was parried for Purdie to follow up, but his effort was blocked by a wall of defenders. However, the ball fell to Tretton for a tap-in.
Three minutes later, it was four. Trialist Andy Baird hit a ball to the left of the box where Rob Sawyers was well placed, and he hit an angled shot into the back of the net. A similar shot from Rob Purdie on the half hour sailed over the crossbar, and Grant went closer a minute laster when he linked onto a long ball from Teesdale and shaved the woodwork.
Despite a 4-0 scoreline, Hereford appeared suspect at the back with 'keeper Ken Griffiths uncomfortable with several balls. However, Matt Clarke and Pitman linked well on the right wing which allowed the two to overlap. It was Pitman who released Grant on thirty six minutes, and from the ex-Crewe striker's cross, Rob Purdie unleashed a shot from twelve yards to make it 5-0.
Six minutes before the break, Hereford made it six goals as Purdie sailed over a corner from the left for Paul Parry to drive from twenty five yards. John Grant got a head to the ball from six yards out, as he aimed the ball downwards and goalwards.
The 6-0 half time scoreline seemed a little unfair on Bromyard, who had attempted to exploit Hereford's defensive frailties on several occasions with limited success. However, the second half saw more of the same. Andrew Tretton narrowly missed the target with a close range header just after the break, whilst a Andy Baird goal was disallowed for offside.
On fifty three minutes, John Grant did well to cut in from the left as he searched for his hatrick, and he unleashed a low drive from the edge of the box to make it seven goals without reply. The Bulls proceeded to make three changes, and one of those introduced notched the eighth goal. Steve Guinan, who had replaced Baird in attack, rounded the goalkeeper before driving the ball home whilst under pressure.
Bromyard then had their best spell of the match, as their attack led by Keith Aingel tested Hereford goalkeeper Griffiths on several occasions. However, it wasn't to last long as on sixty seven minutes, Jamie Pitman made it 9-0 with a shot from the right edge of home penalty area.
A minute later, a superb save by Lambert following a Rob Sawyers header must have boosted confidence, and the tenth goal appeared to elude Hereford who hit the side netting through Guinan and post through Rose. Furthermore, Jamie Lambert pulled off another couple of excellent stops from Bristol City youth player Nick Hartley and substitute Danny Williams.
With twelve minutes left, Danny Williams put the Bulls into double figures as he linked onto a through ball and rounded the goalkeeper, and two minutes later Paul Parry turned from provider to goalscorer as he turned in a ball from close range to make it 11-0.
The dozen was completed with five minutes to spare. Rob Purdie linked onto a good piece of build-up play on the left wing for before knocking the ball to Guinan, who ensured the rout was complete.
The introduction of coach Richard O'Kelly, aged fourty-five, with three minutes left revealed how the game was treated as a friendly encounter in what must be his last match, bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career.
So it will be Hereford who will be having sweet dreams tonight, but Bromyard stopper Jamie Lambert shouldn't suffer too many nightmares despite the scoreline.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 8th August
2002.
| Bromyard Town | Hereford United |
| Not given | Ken Griffiths |
| Matt Clarke (off, 58 minutes) | |
| Robbie Sawyers (off, 73 minutes) | |
| Andrew Tretton | |
| Ian Wright (off, 58 minutes, captain) | |
| Richard Teesdale | |
| Jamie Pitman | |
| Rob Purdie | |
| Andy Baird (off, 58 minutes) | |
| John Grant (off, 73 minutes) | |
| Paul Parry | |
| Subs | Subs |
| Tony James (on, 58 minutes) | |
| Matt Baker | |
| Steve Guinan (on, 58 minutes) | |
| Danny Williams (on, 73 minutes) | |
| Michael Rose (on, 58 minutes) | |
| Nick Hartley (on, 73 minutes) | |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| - | - |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| - | Andrew Tretton (3, 18 minutes) |
| John Grant (4, 39, 53 minutes) | |
| Robbie Sawyers (21 minutes) | |
| Rob Purdie (36 minutes) | |
| Steve Guinan (61, 85 minutes) | |
| Jamie Pitman (67 minutes) | |
| Danny Williams (78 minutes) | |
| Paul Parry (80 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Rob Purdie |
| Attendance | c.300 |
| Referee | Mr. K. Morris (Hereford) |
Win
a must at Bromyard
Hereford United play their sixth pre-season friendly
tonight as they make the short trip to Bromyard Town,
kick off 7.45pm.The Bulls will be hopeful of victory against their opponents who play in the Express & Star West Midlands League Premier Division alongside the likes of Westfields, Kington Town and Ettingshall Holy Trinity. The game is being played to celebrate the opening of Bromyard's new Cyril Bouston Stand.
Following a disappointing draw at Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday and a 5-0 drubbing to Bristol City last Saturday, only a win would boost confidence as the start of the Nationwide Conference season approaches.
Manager Graham Turner will field a Hereford side still missing attacker Scott Voice, who is now back in training. It will be his penultimate chance to experiment with the team before the big kick-off against Farnborough Town on August 17th.
Whilst the majority of the side looks relatively settled, Turner has an issue to resolve in terms of the striking partnership for the new season as Hereford's only two recognised attackers - John Grant and Scott Voice - both look likely to miss out on the Farnborough match. Voice is unlikely to recover from injury whilst Grant misses the first three matches of the new campaign through suspension following his red card for Northwich Victoria on the last day of last season.
On Saturday, Hereford travel to Evesham United of the Dr. Martens League Western Division in their final pre-season match.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Hereford United's youth team will play their home matches at Leominster Town next season.
AUGUST 7th
Well
run club
Last night's game at Aberystwyth Town Football Club
was a hard fought affair with the visitors failing to
score despite having several oppurtunities. Aber gave the
Bulls a good game and if that is the normal standard for
the League of Wales, it is not that far below Conference
level.But it was not only the game which some Hereford supporters will remember. Aber was a club that looked to coping well with the problems in running a football club in an area not exactly full of potential supporters. The ground, close to the railway station, was surrounded by buildings and yet did not seem threatened. There was an adequate car park next to the club and both a clubhouse and small shop. The toilets were light and clean and there were litter bins everywhere. Two refreshment booths were open and did not seem too expensive. According to local fans there have been offers for the site but the directors do not want to sell. Evidence of this was the recent building of a new stand behind one of the goals.
On entering the ground one could sense that here was a club that knew where they were going. They appear to be very involved with the local community. After paying to go in it was time to buy a programme. Expecting that it would be something or nothing we tried to get a sneak view first But their chairman was selling them and he soon made a sale! The programme was one of the best we had seen at a "lesser" club but more about that later.
This chairman was a Scottish business man who had come to the Aber area some years ago and made good. He had lots of charisma and looked an obvious leader. Aberystwyth Football Club had run into some money problems a few seasons ago and new people came foreward to run the club. Several of these directors put money into the club at this time (according to one fan around £350,000 each) and the club has returned to relative prosperity. The chairman also told us that as far as he was concerned the further Rhodi Giggs was away from the club the better. They appear to have a policy of introducing youngsters into the side both local and from further afield including a recent signing of an eighteen year old from Stevenage.
The pitch was a little bumpy and some thought rather narrow; there was little room to take a corner, but the whole ground looked well cared for. In fact for a club run on semi-professional lines where every penny must count it seemed to be coping well. The advertising boards, about seventy in all, were nearly all at ground level but included well known names such as Burger King, Ford, McDonalds and Safeway. There were few gaps, most of the boards looked new and both large and small businesses were promoted. We were told that the club expected to have sold all the space in the next week or so.
Another of the highlights was the programme. It consisted of forty-four pages of which twenty-four were ads in full colours. The editorial was printed in black and white and could be "added" to the prog on the day of the match so giving fans the most up to date news. There was one page printed in Welsh which gave the Bulls fans a little difficulty but the pages on the previous match, coaching review, Rhun's ramblings, and players profile were very readable. An excellent prog for a smaller club. It also told us that their Honorary Life President was a certain John Charles KBE. Perhaps the most notable person was a certain Glan Davies whose title was Advertising and Commercial Sales.
Being a university town, Aber has student representatives. They were in evidence last night, all five of them, with a big drum singing and shouting. In term time well over a hundred students often attend home games. The five present last night were all from over the border with the leader said to come from Rochdale but it did not stop them having a go at the ref who came from Aber. One particular decision against an Aber player was countered with "the referees from England!". If a club like Aberystwyth can get the support it does from the community, Hereford must try harder. There may be more sheep in Ceredigion than Herefordshire but judging by last night's visit the other occupants seem to take their football seriously. It was an eye opener.
(Ed - further to this article, Silverbull emailed HU-FC.co.uk backing up these comments and commending the students who invited him into a pub before the game for a drink, which they even paid for! Many thanks to Aberystwyth Town for making the supporters of Hereford United so welcome.)
AUGUST 6th
Aber draw as
United fail in front of goal
Aberystwyth
Town 0 - 0 Hereford United
Hereford United's team and supporters
were treated to a warm welcome by Aberystwyth Town in
this pre-season friendly, but the home side's generosity
only went so far as they secured a deserved 0-0 draw at
Park Avenue.
The Bulls named trailists Steve Guinan and Andy Baird in attack but the rest of the team was relatively settled; Paul Parry was left on the bench and replaced by Robbie Sawyers.
It was the attacking partnership that created Hereford's first opening, with a Baird cross reaching Guinan. From close range, the former Shrewsbury Town attacker fired over Mike Kinsella's crossbar. Two minutes later, the lively Michael Rose sailed over a dipping cross to Guinan, but from fifteen yards out his directed header could not beat the goalkeeper.
With the half progressing, Baird and Jamie Pitman combined well in an active Hereford midfield for Guinan to waste another chance, this time hitting a swerving shot narrowing wide of the post.
Aber's first real opening came after twenty minutes as Gavin Allen hit a volley on the turn from just outside of Matt Baker's penalty area. His rising effort flew over the crossbar, but revealed the attacking instincts of the home side.
Michael Rose almost put the Bulls 1-0 up seven minutes before the break when he hit a cross into the side netting from the Hereford left, and a long ball from Ian Wright in the last minute of the half, found Matt Clarke, who fired an angled shot into the crowd.
The second half saw Aberystwyth improve their showing, and after just two minutes a free-kick from full-back David Burrows was well caught by Baker in the Hereford goal. At the other end, a Rose corner saw captain Wright header the ball goalwards only for Hereford to be thwarted by Bari Morgan, who was well positioned on the far post to scramble the ball away.
Midway through the half, substitute Paul Parry beat off the challenges of several defenders as he threatened to break away, but the resulting cross was wasted. On sixty nine minutes, Parry again ran loose as he latched onto a loose ball, paced forward and unleashed a low shot which was well saved by Kinsella, who was under pressure from Baird.
In Aber's best spell of the match, midfielder Lee Spike outpaced United defender Ian Wright to open up an opportunity, but his shot was fired across goal with eighteen minutes left. Moments later, a twenty-five yard effort from attacker Anthony Wright was tipped onto the bar by Baker who was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers in the second period.
As the game drew to a close, John Grant turned a shot narrowly wide from eight yards out whilst under pressure but the result will disappoint the Bulls. Hereford look to be improving as a team but are still lacking the killer instinct in front of goal and seem unsure of the 3-5-2 formation at the back. Manager Graham Turner has just two friendlies left to experiment with the team, and the next is at Bromyard Town on Thursday night.
The Bulls named trailists Steve Guinan and Andy Baird in attack but the rest of the team was relatively settled; Paul Parry was left on the bench and replaced by Robbie Sawyers.
It was the attacking partnership that created Hereford's first opening, with a Baird cross reaching Guinan. From close range, the former Shrewsbury Town attacker fired over Mike Kinsella's crossbar. Two minutes later, the lively Michael Rose sailed over a dipping cross to Guinan, but from fifteen yards out his directed header could not beat the goalkeeper.
With the half progressing, Baird and Jamie Pitman combined well in an active Hereford midfield for Guinan to waste another chance, this time hitting a swerving shot narrowing wide of the post.
Aber's first real opening came after twenty minutes as Gavin Allen hit a volley on the turn from just outside of Matt Baker's penalty area. His rising effort flew over the crossbar, but revealed the attacking instincts of the home side.
Michael Rose almost put the Bulls 1-0 up seven minutes before the break when he hit a cross into the side netting from the Hereford left, and a long ball from Ian Wright in the last minute of the half, found Matt Clarke, who fired an angled shot into the crowd.
The second half saw Aberystwyth improve their showing, and after just two minutes a free-kick from full-back David Burrows was well caught by Baker in the Hereford goal. At the other end, a Rose corner saw captain Wright header the ball goalwards only for Hereford to be thwarted by Bari Morgan, who was well positioned on the far post to scramble the ball away.
Midway through the half, substitute Paul Parry beat off the challenges of several defenders as he threatened to break away, but the resulting cross was wasted. On sixty nine minutes, Parry again ran loose as he latched onto a loose ball, paced forward and unleashed a low shot which was well saved by Kinsella, who was under pressure from Baird.
In Aber's best spell of the match, midfielder Lee Spike outpaced United defender Ian Wright to open up an opportunity, but his shot was fired across goal with eighteen minutes left. Moments later, a twenty-five yard effort from attacker Anthony Wright was tipped onto the bar by Baker who was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers in the second period.
As the game drew to a close, John Grant turned a shot narrowly wide from eight yards out whilst under pressure but the result will disappoint the Bulls. Hereford look to be improving as a team but are still lacking the killer instinct in front of goal and seem unsure of the 3-5-2 formation at the back. Manager Graham Turner has just two friendlies left to experiment with the team, and the next is at Bromyard Town on Thursday night.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 6th August
2002.
| Aberystwyth Town | Hereford United |
| Mike Kinsella | Matt Baker |
| David Burrows | Matt Clarke |
| Mark Duckett (off, 64 minutes) | Michael Rose |
| Anthony Godfrey | Andrew Tretton |
| Gary Finley | Ian Wright (captain) |
| Ged Hennigan | Tony James |
| Glyndwr Hughes (off, 51 minutes) | Jamie Pitman (off, 61 minutes) |
| Bari Morgan | Steve Guinan |
| Anthony Wright | Andy Baird (off, 74 minutes) |
| Gavin Allen (off, 81 minutes) | Danny Williams |
| Lee Spike | Robbie Sawyers (off, 61 minutes) |
| Subs | Subs |
| Martin Griffiths (on, 51 minutes) | Richard Teesdale |
| Mark Gornall (on, 81 minutes) | Ken Griffiths |
| Paul Abbott (on, 64 minutes) | Paul Parry (on, 61 minutes) |
| John Grant (on, 74 minutes) | |
| Rob Purdie (on, 61 minutes) | |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| - | - |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| - | - |
| Man of the Match | Michael Rose |
| Attendance | TBC |
| Referee | Mr. Paul Morgan, Aberystwyth |