Hereford scrape
narrow victory
Evesham
United 0 - 1 Hereford United
Hereford United recorded their third pre-season
victory of the current campaign with a last minute goal
at Common Road against Dr. Martens League Western
Division side Evesham United.
The home team named former Hereford United defender Matt Gardiner in their starting eleven, whilst Hereford started with Steve Guinan and Paul Parry in attack as boss Graham Turner named what is thought to be the line-up that will begin the league season against Farnborough Town next Saturday.
Hereford started the brighter of the two sides, but the first half was one of missed opportunities. The Bulls had a shot cleared off the line early on, but Evesham grew in stature as the half progressed, pressurising Matt Baker's goal.
Whilst the Bulls appeared fluent in their passing, the end product was still lacking. Guinan never really linked with Parry in attack, who was too often pulled out-wide to the left wing. Things started to heat up towards the end of the half where some flying tackles went in which really weren't required in a pre-season friendly. The half time whistle was blown just as an argument had formed between the two teams on the pitch.
The second half opened with a goalmouth scramble. A Jamie Pitman free-kick resulted in shots from Guinan, Parry and Wright before the referee blew for goalkeeper Adam Moss to receive treatment for an injury. At the other end, Shaun Pratt knocked over a cross from the right wing for James Brown to knock on, only for Matt Baker to dive well and collect the ball.
Rob Purdie was the next to waste a good opening for Hereford as his low shot was aimed at the goalkeeper, and Hereford's Parry hit the side-netting after beating the offside trap to collect a long-ball from defender Andrew Tretton. On the hour mark, Evesham's Jay Powell tested Baker with a returned clearance as the home side piled on the pressure against their higher graded opponents.
With twenty seven minutes left, Andy Baird replaced Steve Guinan in attack and thirteen minutes later, John Grant was introduced for Paul Parry as neither had found the target. Parry had an opening on sixty four minutes when Pitman flew over a nice ball which the goalkeeper dropped, but it fell behind the Welshman who was unable to recover sufficiently.
The dying minutes were pretty even, and the unlikely goal came with Hereford's last attack. Matt Clarke crossed from the right following a good move, and John Grant was well placed on the edge of the box to hit a half volley past Moss in the Evesham goal.
The final scoreline was a little harsh on Evesham and perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result. Nevertheless, grinding out 1-0 wins like today's during the season proper will bolster Hereford's points tally no end.
A Farnborough Town camera was filming the game from the far side and on this display, it's difficult to anticipate what problems they will have picked up. Graham Westley will be banking on an easy three points at Edgar Street next Saturday and without John Grant in the Hereford starting eleven, it's difficult to see where the goals are going to come from.
The home team named former Hereford United defender Matt Gardiner in their starting eleven, whilst Hereford started with Steve Guinan and Paul Parry in attack as boss Graham Turner named what is thought to be the line-up that will begin the league season against Farnborough Town next Saturday.
Hereford started the brighter of the two sides, but the first half was one of missed opportunities. The Bulls had a shot cleared off the line early on, but Evesham grew in stature as the half progressed, pressurising Matt Baker's goal.
Whilst the Bulls appeared fluent in their passing, the end product was still lacking. Guinan never really linked with Parry in attack, who was too often pulled out-wide to the left wing. Things started to heat up towards the end of the half where some flying tackles went in which really weren't required in a pre-season friendly. The half time whistle was blown just as an argument had formed between the two teams on the pitch.
The second half opened with a goalmouth scramble. A Jamie Pitman free-kick resulted in shots from Guinan, Parry and Wright before the referee blew for goalkeeper Adam Moss to receive treatment for an injury. At the other end, Shaun Pratt knocked over a cross from the right wing for James Brown to knock on, only for Matt Baker to dive well and collect the ball.
Rob Purdie was the next to waste a good opening for Hereford as his low shot was aimed at the goalkeeper, and Hereford's Parry hit the side-netting after beating the offside trap to collect a long-ball from defender Andrew Tretton. On the hour mark, Evesham's Jay Powell tested Baker with a returned clearance as the home side piled on the pressure against their higher graded opponents.
With twenty seven minutes left, Andy Baird replaced Steve Guinan in attack and thirteen minutes later, John Grant was introduced for Paul Parry as neither had found the target. Parry had an opening on sixty four minutes when Pitman flew over a nice ball which the goalkeeper dropped, but it fell behind the Welshman who was unable to recover sufficiently.
The dying minutes were pretty even, and the unlikely goal came with Hereford's last attack. Matt Clarke crossed from the right following a good move, and John Grant was well placed on the edge of the box to hit a half volley past Moss in the Evesham goal.
The final scoreline was a little harsh on Evesham and perhaps a draw would have been a fairer result. Nevertheless, grinding out 1-0 wins like today's during the season proper will bolster Hereford's points tally no end.
A Farnborough Town camera was filming the game from the far side and on this display, it's difficult to anticipate what problems they will have picked up. Graham Westley will be banking on an easy three points at Edgar Street next Saturday and without John Grant in the Hereford starting eleven, it's difficult to see where the goals are going to come from.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 10th August
2002.
| Evesham United | Hereford United |
| Adam Moss | Matt Baker |
| Russell Parmenter | Matt Clarke |
| Matt Pendleton | Michael Rose (off, half time) |
| Matt Gardiner | Andrew Tretton |
| Jay Powell | Ian Wright |
| Nathan Jukes (off, 74 minutes) | Tony James |
| Shaun Pratt (off, 79 minutes) | Jamie Pitman |
| Darren Bullock | Robbie Sawyers |
| Steve Lutz | Steve Guinan (off, 63 minuets) |
| Danny James | Danny Williams |
| James Brown | Paul Parry (off, 76 minutes) |
| Subs | Subs |
| Scott Mullen (on, 74 minutes) | Andy Baird (on, 63 minutes) |
| Kays Sibanda | Ken Griffiths |
| Pete Sollis | Rob Purdie (on, half time) |
| Luke Tovey | Richard Teesdale |
| Andy Smith (on, 79 minutes) | John Grant (on, 76 minutes) |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| - | - |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| John Grant (89 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Jamie Pitman |
| Attendance | c.400 |
| Referee | Mr. J. Raphael (Worcestershire) |