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Williams makes sure
Hereford United beat Forest Green Rovers 3-1 at the Lawn tonight to move to the top of the table (alongside Dagenham and Doncaster).
Williams makes
sure
Forest
Green Rovers 1 - 3 Hereford United
Hereford United jumped to the top of the
Nationwide Conference tonight after a 3-1 victory over
local rivals Forest Green Rovers at the Lawn.
The result means a 100% record for the Bulls after two matches, a feat which delighted the large Hereford following in the crowd of 1,514.
United were unchanged from the side that beat Farnborough Town 2-1 on Saturday, and they started the brighter of the two teams but failed to create any clear-cut chances. The midfield worked well and the defensive unit looked sturdy, with Andrew Tretton particularly impressing.
However, after eighteen minutes, it was Nigel Spink's Rovers side that took the lead. Ex-Hereford attacker Neil Grayson, making his home debut for Forest Green, first home an angled shot after good work by Alex Sykes on the left wing.
Seven minutes later, an ambitious overhead effort from Grayson flew inches over Matt Baker's upright, before Paul Parry's skill and trickery fooled Forest Green at the other end. The Welshman skipped past Jamie Impey before knocking a low shot between Matthew Coupe and goalkeeper Steve Perrin to find the equaliser.
The rest of the half was largely dominated by Hereford, who had to administer treatment to both Danny Williams and Tony James for knocks in the dying minutes.
The second period started with Forest Green in control as Martin Foster and Neil Grayson both went close with promising efforts. However, Rob Sawyers' effort at the other end was inches away from the target as Hereford grew in stature. It, therefore, came as no surprise when a Michael Rose corner was converted by captain Ian Wright on the hour mark to put the Bulls ahead. A strong header was too hot for Perrin to handle.
As United had the advantage, the impotus was with Rovers to find an equaliser. Shots from Sykes and Foster were wasted as Hereford looked flimsy at the back, but they held on. In fact, Forest Green appeared stronger after defender Steve Jenkins was sent off for a second bookable offence with thirteen minutes left, and it wasn't until the second minute of added time that Hereford made sure of the points. Danny Williams linked onto a loose ball after a Paul Parry shot to fire home from twenty yards to double the advantage.
With two wins out of two, Hereford hope to make it three in a row at Gravesend on Saturday, whilst Forest Green are still looking for their first points, and aim to end their duck against Southport.
The result means a 100% record for the Bulls after two matches, a feat which delighted the large Hereford following in the crowd of 1,514.
United were unchanged from the side that beat Farnborough Town 2-1 on Saturday, and they started the brighter of the two teams but failed to create any clear-cut chances. The midfield worked well and the defensive unit looked sturdy, with Andrew Tretton particularly impressing.
However, after eighteen minutes, it was Nigel Spink's Rovers side that took the lead. Ex-Hereford attacker Neil Grayson, making his home debut for Forest Green, first home an angled shot after good work by Alex Sykes on the left wing.
Seven minutes later, an ambitious overhead effort from Grayson flew inches over Matt Baker's upright, before Paul Parry's skill and trickery fooled Forest Green at the other end. The Welshman skipped past Jamie Impey before knocking a low shot between Matthew Coupe and goalkeeper Steve Perrin to find the equaliser.
The rest of the half was largely dominated by Hereford, who had to administer treatment to both Danny Williams and Tony James for knocks in the dying minutes.
The second period started with Forest Green in control as Martin Foster and Neil Grayson both went close with promising efforts. However, Rob Sawyers' effort at the other end was inches away from the target as Hereford grew in stature. It, therefore, came as no surprise when a Michael Rose corner was converted by captain Ian Wright on the hour mark to put the Bulls ahead. A strong header was too hot for Perrin to handle.
As United had the advantage, the impotus was with Rovers to find an equaliser. Shots from Sykes and Foster were wasted as Hereford looked flimsy at the back, but they held on. In fact, Forest Green appeared stronger after defender Steve Jenkins was sent off for a second bookable offence with thirteen minutes left, and it wasn't until the second minute of added time that Hereford made sure of the points. Danny Williams linked onto a loose ball after a Paul Parry shot to fire home from twenty yards to double the advantage.
With two wins out of two, Hereford hope to make it three in a row at Gravesend on Saturday, whilst Forest Green are still looking for their first points, and aim to end their duck against Southport.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 20th August
2002.
| Forest Green Rovers | Hereford United |
| Steve Perrin | Matt Baker |
| Matthew Coupe (off, 69 minutes) | Matt Clarke |
| Steve Jenkins | Michael Rose |
| Alan McLoughlin | Andrew Tretton |
| Jamie Impey | Ian Wright (captain) |
| Kevin Langan | Tony James |
| Martin Foster (captain) | Jamie Pitman |
| Gary Owers | Robbie Sawyers |
| Neil Grayson | Steve Guinan |
| Alex Meechan | Danny Williams |
| Alex Sykes | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Carl Heggs | Richard O'Kelly |
| Simon Futcher | Ken Griffiths |
| Trevor Tearney (on, 69 minutes) | Rob Purdie |
| Rob Cook | Richard Teesdale |
| Lee Pritchard | Scott Voice |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Steve Jenkins (12 minutes, unsporting behaviour) | Danny Williams (80 minutes, unsporting behaviour) |
| Steve Jenkins (77 minutes, unsporting behaviour) | |
| Jamie Impey (87 minutes, unsporting behaviour) | |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| Steve Jenkins (77 minutes, two yellow cards) | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Neil Grayson (16 minutes) | Paul Parry (26 minutes) |
| Ian Wright (59 minutes) | |
| Danny Williams (90 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Andrew Tretton |
| Attendance | 1514 |
| Referee | Mr. P. Melin (Surrey) |