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Clarke's goal seals victory
Hereford United defeated Woking 2-1 on a rain swept pitch in tonight's only Nationwide Conference encounter. The Bulls got off to a good start when Jon Boardman put through his own net to give the United lead after eighteen minutes. Less than a minute later the advantage was doubled by Matt Clarke after John Grant had hit the post from six yards leaving a tap in for the United player. Woking did manage a mini revival when Chris Sharpling (60) scored to give the home side hope, but the Bulls held out to secure victory.
Rain affects flow but
United pull through
Woking
1 - 2 Hereford United
As the rain hammered down, there must
have been some doubt about this match going ahead and had
it not been for the appearance on Sky Television, a
postponement could have been even more likely.
As it were, the soaked pitch hampered play but Hereford United once again shone in front of the cameras as two first half goals secured a 2-1 victory over Woking at the Kingfield Stadium.
The result means Hereford jump about the Cards into sixth in the Conference, seven points behind leaders Doncaster Rovers with a game in hand. Woking drop one place to seventh.
The Cards defeat was their second successive in league competition, but should have taken the lead after just five minutes when Matt Baker saved well from Barry Moore, but Hereford were soon in the ascendancy and Steve Guinan fired narrowly wide as he was called offside by the assistant referee.
After eighteen minutes, the audience saw the first goal. Guinan, again instrumental, crossed from the right and the ball deflected off Woking defender Jon Boardman and eluded the attempted save of Steve Farrelly.
A minute or so later, Matt Clarke had doubled the advantage. A shot from Danny Williams bounced off the far past and Matt Clarke was well placed to fire home from close range, leaving the Woking defence helpless once again.
With United 2-0 up, they proceeded to largely dominate the remainder of the period. The ball was cleared off the line twice in a single goalmouth scramble five minutes before the break, with Guinan and Grant both thwarted before Danny Williams' effort was blocked.
After the break, things seemed to even up but the conditions played a big part. The pitch was slick and had, in some areas, standing water, which prevented a passing game. Four minutes of the half had been played when Lee Sandford got in a header for the home side which was scrambled away, but on the hour a cross over from Jon Brady was turned in at the near post by Chris Sharpling.
With the deficit at one goal, Woking should have searched for the equaliser but it was Hereford who came closest to finding the next goal. There were nineteen minutes left when Paul Parry and Michael Rose connected well for Rose to knock over a cross from the left. However, neither Grant or Guinan could make the ball, which ran out of play.
Sharpling went close again as the game withered to a close, but Hereford had all three points wrapped up. Their next challenge is at Edgar Street against Chester City on Saturday, who are on-form and lie second in the league.
As it were, the soaked pitch hampered play but Hereford United once again shone in front of the cameras as two first half goals secured a 2-1 victory over Woking at the Kingfield Stadium.
The result means Hereford jump about the Cards into sixth in the Conference, seven points behind leaders Doncaster Rovers with a game in hand. Woking drop one place to seventh.
The Cards defeat was their second successive in league competition, but should have taken the lead after just five minutes when Matt Baker saved well from Barry Moore, but Hereford were soon in the ascendancy and Steve Guinan fired narrowly wide as he was called offside by the assistant referee.
After eighteen minutes, the audience saw the first goal. Guinan, again instrumental, crossed from the right and the ball deflected off Woking defender Jon Boardman and eluded the attempted save of Steve Farrelly.
A minute or so later, Matt Clarke had doubled the advantage. A shot from Danny Williams bounced off the far past and Matt Clarke was well placed to fire home from close range, leaving the Woking defence helpless once again.
With United 2-0 up, they proceeded to largely dominate the remainder of the period. The ball was cleared off the line twice in a single goalmouth scramble five minutes before the break, with Guinan and Grant both thwarted before Danny Williams' effort was blocked.
After the break, things seemed to even up but the conditions played a big part. The pitch was slick and had, in some areas, standing water, which prevented a passing game. Four minutes of the half had been played when Lee Sandford got in a header for the home side which was scrambled away, but on the hour a cross over from Jon Brady was turned in at the near post by Chris Sharpling.
With the deficit at one goal, Woking should have searched for the equaliser but it was Hereford who came closest to finding the next goal. There were nineteen minutes left when Paul Parry and Michael Rose connected well for Rose to knock over a cross from the left. However, neither Grant or Guinan could make the ball, which ran out of play.
Sharpling went close again as the game withered to a close, but Hereford had all three points wrapped up. Their next challenge is at Edgar Street against Chester City on Saturday, who are on-form and lie second in the league.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 9th September
2002.
| Woking | Hereford United |
| Steve Farrelly | Matt Baker |
| David Piper (off, 90 minutes) | Matt Clarke |
| Anthony Allman (off, 39 minutes) | Michael Rose |
| Jon Boardman | Andrew Tretton |
| Lee Sandford | Ian Wright (captain) |
| Jon Brady | Tony James |
| Robert Kember | Jamie Pitman |
| Wayne Burnett | Danny Williams |
| Barry Moore | Steve Guinan |
| Chris Sharpling | John Grant |
| Ben Abbey | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Scott Steele (on, 39 minutes) | Scott Voice |
| Grant Payne (on, 90 minutes) | Ken Griffiths |
| Sean Evers | Rob Sawyer |
| Tony Tucker | Richard Teesdale |
| Scott Smith | Rob Purdie |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Robert Kember (38 minutes, foul) | Michael Rose (37 minutes, foul) |
| Barry Moore (57 minutes, foul) | |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Chris Boardman (60 minutes) | Jon Boardman (own goal, 18 minutes) |
| - | Matt Clarke (19 minutes) |
| Man of the Match | Steve Guinan |
| Attendance | 2080 |
| Referee | Mr. K. Stroud |