.png)
Bulls hit top spot after opening day victory
Hereford United lie top of the Nationwide Conference this evening after beating Tamworth 3-1 at the Lamb today.
The scoreline, secured thanks to goals from Ben Smith (two) and Steve Guinan, was only marred by Mark Cooper's late reply.
The scoreline, secured thanks to goals from Ben Smith (two) and Steve Guinan, was only marred by Mark Cooper's late reply.
In today's other Conference matches, the only team to win by more than a single goal margin was Barnet, 2-0 victors over Telford United, while Stevenage Borough and Chester City drew 0-0 and Margate held Shrewsbury Town 1-1. Forest Green Rovers and Northwich Victoria shared the points, as did Exeter City and Halifax Town, and there were also wins for Burton Albion, Leigh RMI, Morecambe and Scarborough.
Meanwhile, in the FA Youth Cup 1st qualifying round, Hereford United have been drawn to play Cinderford Town. If they win that match, they will play the winners of the Yate Town vs Worcester City match in the second round, and the team that progresses to the third qualifying round will be away to Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, in the FA Youth Cup 1st qualifying round, Hereford United have been drawn to play Cinderford Town. If they win that match, they will play the winners of the Yate Town vs Worcester City match in the second round, and the team that progresses to the third qualifying round will be away to Bournemouth.
Bulls
slaughter Lambs in season opener
Tamworth
1 - 3 Hereford United
Hereford United got
their 2003/04 Nationwide Conference campaign off to a good start
with a solid 3-1 victory at newly promoted Tamworth.
A first half goal from Steve Guinan and two second half strikes from Ben Smith sealed the points, before Tamworth skipper Mark Cooper fired home a consolation free-kick fourteen minutes from time.
However, it could have gone very differently had Tamworth capitalised on their early pressure. Marc McGregor, a summer signing from relegated Nuneaton Borough, turned two headers narrowly wide while his shot on eighteen minutes also went off-target. Hereford, though, weathered the storm and should have gone ahead on twenty three minutes when a long-range Danny Williams shot bounced off the crossbar, and Rob Purdie's header on the loose ball bobbled off the post and away to relative safety.
Then the players stopped play and headed for the water bottles, such was the heat at the Lamb. When United came back on, they took control. On twenty eight minutes, Purdie cut in from the left, brought the ball back to Steve Guinan, and the striker fired home from twelve yards which crept inside the near post.
Hereford could have doubled their advantage a minute later, when Ryan Green sailed a ball in from the right channel from all of forty yards out. However, it dropped over the goalkeeper Phil Whitehead and onto the crossbar, missing the target by a whisper.
In the second period, Mark Cooper's free-kick hit Matt Baker's crossbar before a Ben Smith volley sailed wide just prior to the hour mark. Smith, though, made amends on sixty five minutes when a he nodded home a Danny Williams flick-on. Four minutes later, Steve Guinan's shot was saved by the feet of Whitehead, but the goalkeeper was stranded on the floor. Smith picked up the loose ball, and hit it home ro make it 3-0.
With fourteen minutes left, Mark Cooper gave Tamworth hope when his free-kick curled past Matt Baker, but it turned out to be a consolation goal. Despite Scott Rickards striking the post and Danny Williams clearing another effort off the Hereford line, Tamworth failed to find another two goals late in the match and United earned the three points.
A following of around a thousand spurred the Bulls onto the victory, and it is Hereford who head the table after the first day's results.
A first half goal from Steve Guinan and two second half strikes from Ben Smith sealed the points, before Tamworth skipper Mark Cooper fired home a consolation free-kick fourteen minutes from time.
However, it could have gone very differently had Tamworth capitalised on their early pressure. Marc McGregor, a summer signing from relegated Nuneaton Borough, turned two headers narrowly wide while his shot on eighteen minutes also went off-target. Hereford, though, weathered the storm and should have gone ahead on twenty three minutes when a long-range Danny Williams shot bounced off the crossbar, and Rob Purdie's header on the loose ball bobbled off the post and away to relative safety.
Then the players stopped play and headed for the water bottles, such was the heat at the Lamb. When United came back on, they took control. On twenty eight minutes, Purdie cut in from the left, brought the ball back to Steve Guinan, and the striker fired home from twelve yards which crept inside the near post.
Hereford could have doubled their advantage a minute later, when Ryan Green sailed a ball in from the right channel from all of forty yards out. However, it dropped over the goalkeeper Phil Whitehead and onto the crossbar, missing the target by a whisper.
In the second period, Mark Cooper's free-kick hit Matt Baker's crossbar before a Ben Smith volley sailed wide just prior to the hour mark. Smith, though, made amends on sixty five minutes when a he nodded home a Danny Williams flick-on. Four minutes later, Steve Guinan's shot was saved by the feet of Whitehead, but the goalkeeper was stranded on the floor. Smith picked up the loose ball, and hit it home ro make it 3-0.
With fourteen minutes left, Mark Cooper gave Tamworth hope when his free-kick curled past Matt Baker, but it turned out to be a consolation goal. Despite Scott Rickards striking the post and Danny Williams clearing another effort off the Hereford line, Tamworth failed to find another two goals late in the match and United earned the three points.
A following of around a thousand spurred the Bulls onto the victory, and it is Hereford who head the table after the first day's results.
Written by Terry
Goodwin - 9th August 2003.
| Tamworth | Hereford United |
| Phil Whitehead | Matt Baker |
| Richard Follett | Ryan Green |
| Gary Setchell | Michael Rose |
| Dave Robinson (off, half time) | Jamie Pitman |
| Joe Taylor | Andy Tretton |
| Mark Cooper (captain) | Tony James (captain) |
| Rob Warner | Danny Williams |
| Matt Fisher | Ben Smith |
| Darren Collins | Rob Purdie (off, 87 minutes) |
| Marc McGregor (off, 80 minutes) | Steve Guinan (off, 73 minutes) |
| Phil Trainer (off, 65 minutes) | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Scott Rickards (on, 65 minutes) | Ben Scott |
| Brett Darby (on, 80 minutes) | Richard Teesdale |
| Mark Barnard (on, half time) | Danny Carey-Bertram (on, 73 minutes) |
| Joe Hanney | Dean Craven |
| James Lindley | Rob Sawyers (on, 87 minutes) |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Phil Whitehead (unsporting behaviour, 50 minutes) | Michael Rose (dissent, 83 minutes) |
| Scott Rickards (unsporting behaviour, 72 minutes) | |
| Gary Setchell (unsporting behaviour, 85 minutes) | |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Mark Cooper (76 minutes) | Steve Guinan (28 minutes) |
| Ben Smith (65, 69 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Steve Guinan |
| Attendance | 2,250 |
| Referee | Mr. D. Birkett (Lincolnshire) |