Five-star United extend lead at top
Hereford United beat Farnborough Town 5-0 this afternoon to remain at the top of the Nationwide Conference.
The Bulls now have nineteen points, and are three clear of second-placed Chester City, who won 2-1 at Margate. Aldershot Town are third with fifteen points, while Shrewsbury Town are fourth but have a game in hand, which could put them joint-second. Hereford's goal-difference is +17, with Chester's +7 as the nearest challenger.
Super
start charges Bulls to victory
Farnborough
Town 0 - 5 Hereford United
Hereford United
recorded the biggest away win of the seven season-long Nationwide
Conference career as they over-ran Farnborough Town 5-0 at
Cherrywood Road.
Farnborough, who still haven't collected a league win this season, now lie at the bottom of the table on goal-difference while Hereford remain at the summit with six wins and a draw from their seven encounters. Their impressive goal record sees them having notched twenty-three goals in seven outings, as opposed to Farnborough's six.
It was Graham Turner's first match since winning the Conference manager-of-the-month award, which can often be a poisoned chalice. There was, though, no complacency about the United team on the day, as they swept aside Farnborough, and made an early mark on the game.
The Bulls were unchanged, and were three-up within twenty five minutes. Paul Parry scored the first, in what was an excellent team-move. A cross field ball from Michael Rose found Danny Williams on the right channel, and he threaded in Steve Guinan. The ex-Shrewsbury Town striker's shot was parried by Mark Osborn in the Boro' goal, and Parry made no mistake when his follow-up found the net.
Steve Guinan tested the goalkeeper again two minutes later, while at the other end a Richard Hodgson corner was turned onto the crossbar, and Carl Hutching's volley from the rebound ended up at the corner flag when it looked easier to score! Another scramble, on eleven minutes, saw United stopper Matt Baker eventually come out on top, and the Bulls punished Farnborough five minutes later when Steve Guinan fed Rob Purdie on the by-line to the right of the goal. Purdie pulled the ball back for Ben Smith, who made it 2-0.
Within eight minutes, it was 3-0 as Paul Parry's one-two with Rob Purdie allowed the winger to hit over a long cross to Guinan on the far post. The striker headed down, and the ball bounced past Osborn and into the net.
After the restart, Baker was forced into a low save with his legs from ex-Southend United attacker Barrington Belgrave, while defender Andy Tretton headed just wide at the other end from a Danny Williams cross. On fifty five minutes, though, Tony James made it 4-0 from the penalty spot as he sent Osborn the wrong way. The spot-kick came after a Parry cross was handballed by Patrick Sappleton, and he received a second yellow card for his troubles.
With Farnborough down to ten men, they were always going to find it difficult to get back into the match, but striker Andre Fashanu made his debut from the bench. Andre is the latest in the line of footballers from the Fashanu family, being the nephew of John and the late Justin.
It came as no surprise when Hereford scored again, as substitute David Brown beat the offside trap, passing to Parry on the by-line. He cut the ball back, and Brown made completely sure with United's fifth.
Farnborough, who still haven't collected a league win this season, now lie at the bottom of the table on goal-difference while Hereford remain at the summit with six wins and a draw from their seven encounters. Their impressive goal record sees them having notched twenty-three goals in seven outings, as opposed to Farnborough's six.
It was Graham Turner's first match since winning the Conference manager-of-the-month award, which can often be a poisoned chalice. There was, though, no complacency about the United team on the day, as they swept aside Farnborough, and made an early mark on the game.
The Bulls were unchanged, and were three-up within twenty five minutes. Paul Parry scored the first, in what was an excellent team-move. A cross field ball from Michael Rose found Danny Williams on the right channel, and he threaded in Steve Guinan. The ex-Shrewsbury Town striker's shot was parried by Mark Osborn in the Boro' goal, and Parry made no mistake when his follow-up found the net.
Steve Guinan tested the goalkeeper again two minutes later, while at the other end a Richard Hodgson corner was turned onto the crossbar, and Carl Hutching's volley from the rebound ended up at the corner flag when it looked easier to score! Another scramble, on eleven minutes, saw United stopper Matt Baker eventually come out on top, and the Bulls punished Farnborough five minutes later when Steve Guinan fed Rob Purdie on the by-line to the right of the goal. Purdie pulled the ball back for Ben Smith, who made it 2-0.
Within eight minutes, it was 3-0 as Paul Parry's one-two with Rob Purdie allowed the winger to hit over a long cross to Guinan on the far post. The striker headed down, and the ball bounced past Osborn and into the net.
After the restart, Baker was forced into a low save with his legs from ex-Southend United attacker Barrington Belgrave, while defender Andy Tretton headed just wide at the other end from a Danny Williams cross. On fifty five minutes, though, Tony James made it 4-0 from the penalty spot as he sent Osborn the wrong way. The spot-kick came after a Parry cross was handballed by Patrick Sappleton, and he received a second yellow card for his troubles.
With Farnborough down to ten men, they were always going to find it difficult to get back into the match, but striker Andre Fashanu made his debut from the bench. Andre is the latest in the line of footballers from the Fashanu family, being the nephew of John and the late Justin.
It came as no surprise when Hereford scored again, as substitute David Brown beat the offside trap, passing to Parry on the by-line. He cut the ball back, and Brown made completely sure with United's fifth.
Written by Terry
Goodwin - 6th September 2003.
| Farnborough Town | Hereford United |
| Mark Osborn | Matt Baker |
| Ross Weatherstone | Ryan Green |
| Sasha Opinel | Michael Rose |
| Leroy Griffiths (off, 65 minutes) | Jamie Pitman |
| Carl Hutchings | Andy Tretton |
| Paul Harkness (off, 57 minutes) | Tony James (captain) |
| Barrington Belgrave (off, 65 minutes) | Danny Williams (off, 73 minutes) |
| Patrick Sappleton | Ben Smith |
| Nick Burton (captain) | Rob Purdie |
| Richard Hodgson | Steve Guinan |
| Billy Beall | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Will Packham | Ben Scott |
| Andre Fashunu (on, 65 minutes) | Richard Teesdale |
| Alex Stanley (on, 57 minutes) | Jordan King |
| Mark Thompson | Dean Craven |
| Dwayne Clarke (on, 65 minutes) | David Brown (on, 73 minutes) |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Nick Burton (foul, 23 minutes) | Michael Rose (foul, 41 minutes) |
| Carl Hutchings (foul, 31 minutes | Tony James (foul, 60 minutes) |
| Patrick Sappleton (foul, 38 minutes) | - |
| Patrick Sappleton (handball, 55 minutes) | - |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| Patrick Sappleton (second booking, 55 minutes) | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| - | Paul Parry (3 minutes) |
| - | Ben Smith (16 minutes) |
| - | Steve Guinan (24 minutes) |
| - | Tony James (penalty, 55 minutes) |
| - | David Brown (84 minutes) |
| - | - |
| Man of the Match | Tony James |
| Attendance | 1,334 |
| Referee | Mr. D. Deadman (Hertfordshire) |