Buoyant Bulls back on track
Hereford United returned to winning ways this afternoon with a convincing 4-1 victory away at Northwich Victoria. The Bulls made one change from the side on Saturday, Simon Travis returned to the team in place of Mark Robinson who was left out.
An entertaining first half saw three goals in four minutes and plenty of opportunities for both sides. The Vics played some good football and should have taken the lead before United broke the deadlock. Doyle was booked for a late challenge and Danny Williams shot over from the free kick before Northwhich had three glorious chances to open the scoring.
A break from the midfield resulted in Mark Quayle having a shot rebound off the post, then a remarkable save from point blank range by Johnathan Gould from the rebound and finally, after Gould's save the ball fell to Quayle whose shot was deflected wide. Jamie Pitman forced a corner with a half volley for United but Quale should have netted once again after running onto a misplaced pass in the Hereford defence but Gould rushed out and denied the striker when one on one.
Hereford took a fourteenth minute lead thanks to attacker Adam Stansfield. Pitman split the defence with a through ball to Brown with the outside of his boot, and then Brown layed the ball off to his strike partner to finish low into the net from eight yards. Stansfield doubled Hereford's lead three minutes later with a powerful header from Travis' left wing cross. He missed a header moments earlier after excellent play between Pitman, Green and Williams on the right.
However, the two goal lead was short lived as Northwich hit back immediatly when Paul Brayson latched onto a pass from Steve Garley and netted in the bottom corner. Both sides tightened up after the third goal went in in nearly as many minutes and neither side created many too many clear chances until the second half. David Brown, however, flicked the ball off his heel for Travis to run onto but his shot from outside of the box was saved by Andy Ralph.
The second half didn't come to for around ten minutes when Tony James started off a brilliant move by the Bulls. The skipper played a one-two with Williams and then found Stansfield who rounded two defenders before centring for Williams who had his shot saved. Williams played a nice pass to Craig Stanley who hammered a shot against the post moments before the Bulls restored their two goal lead. Williams found Brown who got one on one with Ralph in the Vics goal, drew him out of his goal and squared the ball for Green who found the bottom corner with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
Man of the match Jamie Pitman was again involved when Hereford made it 4-1. The goalie cleared a ball upfield, but it fell straight to Pitman who quickly spotted Brown in space and played him through on goal and he netted in the far bottom corner to the delight of the 600 or so United fans.
Hereford should have scored more towards the end of the game but some good keeping by Ralph prevented more embarresment for the Vics. He tipped away a cross/shot from Travis and then Shaun Came blocked Stanley's shot and then Ralph came to the rescue when Brown got played one on one with him. Stansfield was searching for his hattrick, but his shot from the edger of the box following a good run was saved before Green and Pitman linked up to provide Stansfield a chance but Ralph prevented his third. Stansfield netted again late on after a quick free kick by Pitman, but it was ruled out for offside.
It would have been hard to beleive that it was the same Hereford side that lost two days ago against Stevenage for the Hereford fans in the crowd of 1132 . The Bulls played some fine passing football and dominated the game in most parts. The attack is looking sharp and is creating plenty of chances although the defence is not looking as solid as it did in pre-season. Hopefully, Hereford can put together another unbeaten run, similar to the one they had following their last defeat.
HUFC Team: Gould, Green, Tretton, Mkandawire, James (c), Travis, D. Williams, Stanley, Pitman, Brown, Stansfield. Subs: Smith, Scott, Purdie, Hyde, Mills.
NVFC Team: Ralph, Burke, Charnock, Came, Royle, Hadland, Devlin, Hunter, Garvey, Brayson, Quayle. Subs: Connet, McCarthy, McLachlan, Norris, Thompson.