Hereford United's victory at the Shay this afternoon against Halifax Town means that they need only one point from their remaining two games to ensure that they have a place in the end of season play offs. The result means that Hereford remain in third place level on points with Carlisle, who also won today.
Hereford made only one change to their side with Graham Hyde replacing Jamie Pitman, who was demoted to the bench, probably as a precaution against his shoulder injury becoming any worse.John Grant was handed a start against his former side for Halifax.
Both sides settled into the game before any real chances were created, although Danny Williams was a tad unlucky not to do better when he just got onto the end of Mark Robinson's cross. Grant controlled the ball and touched it on for Martin Foster but his effort was well over. Lewis Kileen's volley from Foster was foiled by Craig Mawson before Tamika Mkandawire cleared for a corner. D Williams' game was over after seventeen minutes when he was injured in a challenge and so Simon Travis replaced him on the right.
Foster's corner from the right almost handed the home side the lead when it was met by the head of Kileen but he was denied by the cross bar before the danger was cleared. Craig Stanley and Travis both had long range effort but neither troubled before Hereford equalled Halifax's best effort by hitting the bar themselves. Travis, who received the ball from Mills, won a corner from his cross which Robinson swung in. Andy Tretton rose, headed the ball downwards and hit bounced up against the bar before being turned behind again.
Craig Midgely's twenty five yarder flew just over before Adam Quinn headed against the post after a deep free kick was knocked into the box. Adam Stansfield's run moments before half time troubled the Town defence, who felled him twenty five yards out. Robinson crossed the free kick but Mkandawire's header was off target from a good position.
Hereford broke early in the second half with man of the match Rob Purdie down the left. He played a class back heel to play Stansfield in but his cross was cleared by Denny Ingham. The Shaymen then counter attacked but Grant's low shot was well saved by Mawson. With seven minutes of the half gone, the deadlock was finally broken. Ryan Green's long ball down the right flank had found Stansfield in behind the defence, but he was bought down by Ingham, inches outside of the box. Robinson's cross was headed straight to Travis, by Grant, and his cross was headed in at the near post by Mkandawire.
Hereford were now playing on the break, as Halifax enjoyed the majority of play but this suited the Bulls. Stansfield found Green in space to the right of the area and he cut back for Stanley but he shot wildly over from the edge of the "D". Mills was taken off for Carey-Bertram with twenty five minutes to go and Dean Howells was introduced for the hosts soon after.
Ingham whipped a cross but Grant's header was wide before Mawson caught a corner before setting up another Bulls break. Stansfield raced the length of the pitch but was only prevented from scoring by a good low save by Ian Dunbavin. As Halifax pushed on in the last ten minutes, Hereford's defence stood strong with the excellent partnership of Mkandawire and Tretton. Any attempts that the Shaymen got in were either easy for Mawson, or off target, although Quinn went close late on.
Hereford will be delighted with an excellent three points won at the Shay; something only three other teams have acheived this season. The Bulls may have had less possession and attemps, but they made theirs count and are now extremely close to making the play offs for a second season running. The crowd, for a team chasing the play off against one of their fellow challengers, of 2,343 was slightly disappointing, although it was boosted by a good away following.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Green, Tretton, Mkandawire, Robinson, D Williams, Hyde, Stanley, Purdie, Mills, Stansfield. Subs: Travis, Scott, Pitman, Carey-Bertram, L Williams.
HTFC Team: Dunbavin, Haslam Ingram, Quinn, Young, Midgley, Foster, Blunt, Killeen, Grant, Sugden. Subs: Clarke, McStay, Meechan, Monington, Howells.