A brilliant first half performance was the base for Hereford United's latest league scalp in the LDV Vans Trophy. Scunthorpe United were the visitors to Edgar Street this evening and were the third league team that the Bulls have knocked out of the cup. It was the second time in as many seasons that The Iron have been defeated in this competition by The Bulls.
Craig Stanley and Dean Beckwith were the only two changes to the starting line-up while there was no place for Danny Carey-Bertram on the bench. Tony James was handed his place back in defence and Jamie Pitman lined up alongside Andy Ferrell in the midfield. The hosts made their intentions clear from the off, as they came straight at their League One opponents and had won a corner within a minute.
It was from a Scunny corner though, that Hereford's first real chance came from. A dangerous ball was delivered into the Bulls' box but, after a scramble, they countered through Simon Travis and his cross was inches away from the threatening foot of Adam Stansfield. Cleveland Taylor worked a good opening with some neat skill past James but his shot was well saved by Craig Mawson before rebounding out for a corner off Pitman.
Hereford continued to attack and took the lead with just seventeen minutes gone. Ferrell crossed in from the right and it was Rob Purdie who beat the offside trap to take the ball down, seemingly with his arm, but his low effort was pushed away by the 'keeper, but Stansfield was on hand to turn the loose ball into the open net. Guy Ipoua almost added to the lead moments after, when Pitman centred the ball and the Cameroonian hit the foot of the post from the edge of the box.
Purdie forced another save out of Tom Evans, this time from thirty yards out and once again the ball was played into the path of Stansfield but Evans was able to recover and force a corner this time. Alex Jeannin managed to hit the post from the resulting corner and then, in almost comical fashion, Evans was almost beaten by one of his own defenders who nearly lobbed him from twenty five yards out.
Stansfield, who has now scored three goals in as many games, was again at the heart of yet another Hereford attack, as he broke away down the right and delivered a perfect cross to the far post. Purdie, having made a decent connection with it, managed to hit the cross bar with his volley from little more than two yards with five minutes of the half remaining. Before the break there was time for the infamous referee Andy Woolmer to make yet another poor decision, in what was another poor performance from him. Stansfield was clearly tripped in the penatly area but Woolmer waved claims away.
However, Hereford did manage to net a second before the break as Tamika Mkandawire rose to direct an unstoppable header into the back of the net from Purdie's corner. In injury time, Ipoua slid a well timed through ball into Stansfield, but he managed to slice his effort wide while one on one with Evans. James had pulled up with an injury by now, and was duly replaced by Dean Beckwith at the half time break.
The second period was a lot less eventfull than the first, but it was enevitable that either side would not be able to keep up the pace that had been set. It was the home side who continued to look the most threatening though as the game became scrappy. Ferrell had found Andy Williams with a brilliant cross-field pass and Williams cut inside before shooting inches wide of the far post, where Stansfield almost turned the ball over the line.
The Iron responded by introducing their first choice strike force with Steve Torpey and top scorer Billy Sharp replacing Tommy Johnson and Wayne Cordon but man of the match Mkandawire, who was a rock in the brilliant Hereford defence throughout, and Beckwith kept the two very quiet indeed. Another Hereford counter attack almost resulted in another goal, but, following good play between Williams, Ipoua and Purdie, Stansfield sliced wide when in on goal, again!
Scunny did have a little spell towards the end of the game where they forced Mawson into some work, firstly when Andy Keogh shot from twenty five yards and Mawson pushed the ball over the bar. Soon after Keogh played Sharp in on goal, but Mawson was quickly out at Keogh's feet to block with his legs. The ball fell to Keogh, whose shot was blocked by the head of Pitman and then it was Torpey to have a go, but his header was brilliantly turned behind by Mawson.
United managed to play out the remaining five or so minutes with little trouble and Graham Evans was introduced late on in place of Adam Stansfield. His strike partner Ipoua had earlier been replaced by Jon Brady as a precaution, as it seemed he was risking a second yellow card from Woolmer.
It was a thoroughly entertaining encounter in which Hereford, for the most part, were the better side. Their first half display was about the best forty five minutes of football played by The Bulls this season and was clearly enjoyed by the majority of the crowd of 1,452, which included 57 away fans. The result follows up nicely from the cup success at Bognor Regis and sets Hereford up nicely for the Christmas Period. There is also a possibility that they could have a tasty Northern Section Semi-Final tie against local rivals Kidderminster Harriers.
HUFC: Mawson, Travis, Mkandawire, James, Jeannin, Purdie, Pitman, Ferrell, Williams, Ipoua, Stansfield. Subs: Beckwith, Lewis, Stanley, Evans, Brady.
SUFC: Evans, Goodwin, Byrne, Crosby, Ridley, Taylor, Baraclough, MacKenzie, Corden, Keogh, Johnson.Subs: Musselwhite,Torpey, Till, Ryan, Sharp.