From the Archives - Hereford and Halifax

As far as is known Hereford United and Halifax have played each other 47 times.

Hereford have won 20 of these games, Haifax 15 and 12 have been drawn.

In these games the Bulls have scored 65 and Halifax 46.

The matches between the clubs started in 1973. The first game was drawn.

For this article we will concentrate on the period between 2002 and the present.

In the last four years the teams have met 9 times including one Trophy game. Hereford have won 5 of the games, Halifax 3 and one have been drawn and Hereford have scored 16 goals against 9 by Halifax.

Conference Games/FA Trophy:

11/02/2006 Home Conf Hereford 1-0 Halifax

14/01/2006 Away Trophy Hereford 1-0 Halifax

24/09/2005 Away Conf Hereford 1-2 Halifax

16/04/2005 Away Conf Hereford 1-0 Halifax

04/09/2004 Home Conf Hereford 2-3 Halifax

03/04/2004 Away Conf Hereford 2-1 Halifax

25/11/2003 Home Conf Hereford 7-1 Halifax

12/04/2003 Away Conf Hereford 0-1 Halifax

19/10/2002 Home Conf Hereford 1-1 Halifax

The highest scoring game which those who watched it won't forget was on a cold Tuesday night in November 2003 when the Bulls put seven past the Shaymen, after the visitors had opened the scoring with a goal from Lewis Killeen.

The win for Hereford came just three days after an awful game at Shrewsbury when the Bulls were defeated 4-1. That result meant that just 1875 fans turned out at Edgar Street for the visit of Halifax (who brought just 47 fans with them), the lowest attendance of that season.

Ben Smith (2), Steve Guinan (3), Rob Purdie and David Brown were the Hereford scorers on the night.

Of the players taking part that evening several remain at both Hereford and Halifax.

Ryan Green, Jamie Pitman, Tamika Mkandwire, Tony James and Rob Purdie started for the Bulls. Danny Carey-Bertram was on the bench.

For Halifax, Steve Bushell, Craig Midgley and Lewis Killeen were in the starting eleven.

This season, in general, the games have been much closer.

However Hereford United's manager Graham Turner wasn't very happy after the first meeting between the sides back in September which Halifax won 2-1. Danny Carey-Bertram put the Bulls ahead early in the game but just after Guy Ipoua looked to have pulled a hamstring and had to leave the pitch.

"After a good start and a decent first half we committed football suicide. We let them get an early second half goal and after that we were never in it. Halifax were by far the better side and they clearly deserved to win the game. We did absolutely nothing in the second half and you do not play like that for 45 minutes without getting a rollocking," said Turner.

The second meeting between the two sides was again at the Shay but this was a Trophy game which Hereford appeared to want to win more than Halifax.

The Bulls went ahead and then defended that lead well, but it wasn't a very entertaining games for the 1220 that bothered to watch it.

Graham Turner seemed pleased.

"Halifax have not lost at home all season and that shows what a significant result this was for us."

"We contained them and there was a solidness in our performance."

The third meeting was at Edgar Street just four weeks later in the return Conference fixture. Although it was decided by just one goal, that coming from Adam Stansfield, it was an entertaining game.

Again Graham Turner seemed happy with the result.

"I thought we worked hard. They are a decent side and, although we were a little fortuitous with the goal, we ground them down.

"We had a lot of the ball, got some good balls into their penalty area in the first half - we should have got on the end of one or two.

"We are always very wary of Halifax because they have a very good second-half record this season and I thought we dealt with the threat they posed very well.

"Generally we have to be very pleased with the effort that was put in by all the players and the result which puts us in a good position."

The Halifax manager also commented on the game.

"This is a massively difficult place to come and get a result against a team I have a lot of respect for but it was a good game between two sides who really went for it."

So three games this season with just five goals scored, three for Hereford and two for Halifax. Two wins for the Bulls, one for Halifax.

As to the result next Saturday, we'll just have to wait and see.

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