Walsall were more than fortunate to escape from Edgar Street with all three points as Hereford United went to battle with the league leaders this afternoon. The return to league action allowed the midfield duo of Neil MacKenzie and John Eustace to return in the only two changes in Hereford's side following their cup game last weekend.
Played in front of a bumper crowd of 4,462, the largest to date this season at Edgar Street, and helped by a mass away following of 1,173, United and The Saddlers failed to create too much in the way of goal scoring chances, though the game had a good atmosphere.
The first fifteen minutes were uneventful to say the least, it wasn't until target man Hector Sam slid a pass through to strike partner Martin Butler that a defence was really called upon, and Phil Gulliver was on hand to get a good block in.
Clayton Ince in the visitors goal was made to work a couple of times before the break, firstly after a good pass and move involving Alex Jeannin and Gulliver. It was the Frenchmans whipped cross that brought about the danger, and Ince theatrically threw himself airbound, and tipped the ball over his own cross bar. The Bulls almost grabbed the lead before the break as Tamika Mkandawire met MacKenzie's deep free kick with his head. Ince had come out to claim, but was beaten to the ball and it took a clearance from Scott Dann to keep the scores level.
The game was injected with some energy after the interval, as Walsall looked to grab an opening goal. Sam shot wide before Dean Beckwith made an awesome last ditch tackle to deny Butler, who'd broke through the middle. However, Hereford's best chance came soon after, and Ince was the saviour for The Saddlers. Alan Connell released Jeannin down the left, who delivered a stunning cross to Tim Sills at the far post. His diving header across Ince looked destined for the back of the net, but, somehow, Ince stretched out an arm and diverted the ball just wide.
The resulting corner went out off the cross bar, via the head of Mkandawire, while his team mate Beckwith made a good block at the other end, to deny Butler. Disaster struck for The Whites though with sixty three minutes on the clock. A corner was headed back to the taker who, with the defence still staying in, whipped the ball back in and defender Chris Westwood headed high into the back of the net in front of the travelling fans.
Mark Kinsella went close for Walsall before Graham Turner took off the injured Sills and put Gareth Sheldon on in attack, leaving Connell in the midfield. Hereford still pushed forward and Mkandawire headed on a Eustace corner to Andy Williams, who fired wide at the back stick, before Wayne Brown was forced into his only notable save of the game as Walsall countered. Mark Wright, a first half sub, found some space on the right, but Brown was more than equal to the powerful effort, which he palmed away.
Mkandawire had another header saved by Ince before the end, but United couldn't force an equaliser even with four added minutes. Brown even took it on himself to get forward for a succession of corners and free kicks, but nothing came of them.
Wayne Brown helping out in attack - picture by Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal
Hereford can't be too hard on themselves following this defeat, as their recent form against some very good opposition has been much better than probably expected. They may also feel slightly hard done by with this result also; it was just one defensive lapse that cost them against the team topping the table.
HUFC: Brown, Gulliver, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, MacKenzie, Eustace, Connell, Williams, Sills. Subs: Thompson, Rose, Webb, Ferrell, Sheldon.
WFC: Ince, Westwood, Roper, Dann, Fox, Wrack, Dobson, Kinsella, Keates, Butler, Sam. Subs: Bossu, Wright, Bedeau, Taylor, Demontagnac.