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| Tim Sills With Scorer Danny Thomas |
This report on this afternoon's game is by Brian
Although Barnet, the visitors to Edgar Street this afternoon, may feel they could have escaped with a point, they rarely troubled Wayne Brown's goal as United returned to winning ways, with another clean sheet. Perhaps ironically, the first clean sheet since New Years Day came about without skipper Tamika Mkandawire, who missed out through suspension. Ben Smith gave a captains performance though as he stepped in, netting the first of two second half goals. Also, United lined up with a 4-4-2 formation, a change from 3-5-2 which has been the preferred formation for the season to date.
Steve Guinan made the first major impact on the game after seven minutes when he crashed a close range effort against the crossbar, following good work by Alan Connell and Smith to carve the opening. In the programme notes Guinan had been bemoaning his luck in front of goal, saying how many times he'd hit the woodwork this season. Both sides went on to create some half chances, but neither goal looked in real danger until the end of the half. Twenty seven minutes had passes when Graham Turner was forced into his first change of the game, as Simon Travis pulled up with what looked to be an ankle injury and so Andy Williams came on and man of the match Rob Purdie filled in at left back.
Ten minutes later the game sprung into life when a simple ball to the feet of Dean Beckwith evaded him completely, allowing Guiliano Grazioli a run in on goal. He approached Brown calmley but the 'keeper got the better of him, not only making a fine save but triggering a counter attack that almost resulted in a goal at the other end. Smith linked up the play in the middle, playing a pass to debutant Danny Thomas on the left wing and his cross was met by a thumping Connell header, that flew just the wrong side of the near post. Grazioli found himself in another fantastic position a minute before the interval, but he headed wide, somehow, from almost point blank range.
Steven Jennings was replaced at the break by Andy Ferrell, and the change seemingly paid dividends. Just three minutes into the half United broke the deadlock, thanks to stand-in-skipper Smith. Guinan passed to Williams on the right who crossed low to the edge of the six yard box, where Smith charged in, directed the ball goalwards with his right foot, and the ball hit the back of the net, though it took a deflection on the way in. At the other end The Bees forced a rare second half opening but Dean Sinclair couldn't get a full enough connection on the ball. Guinan would have been further frustrated with his luck when, after a cheeky flick from Smith, Trent McClenahan crossed to Guinan, who headed against the foot of the post.
Two successive corners followed for Hereford with Smith collecting the second on the edge of the box before spreading play to Williams on the right, who crossed to the near post where Connell touched wide. Nicky Nicolau, who had a spell with United at the end of last season, was introduced by the visitors on seventy minutes as Barnet looked to change the balance of the game, but it was the hosts who were the more threatening. Connell saw a snap shot from twenty five yards just miss the bottom corner before Guinan controlled on his chest and layed on for his strike partner, who hit the post with a drive from twenty five yards once again.
With five minutes and injury time remaining, someone seemed to hit the panic button for United, as they suddenly seemed to switch to defensive mode and invite pressure from Barnet. The visitors took full advantage of this and really should have levelled things up, but Grazioli once again failed when one on one with Brown. This time though, Brown didn't have to make a save as the striker fired wide from fifteen yards. Hereford were gifted the opportunity to double their advantage though on eighty nine minutes when goalkeeper Rob Burch poorly cleared, but Tim Sills, who'd just replaced Connell, fired back into his arms. Burch was feeling generous though and in the first of three added minutes did exactly the same thing, playing the ball to Guinan. The loanee played a tidy pass with the outside of his boot across the box to Thomas who raced onto the ball and drilled it low into the back of the net, for a debut goal in front of the Meadow End.
The goal capped off an all round good performance from The Bulls, in front of a crowd of 2,608 including 116 travelling fans. The change to 4-4-2 paid off for Turner and Co. but it was perhaps suprising that Phil Gulliver was left on the subs bench, with Richard Rose being preferred at the heart of the defence. It was also good to see and out and out left winger in Danny Thomas who, despite not excelling, and a decent game and delivered a couple of good crosses and, of course, sealed the 2-0 victory right at the death. A quick mention for referee Mr. Deadman, who must have left his cards at home today!
HUFC: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Rose, Travis, Purdie, Jennings, Smith, Thomas, Guinan, Connell. Subs: Gulliver, Thompson, Ferrell, Williams, Sills.
BFC: Burch, Devera, Yakubu, King, Gross, Puncheon, Bailey, Lewis, Sinclair, Graham, Grazioli.
Subs: Nicolau, Flitney, Hendon Allen, Warhurst.
Although Barnet, the visitors to Edgar Street this afternoon, may feel they could have escaped with a point, they rarely troubled Wayne Brown's goal as United returned to winning ways, with another clean sheet. Perhaps ironically, the first clean sheet since New Years Day came about without skipper Tamika Mkandawire, who missed out through suspension. Ben Smith gave a captains performance though as he stepped in, netting the first of two second half goals. Also, United lined up with a 4-4-2 formation, a change from 3-5-2 which has been the preferred formation for the season to date.
Steve Guinan made the first major impact on the game after seven minutes when he crashed a close range effort against the crossbar, following good work by Alan Connell and Smith to carve the opening. In the programme notes Guinan had been bemoaning his luck in front of goal, saying how many times he'd hit the woodwork this season. Both sides went on to create some half chances, but neither goal looked in real danger until the end of the half. Twenty seven minutes had passes when Graham Turner was forced into his first change of the game, as Simon Travis pulled up with what looked to be an ankle injury and so Andy Williams came on and man of the match Rob Purdie filled in at left back.
Ten minutes later the game sprung into life when a simple ball to the feet of Dean Beckwith evaded him completely, allowing Guiliano Grazioli a run in on goal. He approached Brown calmley but the 'keeper got the better of him, not only making a fine save but triggering a counter attack that almost resulted in a goal at the other end. Smith linked up the play in the middle, playing a pass to debutant Danny Thomas on the left wing and his cross was met by a thumping Connell header, that flew just the wrong side of the near post. Grazioli found himself in another fantastic position a minute before the interval, but he headed wide, somehow, from almost point blank range.
Steven Jennings was replaced at the break by Andy Ferrell, and the change seemingly paid dividends. Just three minutes into the half United broke the deadlock, thanks to stand-in-skipper Smith. Guinan passed to Williams on the right who crossed low to the edge of the six yard box, where Smith charged in, directed the ball goalwards with his right foot, and the ball hit the back of the net, though it took a deflection on the way in. At the other end The Bees forced a rare second half opening but Dean Sinclair couldn't get a full enough connection on the ball. Guinan would have been further frustrated with his luck when, after a cheeky flick from Smith, Trent McClenahan crossed to Guinan, who headed against the foot of the post.
Two successive corners followed for Hereford with Smith collecting the second on the edge of the box before spreading play to Williams on the right, who crossed to the near post where Connell touched wide. Nicky Nicolau, who had a spell with United at the end of last season, was introduced by the visitors on seventy minutes as Barnet looked to change the balance of the game, but it was the hosts who were the more threatening. Connell saw a snap shot from twenty five yards just miss the bottom corner before Guinan controlled on his chest and layed on for his strike partner, who hit the post with a drive from twenty five yards once again.
With five minutes and injury time remaining, someone seemed to hit the panic button for United, as they suddenly seemed to switch to defensive mode and invite pressure from Barnet. The visitors took full advantage of this and really should have levelled things up, but Grazioli once again failed when one on one with Brown. This time though, Brown didn't have to make a save as the striker fired wide from fifteen yards. Hereford were gifted the opportunity to double their advantage though on eighty nine minutes when goalkeeper Rob Burch poorly cleared, but Tim Sills, who'd just replaced Connell, fired back into his arms. Burch was feeling generous though and in the first of three added minutes did exactly the same thing, playing the ball to Guinan. The loanee played a tidy pass with the outside of his boot across the box to Thomas who raced onto the ball and drilled it low into the back of the net, for a debut goal in front of the Meadow End.
The goal capped off an all round good performance from The Bulls, in front of a crowd of 2,608 including 116 travelling fans. The change to 4-4-2 paid off for Turner and Co. but it was perhaps suprising that Phil Gulliver was left on the subs bench, with Richard Rose being preferred at the heart of the defence. It was also good to see and out and out left winger in Danny Thomas who, despite not excelling, and a decent game and delivered a couple of good crosses and, of course, sealed the 2-0 victory right at the death. A quick mention for referee Mr. Deadman, who must have left his cards at home today!
HUFC: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Rose, Travis, Purdie, Jennings, Smith, Thomas, Guinan, Connell. Subs: Gulliver, Thompson, Ferrell, Williams, Sills.
BFC: Burch, Devera, Yakubu, King, Gross, Puncheon, Bailey, Lewis, Sinclair, Graham, Grazioli.
Subs: Nicolau, Flitney, Hendon Allen, Warhurst.