Accrington Stanley sealed a vital three points to help alleviate their problems at the bottom of League Two with a 2-0 victory over Hereford United at the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Former Bull David Brown opened the scoring in the first half, and Peter Cavanagh doubled their advantage early in the second. However Brown was sent off late in the game.
United made two changes from the side that lost at Darlington, reverting back to a 3-5-2 formation. Alan Connell and Richard Rose made way with Phil Gulliver and Dean Beckwith replacing the duo. Andy Williams moved up front with Danny Thomas playing in central midfield. Stuart Fleetwood was included in the substitutes, for the first time since he lined up against Macclesfield in mid-January.
The early stages were poor, with little created from either side. Rob Purdie had the first opportunity for United, after he cut inside but he shot wide of goal. On loan Liverpool defender, Godwin Antwi had Accrington's first chance, with a powerful header from a corner. Luckily for Hereford, Luke Webb managed to clear the ball off the line and out for another corner. Steve Guinan then struck a half-volley into the arms of the Stanley keeper David Martin, another Liverpool loanee.
Stanley took the lead in the 26th minute, after good work on the left hand side from Shaun Whalley. He ran past Simon Travis, before the ball found its way to Brown, who struck first time from 25 yards right into the corner of the net. The goal was similar to Eifon Williams winner for Hartlepool three weeks ago; once again, Wayne Brown could have done little about it.
United should have scored an equaliser minutes after Brown's goal, when Purdie hit a hopeful long ball up field. Robbie Williams mis-judged the ball and it fell to Phil Gulliver, who was still up-field from an earlier corner. However, Gulliver hit a terrible shot wide when he was through on goal. Had it been virtually any other player on the pitch, it could have been so much different. Shortly afterwards Travis was caught out when Whalley managed to get past him down the left hand side, and then the tricky winger also went past Tamika Mkandawire. Luckily, Brown denied his low shot with his legs, and Mullin's follow up was weak. Late on in the half, Guinan headed straight at Martin.
Much like the first half, the second half started slowly with little threat from either side. This all changed though in the 54th minute when Mkandawire felled Whalley on the edge of the area. Stanley captain Cavanagh stepped up and fired a powerful free-kick past the wall and into the corner. Once again, Brown had no chance with the shot and Stanley had a cushion. Graham Turner reacted to the second goal, bringing off a defender, Gulliver, and giving Fleetwood a chance against the team he spent a month on loan at earlier in the season.
Yet, despite decent possesion, Hereford failed to create chances and Accrington were looking comfortable. Alan Connell was introduced half way through the second half for the in-effective Andy Williams. With Guinan being marked out of the game by the impressive Antwi, it was up to Fleetwood and Connell to make their mark on the game.
Romuald Boco struck a shot over the bar before Guinan had a decent opportunity to score for United. Mkandawire headed a corner back across goal, and the ball fell to Guinan in a crowded penalty area, his powerful goal-bound effort was blocked though and cleared. Connell also went close after he struck a powerful left foot volley from a Thomas cross, Martin though was equal to it, superbly holding the shot.
Stanley could have made it three late on when Williams curled a shot towards the corner. 'Superman' scrambled to his left and tipped the ball around the post. In the 90th minute, goalscorer Brown saw red for a late tackle on Thomas. United were looking to counter-attack, but Brown commited a cynical challenge. A yellow would have been justified but the ref saw fit to send off the former United striker. Connell tried late on to find a consolation but his turn and volley trickled wide.
Hereford failed to create any clear-cut chances, and it was a dissapointing afternoon for the 250 or so fans who made the journey north. With the season now all but over for United, the recent performances have been lacklustre. United are now six games without a win, and haven't scored in their last three. As for Stanley, the three points could prove vital at the end of the season in their hunt to avoid relegation.
Next up for Hereford are three tough looking fixtures, against MK Dons, Swindon and Walsall. All three are chasing promotion and will be a real test for The Bulls. Hopefully, Steve Jennings will return in midfield and provide the bite that has been missing in recent weeks.
1848 fans were present at the game, as Accrington continued their fine record at home against Hereford. They have beaten the Bulls on every occasion the teams have met at the Fraser Eagle Stadium in the League and Conference.
Hereford: Brown, Travis, Gulliver, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Purdie, Webb, Smith, Thomas, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Thompson, Rose, Fleetwood, Connell, Sills.
Accrington: Martin, Cavanagh, Williams, Antwi, Richardson, Todd, Boco, Proctor, Whalley, Brown, Mullin.
Subs: Dunbavin, Ventre, Welch, Doherty, Mangan.