Hereford United have a good record against the top sides in the division, but they haven't been able to conquer Walsall on either occasion this season. However the Saddlers, the only side in the top six not to have dropped points against The Bulls, were fortunate at the Bescott Stadium this afternoon as they were at Edgar Street earlier in the season to take all three points.
Graham Turner went with an unchanged starting eleven again, with the only change to the squad seeing Stuart Fleetwood replaced the banned Tim Sills on the bench, and the side continued in similar fashion to that of the Swindon game just two days ago. United held their own against The Saddlers, second in the table, and even looked the better side for large periods, particularly in the first half. Alan Connell put the first shot of the afternoon wide before the physical Trevor Benjamin layed on for Kevin Harper whose effort was palmed behind by Wayne Brown.
Hereford, spurred on by a vocal away following, headed two successive Danny Thomas crosses over, firstly from Luke Webb and then from Connell before Benjamin was again creating problems in the Hereford box. He drilled a cross in from the right, which Brown could only parry down in front of him. Dean Beckwith was in quickly to try and remove danger but his clearance smacked Michael Dobson, and the ball fell inches wide of the post. Chris Westwood then headed wide at the back post from a Mark Wright corner.
United forced the promotion chasers back though, and Connell hit the post after link up between Simon Travis and Andy Williams on the right, and then eventually a delivery from Thomas on the left. It looked as though Clayton Ince had pulled off a good save, but the ref gave a goal kick, so it is assumed it hit the post - it wouldn't have been the only time the ref was wrong in the afternoon. United continued to attack though and after a good move Williams beat his man on the right cut inside, fired towards goal but his deflected shot dropped just wide of the far post before Webb almost capped an impressive first half display with an absolute screamer from thirty yards that flew just the wrong side of the post.
The second half was a more open, end to end spectacle, but it was Walsall who began stronger. A free kick from the left dropped to a red shirt in the box, but Brown made a quick save down to his right after eight second half minutes before Benjamin had lifted the ball over Brown into the back of the net, but the assistants flag was raised. United escaped again just minutes later as Brown pulled off another important save from a corner, and Harper hammered the rebound well wide before Williams began to cause havoc at the other end. His run down the right resulted in a low drilled cross which Connell couldn't connect with, but Guinan should have, as he was unmarked at the far post.
Harper, a constant livewire, was played in behind the mean Hereford defence but wasted a glorious chance as he slipped the ball beyond the far post before Ince had his hands stung by a Williams half volley. With thirteen minutes remaining Fleetwood was introduced, much to the delight of the travelling army, but they were less impressed with the withdrawal of Williams. Anyway, as it was, Fleetwood had little chance to impress as two minutes later the referee made a decision that changed the game. A long ball was played up to Benjamin, who was leaning into Beckwith just outside of the Hereford box. The two fell to the ground and the referee decided that Beckwith had hauled the big man to the deck, and as he was the last man, Beckwith received his marching orders. Connell was then sacrificed as Richard Rose came on.
The resulting free kick had amounted to nothing, but the home side had their noses in front just two minutes later. The ball found its way to substitute Darren Wrack in the box, but he was denied by a top save from Brown, but the 'keeper lay helpless as Dean Keates followed up for the only goal of the game.
Nine days ago Hereford were on a four game losing streak, the forthcoming fixtures of MK Dons, Swindon and Walsall looked less than appetising. However, United have put in good performances in each of the games that winning all three would not have been an unfair reflection. It seems to be the striking department that's letting them down though, as they have now gone over nine hours of football without netting. Time to try a new strike partnership Mr. Turner.
HUFC: Brown, Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Purdie, Thomas, Webb, Smith, Williams, Guinan, Connell. Subs: Rose, Thompson, Jennings, Fleetwood, Palmer.
WFC: Ince, Westwood, Gerrard, Smith, Fox, Wright, Dobson, Keates, Harper, Butler, Benjamin. Subs: Gilmartin, Deeney, Wrack, Sam, Taylor.