Hereford United won their third consecutive league match, courtesy of a wonderful hattrick from Lionel Ainsworth at Stockport County. The former Derby man handed a slender lead to The Bulls at half time after his fine indivudal effort, before nodding in another early in the second half. Anthony Elding pulled one back from the spot, but Ainsworth completed his day by tucking in, before Wayne Brown pushed a corner into his own net, to hand Stockport hope, but Hereford held on for yet another away victory.
With captain Karl Broadhurst out injured, new loan signing Lee Collins was put straight into the deep end, starting at full back. Richard Rose pushed into the centre as expected. Dean Beckwith was named on the bench, after recovering from the jaw injury sustained at Chester. Lining up for Stockport was Michael Rose, for the first time since he damaged his cruciate ligament, and he was sure to have a tough afternoon with Ainsworth his opposite player. The home side also named a new loan signing in their starting eleven, Adam Nowland started on left wing. Former Macclesfield striker Matty McNeil deputised at centre back, with captain Ashley Williams out injured.
Liam Dickinson struck straight at Brown in the early periods, which lacked any clear cut chances. Adam Proudlock also had an early chance, when he met a M.Rose cross, but his effort was well over. At the other end, Ainsworth beat Adam Griffin on the right wing before smashing a powerful cross/shot into the area, but Conrad Logan gathered. Griffin was involved in the attacking side of the game for Stockport, and his cross nearly delivered the opening goal. Dickinson met the ball at the back post, and headed against the far post. The ball hung by the goal-line before being smashed to safety, much to the relief of the watching Bulls fans. Stockport regretted the miss, as Ainsworth opened the scoring soon after. Ben Smith knocked the ball into his path, as he cut in from the right hand side. He then beat three players, and found space on the edge of the area before looping a shot over Logan and into the top corner. With little time for Stockport to reply in the first half, Nowland had their only notable chance, with his volley blocked by John McCombe.
The second half was much more exciting than the first half, and United started brightly. Trevor Benjamin's clever through ball found Clint Easton, who had cut in from the left wing, but his low shot was saved by Logan's legs. Proudlock then struck well from long range, whilst McNeil headed straight at Brown from a corner. Nine minutes into the second half; Ainsworth struck again. Smith started it once more, with a neat ball through for Theo Robinson. The Watford loanee paced to keep the ball and crossed first time, and Ainsworth arrived to head home from six yards. Unlike in the first half, Stockport had much more time to respond, and they did so within just seven minutes. Whilst defending a free-kick, the referee adjudged Benjamin to have pushed Dickinson over, and a penalty was the decision. Elding stepped up to send Brown the wrong way, and put the home side back into the game.
Elding then set up Proudlock, but the beefy striker blasted over after good control, before big appeals for a goal were turned down by the referee. A long throw was deployed for Stockport, and it caused havoc in the Bulls area, bouncing around before Nowland smashed in a shot. Smith was standing on the line, and cleared to safety. There were strong appeals for the goal to be given, but these were turned down, and United still had the lead. With that chance gone, Hereford restored their two goal advantage, thanks to Ainsworth once again. Robinson held up the ball, and held off the challenge from Michael Raynes before slipping a pass through to Ainsworth, who had the pace and confidence to slip the ball under Logan, and make it 3-1.
Drastic changes were made by Stockport boss Jim Gannon in an attempt to get back into the game, with David Poole, Greg Tansey and Tommy Rowe all being introduced in a matter of minutes. Proudlock, Michael Bowler and Griffin made way. Poole nearly made a fine introduction, with his shot deflecting inches wide off the post, whilst after a succession of corners, Easton headed against his own bar, after a fierce drive in by M.Rose. Fresh legs were bought on up front for Hereford; Steve Guinan replaced Benjamin with little over 10 minutes left to play. The Bulls sub, like Poole, also nearly made a telling early contribution. Ainsworth continued to cause havoc in the Stockport half, and after his nut-meg on M.Rose, he pulled back for Guinan, but his shot was pushed away by Logan. Easton followed up, but could only head wide.
With six minutes remaining of normal time, Stockport grabbed a major lifeline. M.Rose swang another fierce corner into the box, and the ball found its way into the back of the net after Brown failed to take control of the ball and pushed it into his own goal. The home side continued to play long-balls into the box, but Hereford were always dangerous on the break. Guinan and Ainsworth linked up again, with Guinan once more failing to trouble Logan from inside the box, with a weak shot. Luke Webb was subbed on, with Robinson taken off, having given 100% once more up front. Then came the major scare for Hereford. A handball was given against Smith just outside the box, and old boy M.Rose stepped up to take the free-kick. With previous experiences of free-kicks flying into the back of the net from M.Rose, Hereford fans could have been forgiven for being extremely nervous at this point. Luckily, it was a weak effort, and the wall blocked it. Tansey saw his shot blocked, before Ainsworth could have, and maybe should have added his fourth for the afternoon. Guinan played him through, and he beat the offside trap, before powerfully striking goalwards; Logan though pushed the ball out for a corner. United held on to gain a fine three points, and consolidate their position in the league.
The first half was poor, with Ainsworth's goal a flash of brilliance in the bitter cold. The second half though was very entertaining, with some fine counter-attacking football on display from The Whites. 5103 saw a man of the match performance from Ainsworth, as he was too hot to handle for Stockport. Accrington visit Edgar Street next up in the league, with the small matter of a replay in the FA Cup to come before.
Hereford: Brown, Collins, McCombe, Rose, Threlfall, Ainsworth, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Benjamin, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, Beckwith, Webb, Taylor, Guinan.
Stockport: Logan, Bowler, Raynes, McNeil, Rose, Taylor, Griffin, Nowland, Dickinson, Elding, Proudlock.
Subs: Turnball, Tunnicliffe, Tansey, Rowe, Poole.