Hereford United registered their third league win of the season with a 3-0 victory over local rivals Cheltenham Town at Edgar Street. Steve Guinan struck twice in the first-half to give The Bulls a comfortable half-time lead, which was added to by Sam Gwynne early in the second-half. The visitors rallied late-on, but failed to get past debutant Matt Murray in front of 3761, including 868 from Gloucestershire.
Following last weekend's draw with League Two outfit Dagenham, Craig Samson made way for Murray, as expected. Richard Rose was replaced at right-back by Toumani Diagouraga, with Gwynne and Stephen O'Leary added to the midfield. Martin Allen included the experienced striking duo of Lloyd Owusu and Paul Connor in his starting XI, and also named MK Dons loanee Drissa Diallo who played against Hereford last season.
The opening exchanges saw both sides battle tenaciously as expected in a derby match, although the referee seemed a little whistle happy causing the game to stop and start reguarly. Once settled though, Hereford took the lead with the first chance of the game. With 15 minutes on the clock, Ben Smith hooked a pass over the hesitant Robins' backline and Guinan got goal-side; a hopeful tackle from Diallo stopped Guinan in his tracks but the ball fell nicely for the former Cheltenham man and he fired past Shane Higgs from 10 yards. The single goal advantage was nearly added to minutes after when Smith switched to Kris Taylor and his low cross was controlled by Andy Williams in the area. The Bristol Rovers loanee turned Diallo before smashing a left-foot shot goalwards which Higgs did well to tip over.
United doubled their advantage after a defensive mistake from veteran Alan Wright let in Sam Gwynne following a huge kick from 'keeper M. Murray. Gwynne pounced before slipping a pass through to Guinan who shot powerfully first-time past Higgs at his near-post. Cheltenham aimed to get back in the game before the break and went close after Connor had controlled a long-pass and set up Scott Murray, but his left-foot strike was superbly tipped over by M. Murray. A neat chipped cross by Josh Payne was met by S. Murray, but again his name-sake denied him with gathering up the effort.
Allen rang the changes at half-time, making all three subs with Elvis Hammond, Ashley Vincent and Damien Spencer replacing Owusu, Andy Gallinagh and Payne respectively. Despite the changes, Hereford created a decent early opportunity after fine-work on the right from Gwynne saw the youngster cut in and likewise the first-half, slip a pass on to Guinan who flashed a shot past the far post. M. Murray easily held Connor's strike after he was set up by Spencer, whilst Vincent's pace took him past Taylor on the right-wing but his low-cross was superbly stopped by a tackle from Broadhurst. A deep cross from David Bird was expertly met by Hammond, as he rose above the home defence but his header was just too high to trouble M. Murray. After the mini-pressure from the visitors, United added a third and just about put the game to bed.
Again, it all started with M. Murray as he launched a huge-kick up field causing panic in the Cheltenham defence. Higgs came out to meet the ball but as it bounced just before the 18 yard line, the 'keeper was unsure what to do and Gwynne nicked in to race through and finish into an open net. The youngster was booked for taking his shirt off, as was Guinan in the first-half, but who can blame the local lad for celebrating his first-goal in the Football League. M. Murray expertly pushed over Hammond's wrapped shot after he had out-muscled Broadhurst, whilst from the corner that followed Vincent's cross allowed Connor to try his luck with an over-head kick but M. Murray blocked from close-range. Bird found room 25 yards out and tried to chip M. Murray but was well-off with his effort, although Connor was far closer moments later. The former Swansea man dummied for Hammond to touch back to him and despite Connor's low strike beating the despairing dive of M. Murray, it rebounded off the post before it was cleared to safety.
Bird and Hammond both tried their luck with volleys but neither troubled the Bulls' defence, before at the other end, O'Leary bent a free-kick around the wall and past the post. Vincent's pace was causing problems down the right-wing, and he played in Hammond but M. Murray came out quickly to deny the Leicester loanee with his legs. Clint Easton nearly scored with a curling right-foot shot after Williams had switched to him but his effort fell inches past the far post. Matty Done replaced Williams as United looked to exploit Cheltenham with pace on the counter-attack, whilst soon after Nick Chadwick was introduced with Guinan making way. The journeyman striker was given a fine ovation from both sets of supporters as he made way from the pitch. Bird failed to hit the target with two long-range free-kicks but team-mate Vincent went alot closer when allowed to try his luck from a 30 yard set-piece. In similar fashion to Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kicks, he smashed the ball and was only denied by the faintest of touches from M. Murray to divert the shot onto the bar. In injury time, Hammond turned Broadhurst to get a run-in on goal but the defender tackled back at the striker to deflect a shot past the post whilst Connor sliced wide from inside the box following a corner.
The scoreline may have slightly flattered Hereford as the game went on, but United were comfortable following the third and seemed content. The whole team performed impressively, although special mentions must go to debutant M. Murray who was a giant in between the sticks, making some fine stops and being strong from crosses. Guinan deserved his two goals with some excellent hold-up play but the man of the match award goes to Gwynne, who showed passion, a class touch and good vision throughout the match. Next up for United is the long journey to Dagenham for the FA Cup replay on Tuesday, before Northampton Town visit Edgar Street next Saturday; The Bulls will be looking to build on this resounding win.
Hereford: M. Murray, Diagouraga, Broadhurst, Beckwith, Taylor, Gwynne, Smith, O'Leary, Easton, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Samson, Breen, Done, Hudson-Odoi, Chadwick.
Cheltenham: Higgs, Gallinagh, Kenton, Diallo, Wright, Payne, Bird, Westlake, S. Murray, Connor, Owusu.
Subs: Brown, Ridley, Spencer, Vincent, Hammond.