Bulls dealt cruel luck at MK

How many clichés do you want?

If it was a return to sexy football in the first half, the stimulation and erotica disappeared in the second period as a double dose of bad luck and a confidence draining three-goal salvo condemned The Bulls to another away defeat.

Graham Turner had once again shuffled his pack by providing starts for Kris Taylor in the left back role, Matty Done on the flank and a striking partnership of Nick Chadwick and Andy Williams while Simon Johnson replaced the injured Lionel Ainsworth on the right. United certainly had the best of the first forty-five and could have been a couple of goals to the good at the break. As early as five minutes, Williams lifted an effort just over the bar before Kris Taylor was close with a free kick following Sean O’Hanlon’s clumsy challenge on Chadwick.

A lot of The Bulls' threat was largely due to the direct running of Matty Done whose pace frequently troubled the Don's defence. A Sam Boldock shot sailed wide of Matt Murray’s post before a most distasteful incident involving Don's defender Miguel Angel Llera. He had challenged Matt Murray to a cross and Murray had taken a clean catch and immediately released Done to break quickly on the left. Llera collapsed to the floor holding his head and the referee blew to allow treatment. However, as soon as the promising Bulls breakaway was halted, he got up apparently unhurt and ran back towards his defensive position. Referee Paul Gibbs rightly cautioned him for unsporting behaviour and hopefully explained to him that there should be no place in football for blatant cheating like that.

Toumani Diagouraga met a Done cross and saw his volley effort go just wide before more good work down the left produced a chance for Chadwick but the Strikers hurried attempt was, again just wide. Andy Williams also found himself through on goal but delayed his shot and Willy Gueret was able to clear. The half finished goal-less but with Hereford displaying a far more cultured performance than has been recently seen as they passed the ball well, retained possession and looked more dangerous and direct going forward.

Although a refreshed Dons side stepped up the pace from the start of the second period, United were still looking more than capable of taking something from the game. However, the double blow was soon to hit. Firstly, Matt Murray cleared up field and immediately fell to the ground clutching his knee. Play was stopped by Gueret hoofing the ball into touch. Jamie "the sponge" Pitman was quickly to the scene and almost instantly called for a stretcher. Sadly, it may be some time before we see Matt Murray again. Craig Samson took over and it wasn't long before he faced a very dubious penalty. Karl Broadhurst had been adjudged to have raised his foot dangerously high when clearing a ball that was barely two feet off the ground. Granted, the Dons' Llera had stooped low but that was hardly Broadhurst's fault. A penalty was awarded and Broady collected a yellow for doing his job. Samson dived to his left and got a hand to the ball but Peter Levin's spot kick crept over the line. The hearts of the travelling fans sank as all the good work had been undone by two incidents in just four minutes. Five minutes later, the second goal arrived. Boldock fed the ball in from the right and Mark Wright was there to beat Samson at the near post.

The shell-shocked Bulls took a while to get a foothold back in the match but after a shaky period, the passing started to return and although the threat of the first period was never really repeated it was good to see the finer principles of the game being adhered to. Ben Smith grafted throughout and found time to test Gueret from the edge of the box while Simon Johnson's shot was wide of the target. Kris Taylor also got forward to produce a couple of decent attempts but as time went by it became obvious that despite a great effort and no small amount of skill this was going to be a first defeat in three at the hands of the history-lacking Dons. As the game approached the close Jemal Johnson, who had replaced Mark Wright, beat Samson with a cross shot to give the home side a somewhat flattering 3-0 victory in front of 7189 including a creditable couple of hundred representing The Shire.

It was particularly disappointing to hear that the match sponsors saw fit to award the man of the match prize to "circus act" Miguel Angel Llera.

Yep, when you're down you don’t get the breaks. See you at Colchester.

MK: Gueret, Cummings, Llera, O’Hanlon, Regan (Ngala 23), Wright (Johnson 73), Navarro, Levin, Puncheon, Wilbraham (Gerba 68), Baldock, Unused subs: Abbey, Howell.

BULLS: Murray (Samson 54), Jackson, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Taylor, Done (Ashikodi 90), Smith, Diagouraga, Johnson, Williams, Chadwick (Guinan 83). Unused subs: Rose, Easton.

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