Hereford United revived their slim chance of surviving the drop with a 2-1 away victory at Carlisle United this evening. The Bulls got off to a superb start when Steve Guinan scored the opener before he set up Ben Smith mid-way through the half to double the advantage. Michael Bridges pulled a goal back for Carlisle on the stroke of half-time but Hereford held on to claim three priceless points in front of 4223 at Brunton Park.
Following the 3-0 defeat at Swindon Town on the weekend, there were four changes to the team. Karl Broadhurst returned to the back-line along with Kris Taylor with Cardiff loanee Darren Dennehy and Richard Jackson making way respectively. Injuries to Jack Macleod and Sam Hewson meant that the duo missed out with Simon Johnson and Ben Smith taking their places. The Cumbrians named former Wigan and Sunderland midfield Graham Kavanagh in their starting line-up whilst former Bulls’ loanee Joe Anyinsah took a role out on the wing; the former Preston man spent a month with Hereford in 2005 and has already faced United this season whilst on loan at Brighton. Up top goalscorer Danny Graham lined up alongside another former Premiership player Michael Bridges. Another striker Gareth Taylor had to be content with a place in the back-line due to a defensive injury crisis.
In difficult conditions at Carlisle, with a howling wind and heavy downpour, the Bulls made the early running with Matty Done winning an early corner after a strong run. In the sixth minute, Johnson broke down the right hand-side and his low cross was just too far in front of Febian Brandy up top. Just a minute later though and Hereford managed to take the lead. Done broke down the left-hand side and made a 40 yard run towards goal; just as he made his way into the box, he was tackled but it fell nicely for Steve Guinan who unleashed a thunderbolt past Carlisle ‘keeper Ben Williams to hand the away side the lead.
The hosts responded to going a goal behind with a sustained amount of pressure and some good chances to match it. Taylor went close for Carlisle when he unleashed a left-foot shot from inside the box after being found by Lewis Neal but his effort struck the woodwork. Peter Gulacsi made the first of a number of good saves when he denied a back-post volley by Kavanagh after he was found by Graham with a well placed pass. After some fierce work from Anyinsah down the right, a deflected shot fell into the path of Graham but he failed to sort out his feet and the ball went through his legs when he had a good opportunity to shoot. Gulacsi made two more superb saves firstly to deny Neal’s long-range effort after Bridges had held the ball up to set up his team-mate but the Hungarian Under 21 international tipped the ball over. Soon after, a head down by Kavanagh was volleyed goal wards by Bridges but again Gulacsi denied him, this time with a strong parry.
In the 24th minute, Hereford doubled their advantage with an excellent move. It started mid-way in the Carlisle half with Johnson finding Guinan with a low pass. The experienced striker played a 1-2 with Smith and moved into the area where he found space before eventually setting up Smith, who had continued a run into the box and knocked on from close-range. Carlisle captain Paul Thirlwell coming off with Jeff Smith replacing him. Done broke again just after the half-hour mark and he set up Smith on the edge the box who forced an excellent diving save from B. Williams. A lucky bobble denied Bridges a shooting chance from 8 yards after good work from Anyinsah but just a few minutes later, Bridges did get in a shot and pulled one back to make it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time. The former Leeds man picked up the ball 25 yards out and had only one thing on his mind; he shot left-footed and despite Gulacsi getting a slight touch to the ball, it ended up in the back of the net.
At half-time, Sam Gwynne replaced Done, who picked up a knock after a late challenge from Kavanagh. Gwynne slotted in on right-midfield and Johnson pushed onto the left hand side. The second-half failed to live up to liveliness of the first with the wind continuing to play havoc with both side’s chances of playing the ball on the ground. Carlisle went extremely close to equalising when Bridges fed Kavanagh who struck the woodwork with a neat dink after only having Gulacsi to beat. The midfield showed his experience throughout, dominating the midfield but did tire towards the end of the evening. Graham headed a corner over the bar before Brandy could only shoot straight at B. Williams after going through one on one. The Man Utd loanee didn’t look fully fit and was subbed off soon after with Andy Williams replacing him.
Graham was replaced with twenty minutes to go, when he made-way for Cleveland Taylor. Mid-way through the second-half, Anyinsah flashed a left-foot volley over the bar whilst Kavanagh shot straight at Gulacsi from long-range. At the other end, a long-ball from Gwynne towards the back-post was hit first-time by A. Williams with his effort going just wide, although the striker did have time to bring the ball down. In the closing stages, Kavanagh hit a long-range volley just over the bar but the Cumbrian’s best chance came ten minutes from time. J. Smith crossed for sub Scott Dobie, who had replaced Anyinsah and he nearly made an instant impact with a back-post header falling just wide from 5 yards out. Gwynne shot straight at B. Williams from 18 yards as chances became fewer and Hereford held on despite some late pressure from the hosts in the three added minutes.
The victory keeps up the slim chances that Hereford may just beat the drop. The ‘class of 2003’ scored the goals this evening and Hereford looked good, especially on the counter-attack with Done impressing before his injury; lets hope it’s not too serious. The next three games are huge with all three winnable; Hereford host Huddersfield on Saturday before encounters with struggling Hartlepool and Brighton. The long journey north was made by 70 away supporters, although four of these came from Dumfries. These particular supporters were in attendance for the first-time and were all sporting Hereford shirts after purchasing them off the online shop on the Official Hereford United website.
Hereford: Gulacsi, Rose, Broadhurst, Beckwith, Taylor, Johnson, Diagouraga, Smith, Done, Guinan, Brandy.
Subs: Veiga, Dennehy, Gwynne, O’Leary, Williams.
Carlisle: Williams, Raven, G. Taylor, Keogh, Liddle, Anyinsah, Kavanagh, Thirlwell, Neal, Graham, Bridges.
Subs: Rothery, Kane, C. Taylor, Smith, Dobie.
Match report written by Kevin with the help of Ex Landlord at Brunton Park this evening.