Battling Bulls fall to late Hartlepool goals

Despite coming back from two early set-backs Hereford United eventually lost to a couple of late goals at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon. With his squad decimated by injuries, Graham Turner was forced to field a team that comprised of most of those left standing. Jose Veiga made his first start behind a back four of Taylor, Rose, Broadhurst and Jackson. Smith and Diagouraga were flanked by Myrie-Williams and Pugh whilst Brandy and Steve Guinan started up top.

With both teams desperate for points, it was no surprise that the game was open from the off. In fact, the first twelve minutes produced three goals. Conditions were far from ideal with a swirling wind making it very difficult to judge the flight of the ball. Within two minutes of the kick-off, Aussie striker Joel Porter tested Veiga from just inside the box but the stand-in stopper brought off a fine confidence boosting save. For the Bulls, Smith and Diagouraga looked to provide service to the wide players as Hereford had their share of attacks early on. However, it was Pools who took the lead in the ninth minute when Porters low swerving drive from the right corner of the box found its way in at the near post. Just two minutes later The Bulls were back on level terms. Ben Smith threaded a ball to Brandy on the penalty spot and the diminutive striker rolled off his marker to fire home. Turner's makeshift team were certainly giving as good as they got and it was a bit of a kick in the teeth when referee Oliver awarded a spot kick when Keigan Parker played the old trick of running into a defender and falling over. Porter stepped up to hammer the ball passed Veiga to restore the home sides advantage. Ben Smith then produced a delightful through ball to Marc Pugh on twenty-five minutes and the winger forced a parried save from Jan Budtz. Myrie-Williams pushed the rebound wide from ten yards. Then, just two minutes later, Smith found another clever through ball. Myrie-Williams received the pass and squared across the six-yard area to Marc Pugh who forced home at the far post. All square for the second time.

The remainder of the half saw both sides strive for the lead but despite several good efforts the score stayed as it was as the half finished with Hereford in the ascendancy.

Following the interval, The Bulls took an early grip on the second period with Steve Guinan's persistence forcing centre-back Nelson to concede a nervy corner which was cleared up field to Kris Taylor who quickly made ground into Pools territory before hitting a scorcher from 35 yards which shaved the wrong side of the upright. At the other end, a neat one two between Parker and Porter produced a chance for the latter but Richard Jackson was on hand with a superb block tackle to avert the danger. The influential Porter then wriggled free to clip the bar with a cross shot before a penetrating run by Myrie-Williams ended with a cross that narrowly avoided the advancing Guinan. Meanwhile, Nelson chopped down Febian Brandy and was rewarded with a yellow card for his efforts. Fifteen minutes into the half, Marc Pugh dumped unfairly on his backside and from the resulting free kick a clear push on Richard Rose in the box went unpunished. Kris Taylor's swashbuckling run of some 40 yards produced a half chance for Guinan but the striker was only able to squeeze his shot just wide before Brandy tested Budtz with a crisp shot from the edge of the box. Then, with less than ten minutes left on the clock, Pools scored their third. A corner from the right was curled in by Monkhouse. Two unmarked Hartlepool players stood on the edge of the six yard box and while Viega was blocked by one Pools player another, Sam Collins, was left to head into the empty net. For the hard working Bulls, it was a bitter pill to swallow and the bad medicine came again just a couple of minutes later. Parker swung a deep cross in from the right to find Porter beyond the far post. His return cross was met by Anthony Sweeney who thudded his header passed Viega to finish the scoring. Turner responded by taking off Richard Jackson to add extra firepower in the shape of Andy Williams and towards the close replaced Ben Smith with the fresh legs of O'Leary.

Despite the disappointing score, The Bulls were well and truly in the game until the late Hartlepool double and for periods looked capable of pulling off a win in front of 3579, which included an estimated 120 from The Shire.

Hereford: Veiga, Jackson (Williams 82), Rose, Broadhurst, Taylor, Myrie-Williams, Diagouraga, Smith (O'Leary 86), Pugh, Brandy, Guinan.Subs Not Used: Gwynne, Johnson, Jones.

Hartlepool: Budtz, Liddle, Collins, Nelson, Humphreys (Skarz 62), Jones (Nardiello 63), Clark, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Parker (Robson 82), Porter.Subs Not Used: Cook, Mackay.

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