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Next Game: Away At Radcliffe In The League On Saturday January 25th Kick Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Bulls continue improved League form with Plainmoor win.

Hereford United further eased their relegation worries with a workmanlike victory at Torquay on Tuesday evening. The Gulls took an early lead but a brace from man of the match Stuart Fleetwood and a crisp finish from substitute Nicky Featherstone secured the points.

Jamie Pitman brought in Rob Purdie at left back to cover for the suspended Joe Heath while Ryan Green's return on the right allowed Richard Rose to move to midfield with Featherstone, perhaps unluckily dropping to the bench. For The Gulls, Craig "can we play you every week" Stanley debuted for Torquay at the start of a months loan on the south coast.

An early foul on Kenny Lunt allowed Quilks to lift a free kick into the danger area but it was cleared without troubling the keeper. Torquay responded down the left and the cross was driven hard across the face of the goal but again went to safety. Then Fleetwood crossed from the bye line but Colbeck was a little slow to react and the hosts scrambled the ball away before a rasping effort from O'Kane bounced off Bartlett's chest but Kovacs was on hand to heave the ball up field. On ten minutes, Torquay took the lead through Slop loanee Jake Robinson when he sprang the offside trap by the slightest of margins and lifted the ball over Bartlett to open the scoring. Bartlett had to be alert just a couple of minutes later to prevent Robinson getting a second as The Bulls' keeper went full length to palm a shot round the upright.

On the quarter hour mark, The Bulls levelled the score through Stuart Fleetwood when his he nipped in behind his marker, rounded giant keeper Bevan and fired into the net.

More persistence from the busy Fleetwood saw him break down the left but his low cross into the box was mishit by Jervis and the ball was cleared. Play swung from end to end and was probably too open for the minds of those in the technical areas but for the fans, it provided plenty of excitement and goalmouth action. Fleetwood's all-action display drew a string of fouls as the hosts struggled to control him. Kovacs headed just wide from a free kick and then blasted Richard Rose's back post return header just wide.

For Torquay, both O'Kane and Kee had useful efforts and Fleetwood again went close without adding to the first period score

HT Gulls 1 Bulls 1

The interval provided knowledge of the updated menu from the visitors end refreshment kiosk…. apparently, they no longer sell bacon rolls and have replaced them with bacon baps! However, all catering thoughts were soon forgotten when the Newent Dynamo quickly notched his second of the night.

Richard Rose picked a fine crossfield ball to find Colbeck steaming down the right flank and his first time cross landed perfectly on the head of Fleetwood and while his attempt was not the best, the combined efforts of goalkeeper and defender failed to keep it out as Hereford took the lead in the first minute of the second half.

The Bulls continued to press and Fleetwood set up a chance for Colbeck but he just failed to divert the ball into the net and Colbeck was again unlucky not to add to the score when Purdie's looping cross narrowly evaded him. Kenny Lunt went down in the box after having his ankles taken but referee Malone waved play-on to the dismay of all concerned (well, our lot anyway).

As the half progressed Lathrope, who had replaced Ellis, tried a long-range effort for Torquay but it sailed over Bartlett’s bar. The Bulls were playing the better football as The Gulls seemed to resort more and more to the big hoof downfield where their diminutive strikers got little change out of Kovacs and Towner.

Featherstone replaced Kenny Lunt on 76 minutes and soon cleared up any disappointment of finding himself on the bench when he struck a fine third goal for the visitors just four minutes after entering the game. Once again, it was Fleetwood that caused the initial problem when he dispossessed Branston and was duly hacked down for his cheek. Ryan Green and Quilks worked a short free kick to enable Green to hook the ball into the six-yard box, Fleetwood nodded it down and Featherstone volleyed in from ten yards to wrap up the points with ten minutes remaining of normal time.

Canham replaced Jervis on 80 minutes and Wesley Ngo Baheng was unveiled for the final few minutes, instantly earning himself the nickname "Mini-Manset". He looked OK. Plenty of energy and clearly a taste for celebrating a win.

The Bulls saw out the game with little problem other than an amazing miss by Billy Kee who got clear, rounded Bartlett and fired against the foot of the post with the entire eight-yard goal at his mercy. Barts recovered to collect and clear up field as the referee brought the game to a close in front of a poor 1680 including 86 from The Shire.

FT Gulls 1 Bulls 3

Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Purdie, Colbeck, McQuilkin, Rose, Lunt (Featherstone 75), Jervis (Canham 80), Fleetwood (Baheng 89). Subs unused: Heister, Stratford, Preston, Pell.

Torquay: Bevan; Ellis (Lathrope 67), Robertson, Branston, Nicholson; Mansell, Stanley, Stevens (Halpin 83), O’Kane; Robinson, Kee. Subs unused: Potter, Rowe-Turner, Macklin, Oastler, Yeoman.

It was a hard working performance with plenty of half chances being created and with Fleetwood in his current form more points should be on the horizon in the coming weeks.

Bring on them Imps….I’m starting to enjoy this again.