As it's a slow news day, BN has taken the opportunity to look back to March 16th 2002 when the Bulls travelled to Dover for a Conference League match.
Piearce hero as Bulls finally win
Dover Athletic 0 - 1 Hereford United
Hereford United ended a run of four consecutive defeats when they beat bottom of the league Dover Athletic at the Crabble today.
The Bulls needed a late goal from substitute Steve Piearce to win the points after an impressive performance from United goalkeeper Stuart Jones, who kept the home side out on several occasions.
Matt Clarke was suspended for the game, and Ian Rodgerson not fully recovered from a foot injury, so the two were absent from the starting eleven. Hereford coach Phil Robinson drafted in Jimmy Quiggin and Rob Elmes as his line-up underwent a re-shuffle. Dover, who sacked Neville Southall as manager this week, named ex-Hereford man Kristian James on the bench.
The opening half was a tense affair with few real goalscoring chances. Openings were created but few were converted into serious efforts on goal. Gavin Williams should have put Hereford ahead after eleven minutes when he hit a curling twenty five yard free kick over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Williams wasted another chance before Robinson hit the side netting.
In the Hereford goal, Jones was forced to punch clear a cross-cum-shot from Dover wing back Steve Norman, and then proceeded to turn a Scott Ramsay shot around the post with a superb diving save.
As the half came to a close, Rob Elmes hit his header over the bar and then Tony James allowed Kevin Seabury through at the other end, only for Jones to make another impressive save to keep the scores level. In added time at the end of the first half, both Paul Parry and Gavin Williams missed good headers to put the Bulls ahead, and so the crowd of 952 were left without a goal at the break.
A transformation occurred at the break, with Dover reformed and ready to attack. In fact, they dominated for spells of the second period and were unlucky to eventually lose the game.
Jamie Day struck from twenty yards just five minutes into the half, but the midfielder hit his left-footed angled shot just wide of the target. That came after Rob Elmes had headed over a Gavin Williams corner at the other end. Dover, at that time, were making the most of their possession and substitute Chris Allen ran rugged John Shirley on the Dover left wing.
Hereford, though, came back and Jimmy Quiggin failed to beat goalkeeper Hyde after a Paul Parry corner from the left. On the hour mark, Scott Goodwin placed a cross to Rob Elmes from deep on the left wing, but the ex-Halesowen striker flashed his header wide.
With twenty five minutes remaining, Jones was called into action again as Seabury fired a low shot into the corner. Hereford's stand-in 'keeper made a low dive to turn the ball around the post after Seabury was fed through by Ramsay.
Graham Turner, the Hereford chairman, then made the crucial substitution. Quiggin was removed and replaced by Steve Piearce, and at first made little impact. Ramsay continued to pressure the Hereford goal as he headed the ball at Jones, and then Chris Allen crossed the ball across goal but nobody was there to connect.
Then Piearce made an impact. With ten minutes left, he picked up a loose ball and proceeded to lob it over Dover stopper Hyde from twenty-five yards. The ball dipped into the net, and Hereford had the goal they required.
The closing minutes were tense with Dover pushing for an equaliser, but the Bulls held on. Jimmy Strouts created Dover's best levelling chance, but he smashed his drive at the goalkeeper.
The result means Hereford move up one place in the league, and hit fourty two points for the season. Their next match is at home against Morecambe next Saturday, kick off 3pm.
Hereford: Stuart Jones, John Shirley, Scott Goodwin, Phil Robinson, Ian Wright (captain), Tony James, Jimmy Quiggin (off, 66 minutes), John Snape, Rob Elmes, Gavin Williams, Paul Parry
Subs: Ian Rodgerson, Lee Evans, Daniel Davidson, Jon Hill, Steve Piearce (on, 66 minutes)
Man of the Match: Stuart Jones
Attendance: 952
Referee Mr. P. Crossley (Bromley)
Match comment from Piearce: "I scored a similar one away at Morecambe last year. We started to get dragged into the relegation fight and the main thing is two wins could shot you up the table. If we can put a good run together we should be able to finish in the top eight."
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Away At Buxton On Saturday 12th October at 3.00pm