Hereford go into the draw for the second round of the Carling Cup after tonight’s last gasp victory against higher graded opponents, Brentford. With the same personnel that started at Roots Hall, it was the introduction of Yoann Arquin, replacing Delroy Facey this time, that gave the Bulls that extra cutting edge, and the Frenchman opened his Bulls account with an injury time winner.
It was the visitors that started the game the stronger. Last season’s League Two top scorer Clayton Donaldson had an early chance which Adam Bartlett did well to block with his feet at the expense of a corner. Then a Rob Purdie back pass was picked up by Bartlett, with the resulting indirect free kick being cleared. The distinctive headband of Stefan Stam was then called upon to make a couple of timely interventions, before Donaldson played a dangerous ball into the box for O’Connor to blast straight at Purdie on the goal line.
The Bulls were beginning to find their feet. A promising move involving Kenny Lunt, Joe Heath and Stuart Fleetwood broke down, and Harry Pell’s incisive through ball was intercepted by Karleigh Osborne. At the other end, Charlie Macdonald and Donaldson combined well to give Jonathan Douglas a chance, but his effort was skied. Ryan Green was harshly penalised for a push on Donaldson, and Bartlett had to be alert to palm away Sam Saunders’ curling free kick.
Purdie’s perceptive ball to Pell was nodded down by the youngster, and Joe Colbeck’s shot was smothered. At last, Hereford made use of Facey’s strength, with Fleetwood feeding off a deft flick on, and last term’s top goalscorer should have done better than the ballooned attempt.. Shaleum Logan was proving a tricky opponent , and his rapid progress down the flank won a couple of corners for the Bees, neither of which threatened the home goal. As the interval approached, James McQuilkin and Lunt both had chances, but delayed their shots for too long, and Fleetwood’s free kick slammed into the defensive wall. The resulting corner proved too pacey for Facey. Colbeck tracked back to make an important clearance as the whistle sounded.
HT: HUFC 0 BRENTFORD 0
Stam once again removed the sting from the Bees attack, blocking Macdonald’s shot, then deflecting Sam Saunders’s drive for a corner. Pell crossed for Fleetwood, and Facey was slow to react to the loose ball. Purdie’s ball down the line was timed well, and Colbeck latched onto it, but lacked control. Bartlett had a busy five minute period, blocking successive shots from Saunders, Macdonald, and Donaldson (twice) as both sides created chances.
The significant, and ultimately decisive, change happened midway through the half, as the Bulls enjoyed their most productive period. Arquin replaced Facey, and instantly showed the desire and strength to pose a threat to the opposition, much as he had done at Saafend on Saturday. Purdie found him with a driven cross and his firm header was cleared for a corner. Another strong run saw the ball narrowly clear the goal line before being squared across goal. Purdie laid Mcquilkin’s expert pass straight into Pell’s path, and Our ‘Arry unleashed a terrific goal-bound 20-yarder, which Simon Moore somehow managed to fingertip to safety. For the visitors, Mr Bean, looking, it must be said, vastly different from his onscreen persona, tried a deft chip over Bartlett which landed on top of the net.
Joe Heath sent over an accurate ball which Arquin headed tamely at Moore. Four additional minutes were announced, and extra time beckoned. In the second of these, Colbeck retrieved a ball on the right of goal, turned on a sixpence, and fired low across the six yard box. Arriving at pace, Arquin fired gleefully home. There was insufficient time for a Brentford response.
FT: HUFC 1 BRENTFORD 0
Attendance: 1767(including 190 away fans)
HUFC: Bartlett, Heath, Stam, Green, Purdie, Mcquilkin, Lunt, Pell, Fleetwood, Facey (Arquin 68), Colbeck.
BRENTFORD: Moore, O’Connor, Bean (Weston 86), Eger, Saunders (Reeves 75), Douglas, Donaldson, Macdonald, Logan (Alexander 94), Wood, Osborne.
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