A bright and breezy afternoon saw the Wombles make the first advance. Some neat passing between Jack Midson, Byron Harrison and Christian Jolley allowed the latter a shot on goal which was comfortably fielded by David Cornell. His opposite number Seb Brown was then called to action as the industrious Rob Purdie released the overlapping Ben Purkiss, whose hanging cross was well held. It was then heart in mouth time as Cornell, under pressure from Midson, fluffed a catch. Referee Stuart Atwell, slumming it from a place called the “Premiership” or somesuch, saw nothing amiss with the challenge, and the home keeper fell, rugby style, on the ball right on the goal line. Townsend was then penalised for a high boot, and Cornell did well to shovel a long range shot to safety.
With 18 minutes gone, the Bulls took the lead with a well executed goal. The message that “Purkiss is willing” on the right flank was picked up by Purdie with an astute pass, and this time the cross found Lyle Taylor. The youngster showed the presence of mind to steer the ball sweetly into the corner of the Wimbledon goal.
From the restart, Delroy Facey showed his nuisance value in chasing down a lost cause and causing some consternation in the visiting defence. At this stage, a rainbow appeared over the main stand, though whether this was some kind of portent seemed doubtful. Indeed, a lack of communication between Townsend and Cornell nearly threw away the advantage.
The Real Dons won a corner, and Billy Knott’s flag kick found the head of Midson, but he glanced the effort wide. George Moncur then set up Sammy Moore who side-footed his effort past the post, though in truth Cornell seemed to have it covered anyway. A counter-attacking move from the Bulls on 34 minutes then led to a second goal. Will Evans played a super ball for Taylor, and this time he turned provider, squaring the ball back for the onrushing Tom Barkhuizen to smash a shot into the top corner.
The closest that Wimbledon came to a response was when Townsend hesitated to let Midson get in a shot which beat Cornell, but bounced back off the post straight into the grateful keeper’s grasp. Perhaps it would be the Bulls day after all! The ball did find the net shortly afterwards as Harrison headed home a Knott cross, but he was adjudged marginally offside. An entertaining first half concluded with some dangerous long throws from Sam Hatton with which the impressive Byron Anthony dealt confidently. Finally Harrison once more went up with Cornell, and the ball cleared the crossbar.
HT: HUFC 2 AFCW 0
Facey had an early chance to increase Hereford’s lead, but Brown saved with ease. At the other end, Jolley won a corner with a lively run, and the home defence managed to scramble the ball to safety. Cornell then saved efforts from Midson and Moncur, and then Jolley fed Knott who could not keep his shot on the turn below the bar. Sammy Moore’s curling cross was narrowly off target too. The Bulls countered with a flowing move involving Purdie, Barkhuizen and Evans, whose shot was wide. Facey’s clever flick to Barkhuizen almost bore fruit, but a defender was back to make the block. The Blackpool lad seemed to be limping and was swiftly replaced by Sam Clucas who seemed eager to show what he could do.
It was rather out of the blue when, after 68 minutes, Wimbledon reduced the deficit. Substitute Rashid Yussuf’s cross was blocked by Evans at the expense of a corner and the inswinging delivery by Moncur evaded everyone in the box except Midson who made a connection with his head. Cornell pounced on the ball, but a linesman’s flag indicated that it had already crossed the line. So, then, a lifeline for the Wombles, and a nervous last 20 minutes for Hereford fans, knowing only too well their team’s propensity for throwing away a lead.
In truth, though, it never really turned out that way. Despite some huffing and puffing from the opposition, and one or two concerns that they would withdraw too deeply, the defence held firm, with Anthony and Townsend making important clearances. In fact the closest we came to witnessing a further score was when Anthony’s towering header from a Clucas corner flew across the face of goal. The final whistle sounded, and an even more impressive double rainbow encircled the stadium. Perhaps it did mean something after all!
FT: HUFC 2 AFCW 1
Attendance: 2147, including 399 Wombles.
HUFC: Cornell, Purkiss, Townsend, Anthony, Clist, Taylor (Williams 79), Purdie, Evans, Lunt, Barkhuizen (Clucas 62), Facey.
AFCW: Brown, Stewart, Bush, Mitchell-King, Hatton, Jolley, S. Moore, Moncur (L Moore 79), Knott (Yussuff 62), Midson, Harrison (Euell 62).