It's probably fair to say that Hereford United need a miracle this afternoon, some may say a double miracle in that as well as The Bulls defeating Aldershot, Chester need to drop points in their game against Salisbury, if Hereford are to stay in the Conference Premier.
Let's look back at April 26th 2008. Who would have thought Hereford would be in League One by 4.50 that afternoon?
PROMOTION PARTY AIDED BY BEES
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Hereford
United sealed promotion to League One after a comfortable 3-0 victory
at Brentford this afternoon. With the one side nicknamed The Bees
losing, the other, Barnet managed a 2-1 win over Stockport County to
ensure third-tier football for United next season. Gary Hooper and Theo
Robinson scored in the first-half to make things comfortable, and a
vocal away support of 1418 saw Simon Johnson finish proceedings off with
a late tap-in.
Graham
Turner went with the same team than overcame Wrexham in mid-week, with
one change being made on the bench; Trevor Benjamin departed leaving
Steve Guinan to take his place. The Bees started Alan Connell up front
against his former employers, whilst Glenn Poole played on left-wing;
the tricky winger was a team-mate of Hooper's at Grays Athletic.
Gary
Smith shot well wide in the early stages as Brentford made the more
impressive start, but it was United who took the lead, when Hooper
netted another vital away goal. After 18 minutes, Robinson flicked to
his strike-partner Hooper whose quick touch took him clear of the
back-line before striking past the helpless Ben Hamer in goal. Advantage
Hereford and chants of "We are going up" were ringing around Griffin
Park. Ben Smith's volley tamely went into Hamer's arms, whilst Clint
Easton went closer, with a superb touch and shot following a Hooper
switch of play bringing out a fine save from Hamer, as he threw himself
to his left to tip over.
Ryan
Dickson sent a placed shot past the post from the left-hand side,
whilst a mistake from Toumani Diagouraga allowed Ricky Shakes to break
but his pass to G. Smith deserved better, as he smashed over from 18
yards despite being in a promising position. Then came two minutes of
action; firstly United won themselves a penalty after Dean Beckwith was
held in the box. Robinson took it and rolled it home from 12 yards, but
encroachment from Easton meant it had to be re-taken. It was second time
unlucky for Robinson, as he went the same way but Hamer guessed
correctly and palmed the powerful penalty clear. It didn't matter
though, as a minute after, Robinson netted to double the advantage. A
weak back-pass allowed Robinson to race on to the loose ball and round
Hamer. The Watford loanee steadied himself before firing into the middle
of the goal to the delight of the away support.
Hereford
were in control and this continued into the second half, with Hooper's
acceleration taking him into the area after being found by Easton but a
poked effort was blocked by Hamer. Connell headed a poole free-kick
straight at Brown before John Mousinho replaced G. Smith. Fine interplay
up top from Robinson and Hooper allowed the latter to chest down a
chipped pass from the former, but his placed effort was inches past the
far post. Shakes looked lively with his running, but couldn't find an
end product, with one shot deflected through to Brown and a header being
caught by 'Superman'.
An
excellent over-head kick from Connell landed on the roof of the net,
but Hereford were rarely troubled, instead, they looked like adding to
the score they had accumulated so far. Superb counter-attacking football
which started in their own penalty box, allowed Hooper to run 60 yards
before sending Robinson through, but the striker's shot trickled past
the far corner after beating Hamer. Shakes sent a powerful effort past
the post, whilst Connel's chest set up Poole but his volley was wild and
harmless. Matthew Heywood came on for Craig Pead, whilst another
snapshot from Shakes again proved harmless as it flew well over Brown's
bar.
Hooper
left the field of play with ten minutes remaining to an excellent and
deserved ovation, with Guinan taking his place. Brentford continued to
press but to no avail, as a Dickson free-kick was curled past the post.
Minutes from time, Brentford's very own Wayne Brown tested his name-sake
with a rising half-volley but 'Superman' won the name battle by pushing
the ball over the bar. Johnson replaced Robinson with a minute
remaining and finished the game off in stoppage time. The final goal
followed a magnificent free-kick from Poole which rattled the bar from
25 yards, but after Broadhurst had smashed clear, Trent McClenahan ran
onto it, and was away. The Aussie got his head up as he raced into the
box and passed across the goal to Johnson, who finished despite scuffing
his shot. The referee soon blew up, and within minutes of full-time at
Griffin Park, news filtered through about the final result at Underhill;
the outcome? Hereford were up.
The
scenes that followed were estatic reactions from players and fans
alike. There was a pitch invasion by the majority of Bulls' fans on the
terrace, whilst the players and coaching staff returned to the pitch to
be greeted by cheers and songs of "Going up". It's been a fantastic
season, and Hereford can now say a long goodbye to the days of Canvey
Island and co, and now look forward to trips to Tranmere, Huddersfield
and maybe even Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
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So it's onto League One next year; there's going to be some sore heads in Herefordshire tomorrow!
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Broadhurst, Beckwith, Rose, Igoe, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Hooper, Robinson.
Subs: Esson, Collins, Taylor, Johnson, Guinan.
Brentford: Hamer, Pead, Bennett, Osborne, Dickson, Brown, O'Conner, Poole, Shakes, Connell.
Subs: Sankofa, Reid, S. Brown, Heywood, Mousinho.