With Steve Guinan raising funds for the Children With Cancer charity by holding a football match at Westfields later this month, BN takes a look back at the first game of his second spell with Hereford United.
Guinan rejoined the Bulls from Cheltenham in January 2007, initially on loan. The game was against Notts County on January 27th and he couldn't have had a better start as he scored two of Hereford goals in their 3-2 win.
Happy Days!
A
week in football is a long time, it's proved once again. Following the
second unacceptable performance in as many weeks by Hereford United, the
gaffer Graham Turner took out his cheque book, made three signings and
it has paid off following todays encounter with Notts County.
Though
there was no place for Danny Thomas, Ben Smith and Steve Guinan both
made their first starts following their singings, and Steve Jennings was
star of the show as he made his home debut. Turner axed Dean Beckwith,
Stuart Fleetwood, Andy Williams and Alex Jeannin from the starting
eleven and there was no place for Gareth Sheldon on the bench either. In
came Trent McClenahan, Smith, Tamika Mkandawire, Alan Connell and
Guinan.
The
Bulls made a positive start, as they attacked the Meadow End with Smith
and Guinan both showing early promise, however it was the visitors who
netted first. The presence of Jason Lee paid off for County as he got a
touch off his head to an inswinging cross from the left, and the ball
bounced off the far post before hitting the back of the net. The lead
lasted just two minutes though, as United seemed to adopt an old policy
of, "we'll score one more than you", which was familiar in Guinan and
Smiths last spell with the club. And the two were involved in the goal
as well, as Guinan played to Smith, who volleyed from the edge of the
box against the foot of the post. The ball ran to the far side of the
box where McClenahan was hand to fire into the roof of the net for the
equaliser.
Rob
Purdie burst away on the right flank but was hacked down by Michael
Edwards, who was booked, before Connell met a half clearance with a full
volley that only went behind thanks to a deflection off Alan White.
Smith had a very ambitious effort from all of forty yards, having been
picked out by Guinan, with the Kevin Pilkington off his line, but his
attempt was wide.
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| Guinan About To Score - Pictures Taken By Andy Compton |
Then the two new signings linked up fantastically as
Guinan netted on his return to Edgar Street to put The Bulls into the
lead. With twenty seven minutes gone Smith played a perfect through ball
for Guinan to race onto, and he took the ball around the 'keeper before
passing into the net in front of a delighted Meadow End.
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| Players Pleased With Guinan's Goal |
Smith
almost doubled the lead when Purdie found him on the right, Smith
advanced into the box before flashing a shot inches wide of the far
post. Guinan whipped a cross into the box, which Jennings didn't connect
enough with to make Pilkington work before a rare chance for County at
the other end. Simon Travis sold Wayne Brown short with a poor head
back, but Andy Parkinson, having raced in, toed the ball wide. Connell
went close again with another volley following a poor clearance, but
this time it was only just wide of the mark. Then at the end of the half
Purdie played an inch perfect pass through to Smith, in a crowded area,
and Smith beat Pilkington, but was denied by the post, though the flag
was raised for offside.
United
came out in the second half with a little more relaxed mentality, and
compared to the first, the second forty five was lacking in opportunity.
Jay Smith crafted an half chance for himself, but fired wide before
Jennings was denied by a point blank range save after a free kick, but
again the flag was up. Despite not looking under any pressure, United
conceded on sixty four minutes, as Lee netted again. It was his aerial
ability that paid dividends again as, again from the left, he rose to
head in powerfully from twelve yards. Some blame may be layed with
Brown, who came to catch but got nowhere near the cross.
Guinan
was having none of it on his return though, and four minutes later had
restored his side's lead with a stunning strike. McClenahan crossed from
the right, Guinan controlled with his left, taking the ball into his
stride, and hammered home from just inside the box with his right foot
to make it 3-2.
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| Celebrating His Second Goal |
Connell was replaced by Williams with fifthteen minutes
left, and he almost got a fourth for Hereford as he cut in from the
right, but Pilkington made a low save. The midfield general Jennings,
who'd worked all day long cutting up attacks, making good passes and
charging forward, seemed to pull up late on and was replaced on eighty
nine by Luke Webb. Hereford had to defend in injury time and survived a
couple of late scares to take all three points.
You
could say it was almost scripted, with Guinan and Smith linking up as
much as they did, especially for the second goal with saw Guinan cap a
wonderful move. No doubt the two will steal the headlines, but there
were many other good performances today, and undoubtedly if they
continue in this way, there will be an improvement on the crowd, which
was 3,218 (with 396 away) though most were very entertained.
HUFC: Brown, Rose, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Travis, McClenahan, Purdie, Jennings, Smith, Connell, Guinan.
NCFC:
Pilkington, Gleeson, White, Edwards, Silk, Smith, Somner, Martin,
Parkinson, Lee, Dudfield. Subs: Deeney, N'Toya, Mendes, Sheridan,
Wilson.