Back to April 2000 for today's archive article and a defeat for Hereford United at Doncaster.
Doncaster Rovers crucified Hereford United at Belle Vue this afternoon as the Yorkshire side emerged 4-0 victors.
Following Doncaster's first goal, lifeless Hereford just got worse and worse and the final scoreline came as no surprise to either set of fans in the crowd of 1,735.
One must feel sorry for the 120 or so travelling Bulls who have supported their side so well this season. Their reward for a six-hour round trip was Hereford's biggest defeat of the season. In fact the result is Hereford's biggest league defeat since January 1997, when the Bulls crashed 5-1 at Scunthorpe United in Division Three.
Graham Turner's side were without captain Ian Wright through injury, and midfielder Scott Goodwin, who was suspended. On the flip side, Doncaster missed striker Justin Jackson and several of their first team midfield. The game started with Hereford making the early running. Rob Elmes ran onto a Paul Parry ball after three minutes before firing a weak shot at the home goalkeeper Andy Warrington before Gavin Williams and Elmes again wasted openings.
After fourteen minutes, the deadlock was broken. Doncaster took the lead, slightly against the run of play, as Paul Barnes, Robert Gill and Paul Green combined before Andy Watson fired home from ten yards with Matt Baker, the Bulls goalkeeper, helpless.
The Bulls responded positively at first, with Richard Holmes sailing over a good cross before a Paul Parry corner had to be punched away after Tony James headed it goalwards. Then the tables turned. Andy Watson smashed the ball at Baker after Robert Gill had skinned a Hereford defender, and the away defence appeared to lose its strength. Gill volleyed inches wide from twenty yards after beating the normally-reliable Tony James, and Doncaster grew in confidence.
The home side were eager to find another goal. After Baker had saved from Barnes on the line after twenty five minutes, the home side doubled their advantage on the half hour. Richard Holmes, on-loan from Notts County, was beaten on the right wing by a Gill through ball, and Andy Watson hit an angled volley over Matt Baker.
Holmes continued to make errors, but he was not the only one in the Hereford side. Nobody had a good game, and therefore no man of the match award was given due to the lacklustre disaster today. Watson fired across goal after beating Holmes on thirty two minutes, before full-back Tim Ryan hit a smashing ball wide from a Paul Green corner four minutes later. Gill aimed to make it 3-0 in added time, but Baker was equal to his effort.
Half time couldn't come quick enough for Hereford, as they proceeded to make a change to liven up their chances. The unimpressive Jimmy Quiggin was removed for youngster Ross Diamond. Unfortunately, Diamond didn't sparkle and was lucky not to have been dismissed for some fairly reckless challenges in the second period.
John Snape cleared a ball off the line as Rovers pressed with a Green shot, and soon after Andy Watson could have scored his hatrick when he linked onto a through ball from Tristan Whitman. Baker was equal to the shot, but could do nothing about Doncaster's third goal after fifty eight minutes. Paul Green swung in a corner from the left which Jamie Squires, unmarked on the back post, cooly headed into the net with limited effort. The simplicity of the goal underlined Hereford's severe defensive frailties.
Paul Barnes headed onto the post as Doncaster searched for a fourth nineteen minutes from time, but the ball rebounded out for Dean Barrick, on loan at Hereford from Doncaster, to head out for a corner. Tim Ryan fired over from twenty five yards just a minute later, as the Bulls made little impression. The home side always looked the more likely to get an additional goal, and it came in added time. The ball was knocked out to Paul Green, who smashed a low shot from twenty five yards into the back of the net to complete the rout.
There was no excuse for Hereford's performance today, and with four games left, points are crucially required to stave off a relegation threat. Woking are twentieth with 42 points, Hereford are fifteenth with 46. If Woking win their game in hand, the Bulls could be just one point above the drop zone.
Times are desparate, and results like this don't help.
Hereford United: Matt Baker, Richard Holmes, Dean Barrick, Phil Robinson, Matt Clarke, Tony James (captain), Jimmy Quiggin (off, half time), John Snape, Rob Elmes, Gavin Williams, Paul Parry
Subs: Ross Diamond (on, half time), Lee Evans, John Shirley, Jon Hill, Chris Rowell
Yellow cards: Dean Barrick (foul, 15 minutes), Ross Diamond (foul, 52 minutes), Rob Elmes (foul, 89 minutes)
Man of the Match: Not awarded
Attendance: 1,735
Referee: Mr. P. Crossley (Bromley)
HEREFORD United coach Phil Robinson outlined the dismay at today's 4-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.
Robinson told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "As the games got less, it wasn't one we highlighted to get three points from. The manner of the defeat was most disappointing. We prepared very well, we were confidence of putting up a good performance and started quite well but after they scored we caved in."
Ian Wright, Hereford's solid centre back and team captain, was missing, and Robinson commented: "With such a small squad, if you get an important figure missing you can't fill them."
He said of the performance: "The whole shape of the team disappointed me. People weren't being picked up and when you start having runners coming through, it disrupts the team. We're very down but we've got to keep believing that we're good enough. We're going to train morning to night next week until we get things right, and get into the right frame of mind, the right physical shape and the right organisation to get points from these next three home games."
EIGHT Hereford United followers were detained following Saturday's 4-0 defeat Doncaster Rovers.
The 'supporters' were arrested for violent disorder at a pub in Doncaster city centre after it was alledged extensive damage was caused, according to the Hereford Times. The South Yorkshire Police force have said that a number of Hereford fans left the ground early and went to the pub. Most of the trouble took place in the town centre a couple of skirmished outside the ground. A heavily pregnant woman was taken to hospital from the pub and treated for shock.