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Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Saturday, May 02, 2015

Ben Smith Competition


BN recently promoted a picture competition to win a copy of Ben Smith's new book, Journeyman.

The correct answer was the game against Dagenham on Oct 13th 2003.

Most of those who entered had the correct answer but some went for Smith's goal in Hereford's 7-1 win over Halifax.

For the record here's the report:

Hereford United 1 - 1 Dagenham & Redbridge

Hereford United drew 1-1 tonight with Dagenham & Redbridge at Edgar Street. The result doubles the Bulls advantage at the top of the table over Chester City.

The first half was a scrappy one and chances were few and far between. Neither side created many clear cut chances before the last five minutes of the half. Before hand, Ben Smith had been booked for a sliding challenge on Dagenham's winger Tony Scully. Smith was one of seven players to be cautioned in the game which was far from dirty. The referee seemed to needlessly hand out yellow cards throughout the ninety minutes and Mr. Green generally had a poor show in front of the cameras.

After forty minutes Hereford created a wonderful opening which was close to breaking the deadlock. A magnificent passing move down the Hereford right-wing led to the ball being laid off to Michael Rose, who smashed a low left-footed drive from the edge of the area, only to see it skim the foot of the post and go out of play.

The second half, however, was much more eventful. In the early stages, Dagenham striker Alex Meechan twice hooked the ball over Matt Baker's goal before Hereford made it 1-0 in the fifty-fourth minute.

A throw in on the left wing was played to David Brown, who knocked the ball on to Smith. He took the ball into the area and hit an unstoppable shot high into the goal, which left 'keeper James Pullen with no chance.

The goal added a spring to Hereford's step as they attacked in numbers. Brown may have added a second just minutes later when his volley went wide after Steve Guinan had crossed.

In the sixty-fifth minute, though, the Daggers were level. A corner was swung in and punched away by Baker. The ball fell to Lenny Piper twenty-five yards from goal and his powerful effort was cleared off the line by Smith, but the ball dropped two yards out for Dean Bethwick to tap in.

Both teams searched for a winner, but neither could create much as the defences continued to look strong. Danny Carey-Bertram was subbed on for Brown, and his pace nearly created a winner for United when he raced clear from the halfway line, playing the ball to Paul Parry, who was denied by the advancing goalie, Pullen.

The result left the majority of the 4,325 disappointed, with the twenty eight travelling fans from Dagenham excepted, but the draw was probably a fair reflection of the game. The referee and his officials left the game to boos and jeers.


Ben's book , which comes with photos taken by Steve Niblett and James Maggs, can be purchased by BN readers direct from the publishers at a discounted price. Go to: www.bitebackpublishing.com

Simply scroll down to the promotion input field – half way down the right hand side of the home page – and type in the code: BNEWS.