For this look back at teams now in the National North, BN features a game at Altrincham from Saturday April 15th 2006.
One Foot in the Play Offs
Hereford
United all but secured their place in the play offs for a third
successive season following their 1-0 victory at Moss Lane this
afternoon, against Altrincham. Morecambe were 3-0 victors at Tamworth,
meaning, at the worst, Hereford can only finish 6th on goal difference. A
victory on Monday, against Tamworth, for the Bulls would finalise their
position in the top five.
United
made a few changes from the draw with Dagenham last weekend - the only
forced one was the replacement of Daryl Taylor on the right by Andy
Williams, as the former's loan spell has ended. Andy Ferrell was back in
the middle in place of Jamie Pitman and Stuart Fleetwood was back in
the starting line up in place of Adam Stansfield, who was benched. There
were returns from injury, but only to the subs bench, for Guy Ipoua and
Nicky Nicolau.
Hereford
started brightly with Rob Purdie causing plenty of problems on the
left, and it was his dangerous early cross that was clawed away by
'keeper Stuart Coburn. Ferrell had fired off target in the sixth minute
before Fleetwood should have broken the deadlock. United had broke well
down the right, where they were to enjoy much success in the first half,
and Simon Travis delivered a cross for Fleetwood, but his first time
effort was somehow tipped onto the cross bar by Coburn.
Stanley
had an even better chance to open the scoring just before the half hour
mark, after another fast attack down the right caused problems for the
Alty defence. This time it was Williams who was the creator, but Stanley
volleyed just wide from a central position, from around twelve yards
out.
United
continued to dominate after the break, but still struggled to make
Coburn work that hard in the Alty goal. The Bulls enjoyed much
possession around the box and were very rarely threatened at the back
for the opening stages of the second half, but the nearest to a shot on
goal came through Stanley, whose effort from outside of the box was
deflected to safety.
Colin
Little had Alty's first real effort at goal when he headed over before
Fleetwood finally made a break through in the sixty fourth minute. The
Robins had squandered possession in the middle and Ferrell managed to
thread an inch-perfect pass, just beyond the toes of the impressive Gary
Talbot, and into the path of Fleetwood's run. He made no mistake when
faced by the on rushing Coburn, as he fired powerfully into the back of
the net.
United
took their foot off the gas once they'd got the goal, and Altrincham
did come into the game a bit. However, the Bulls almost doubled the lead
when an Alex Jeannin corner found Danny Carey-Bertram at the far post,
but his first time shot was blocked on the line. Tamika Mkandawire was
first to the rebound, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Williams also had a good chance, but he was just beaten to a cross from
man of the match Purdie, by the flying Coburn.
Substitute
Kieran Lugsden shot narrowly wide as the hosts tried to salvage a point
before Guy Ipoua replaced Williams in the eighty fourth minute.
Hereford had one final chance before Ipoua's introduction, and it was
Ferrell, who'd created the first goal, who went close. Williams received
the ball into his feet, fifthteen yards out with his back to goal, and
touched the ball onto Ferrell who met it first time with a thunderous
effort, that whistled just wide of the top corner.
It
was, again, not the best performance from United but it is definatly
points that matter at this stage of the season. However, Hereford did
look solid at the back and a little more fluency and pace to their game
would most probably do them a world of good. Another positive for the
Hereford following in the crowd of 1,251 was the return of Ipoua. The
Bulls will want to have everyone fit and avaliable for their inevitable
play off campaign.
HUFC:
Brown, Travis, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, Ferrell, Stanley,
Williams, Carey-Bertram, Fleetwood. Subs: Mawson, Pitman, Nicolau,
Stansfield, Ipoua.
AFC:
Coburn, Aspinall, Talbot, Band, Scott, Potts, Murphy, Peyton, Chalmers,
Little, Thornley. Subs: McFadden, Adams, Lugsden, Munroe, Norton