BN is coming to the end of its series of Hereford games at clubs now in the National North. Today it's a visit to Stockport County.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Stroll in Edgeley Park for County
Stockport
County made easy pickings of a dodgy Bulls' backline to overcome
Hereford United 4-1 at Edgeley Park this afternoon. The hosts took a
lead within 15 seconds of the start with Dominic Blizzard nipping into
finish with ease. United managed to level through Sam Hewson before
Matty McNeil headed from a corner to restore the lead. In the
second-half, County dominated against a lacklustre Hereford side and
added two more goals through Matty Mainwaring and Leon McSweeney.
With
Kris Taylor suspended after picking up his fifth card of the season
against Walsall, Richard Jackson was bought in at right-back with
Richard Rose moving to left-back. Ben Smith made way in central midfield
for Hewson, who had recovered from a groin strain. There was no place
in the County team for Jimmy McNulty, who is set to leave the club on
Monday. Two former Hereford full-backs were included; Robbie Threlfall
was preferred to start with Michael Rose having to be content with a
place on the bench.
Stockport
kicked off and a long-ball from Johnny Mullins up field was completely
mis-kicked by Karl Broadhurst allowing in Blizzard who made no mistake
firing across Craig Samson to ensure a horror start for Hereford. There
may have been a bobble which deceived Broadhurst, with the pitch causing
problems for both teams throughout after Sale's rugby match last night.
Oli Johnson received a pass from Paul Turnbull and ran at Rose, before
firing towards the near-post forcing Samson to push the ball behind the
post. Turnbull himself fancied his chances sending in a 20 yard shot
which bounced before going wide. Hereford's first opportunity fell to
Andy Williams, who turned his marker on the edge of the box but couldn't
hit the target with a left-foot strike. McSweeney hit a free-kick just
past Samson's post before the visitors shocked Stockport with an
equaliser.
A
pass down the right-wing allowed Jennison Myrie-Williams to out-pace
and outmuscle Threlfall before running into the box; he cut back onto
his left-foot before picking out Hewson, who controlled before poking
past Owain fon Williams from 12 yards. Threlfall soon made up for his
lapse in defensive duties at the other end as he provided the assist for
County's second. It had followed a sliced effort going wide from the
Liverpool loanee as County won a corner; Threlfall swung it in at pace
and it made its way to the unmarked McNeil who nodded in from
close-range. Although it was at the other end of the ground to the
visiting supporters, it looked like poor marking and question-marks must
be asked again over Samson's ability to take crosses. Myrie-Williams
showed a good turn of pace down the wing before dragging a left-foot
shot well-wide. Just before half-time Turnbull headed over from another
Threlfall corner.
The
second-half was fairly routine for County who dominated possession and
played around Hereford. They were rewarded for their play with a third
goal when a Tommy Rowe corner wasn't cleared and Mainwaring somehow
managed to weave his way past two players inside the crowded box before
shooting into the corner. Hewson sent a snapshot half-volley wide after
Matty Done had crossed from the left before both sides made a sub. Simon
Johnson was introduced for Williams, who again had a disappointing
afternoon whilst M. Rose replaced Threlfall. Rowe's burst into the box
after picking up a ball from a loose header saw him force Samson to make
a close-range block to stop a goalbound left-foot effort.
The
hosts made sure of their win with a fourth goal in the 76th minute with
yet more poor defending contributing to the goal. M. Rose was found on
the left and he crossed into the box; Samson came to claim but instead
punched out to McSweeney who controlled before sending a relatively weak
shot goalwards and it ended up in the back of the net after Broadhurst
failed to make, what looked like, a routine block. Late subs were made
by both teams, which really dampened the end of the game. James Vincent
and Danny Pilkington came on for County in place of McSweeney and
Blizzard, whilst Hereford gave Sam Gwynne and Dean Beckwith a run-out in
place of Done and Broadhurst respectively. In the closing moments,
Samson dived to his left to save a placed shot by Pilkington but it was
the last of the action as Stockport passed their way to the end of the
match.
It
was a crushing defeat for United, who never came close to matching
their opponents. It had little to do with Stockport's quality, but more
to do so with Hereford's lacklustre approach; defensive mistakes coupled
with the midfield's inability to close-down led to the result. Up top,
there was little which offered excitement for United with Williams again
failing to deliver on a number of half-decent openings. Next up for
Hereford is the painfully long trip to Carlisle on Tuesday, lets hope
it'll be a better journey back from Cumbria than it was from Stockport.
Stockport: fon-Williams, McSweeney, Mullins, Raynes, Threlfall, Turnbull, Blizzard, Mainwaring, Rowe, Johnson, McNeil.
Subs: Pilkington, Rose, Dicker, Thompson, Vincent.
Hereford: Samson, Jackson, Broadhurst, Gowling, Rose, Myrie-Williams, Diagouraga, Hewson, Done, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Veiga, Beckwith, Gwynne, Smith, Johnson.