A look back to 2001 and an August Bank Holiday Monday fixture between Hereford and Southport in the Conference.
HEREFORD United 0 - 0 Southport (August 27th 2001)
The strain of two matches in three days took its toll as a dull 0-0 draw
was the result in today's Nationwide Conference match at Edgar Street.
Neither side really deserved to win as defences came out on top,
although Hereford will think themselves hard done by the referee on a
few occasions; Mr. Hapgood from Swindon had an awful match.
United boss Graham Turner made two changes to the side that beat
Stalybridge 2-0 on Saturday. Ian Rodgerson was injured and replaced by
Steve Piearce, and he partnered Rob Elmes in attack as Gavin Williams
fell back onto the right wing. John Snape returned to play alongside
Paul Webb in the centre of the park. Contrary to earlier reports, Matt
Baker was not suspended in the Hereford goal and started at number one.
Southport named two ex-Hereford players on the substitutes bench. Chris
Lane, who moved to Haig Avenue last January, was amongst the reserves as
was Brian McGorry, a summer signing by manager Phil Wilson from Telford
United.
The game started in hot conditions at Edgar Street and neither side
created much in the way of chances. Hereford, though, attempted to
attack but Steve Piearce's early weak shot was easily saved by
Sandgrounder's goalkeeper Steve Dickinson, and Gavin Williams went close
a minute or so later. Ian Wright headed over from a corner a little
later, whilst Matt Baker did well to punch away a cross from Simon
Parke.
Fifteen minutes were on the clock when Hereford captain Ian Wright went
close, only for Barry Jones to clear his header away. At the other end,
Martin Clark hit wide when one-on-one with the confident Baker, but the
first goal of the afternoon was to follow at the other end. A Gavin
Williams corner was headed past Dickinson by Wright but the referee
disallowed the effort after an infringement from Rob Elmes.
Two minutes later, with twenty seven on the clock, Southport had the
ultimate chance to reply. From the edge of the box, Simon Parke turned
well and his left-footed volley sailed narrowly wide of Matt Baker's
right hand post. A few minutes later, Baker was in good form to save a
shot from Steve Jones with his legs and after a scramble in the final
third of the field, Lee Elam hit over for a goal kick.
In added time at the end of the half, Hereford United will have felt
hard-done-by not to have gained a penalty when Steve Piearce was
blatantly pushed on his back in the box. The referee must have been the
only person who didn't see it - and awarded no penalty. However, after
Hereford's recent penalty form it could have been a blessing in
disguise!
The start of the second half was delayed by five minutes after the teams
had appeared due to a lack of officials! When proceedings did
eventually restart, Hereford created the first attack which Dickinson
rushed out to clear following a move involving Elmes and Piearce. Four
minutes later, a Matt Clarke cross was headed over by the unmarked Parry
from ten yards out, and Paul Webb made Dickinson dive low to stop a
long range effort.
Danny Davidson soon replaced Piearce and made a swift impact. After
Parry had tested the goalkeeper with a close range header, Davidson had a
shot tipped over the bar.
Southport needed to respond to the added threat, and Steve Jones hit a
close range effort at Baker. Then, Hereford were mighty lucky to have
got away with poor defending when Neil Grayston hit a superb thirty yard
effort against the far post, with Baker beaten. The ball rebounded away
and was cleared.
With eleven minutes left, Shaun Teale gave the away side the lead but
the referee was obviously on a roll - and disallowed that goal too!
Simon Parke was the man adjudged to have made a foul. United responded
well when Gavin Williams tested Dickinson from thirty yards, and the
goalkeeper was only able to tip the effort over the crossbar. Simon
Peake and Rob Elmes went close for their respective sides as the
full-time whistle approached but neither could break the deadlock.
Southport will not be disappointed with a point, but the home side will
be annoyed that for the amount of possession and chances that they had,
they couldn't gain that illusive goal. The hard fought battle is clearly
evident because the number of fouls recorded. The total - a mere thirty
nine!
Starting XI: Matt Baker, Matt Clarke, Mark Williams, Paul Webb, Ian
Wright, (captain) Tony James, Steve Piearce (off, 57 minutes), John
Snape, Rob Elmes, Gavin Williams, Paul Parry
Subs: Scott Goodwin, Lee Evans, Christian James, Danny Davidson (on, 57 minutes), Paul Marshall
Yellow cards: Matt Clarke (43 minutes, unsporting behaviour), Paul Parry (90 minutes, foul)
Man of the Match Matt Baker
Attendance 2,010
Referee Mr. S. Hapgood (Swindon)
HEREFORD United's on loan midfielder Paul Webb has given his view of today's 0-0 draw with Southport.
Speaking to Trevor Owens of BBC Hereford & Worcester, he said: "I
think it was a fair result in the end. It was not a very good game; it
was like watching a tennis match for the crowd. It's our second game in
fourty eight hours and both games have been very hot so the lads have
done well to get through it."
"It was cut and thrust for ninety minutes," he continued. "It was
disappointing that we couldn't get the ball down and give it to the lads
who can get some crosses in. I suppose for the fans it was a dour nil
nil."
The month-long loan move will benefit him as well as Hereford United,
according to Webb: "I can play nine games in a month here. Hopefully I
can go back to Harriers in a month and be pushing for a first team
place."
Since Kidderminster were promoted a year ago, Webb has returned to the
Conference. He said of the league: "It's as difficult as ever. There is
still a lot of good quality in the Conference and it's still a difficult
league to play in."
On Hereford United's chances at the top, Webb commented: "There are some
very good players here especially some younger players who can go onto
better things. I came into the side to try and help these youngsters
with my little bit of experience and there is no reason why Hereford
shouldn't be up there for most of the season."