We continue our tribute to Hereford historian Ron Parrott.
Back in the days of BN's predecessor, hu-fc.co.uk, Ron wrote a regular feature called Parrott's Programmes.
Here's one of those articles:
Merthyr Tydfil vs Hereford United - 13th September 1954 - 1954/55 season.
I've come forward a few years in time for this month's programme of the month and I've selected an away match against United's old Southern League rivals Merthyr Tydfil in the 1954/55 season. For those of you too young to remember, Merthyr Tydfil were the Manchester United of the post-war Southern League era. They were elected to the League in 1946/47 and they dominated Southern League football for the next eight seasons, finishing 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd and 1st between 1946/47 and 1953/54. During this time United had played "The Martyrs" in a total of eight games at Edgar Street and Pennydarren Park and had suffered seven defeats and recorded just one draw, such was Merthyr's dominance. However, all good things must come to an end and on Tuesday 13th September 1954, United at last break the hoodoo with a manificent 5-3 victory at Pennydarren Park. I have included below, the description of the game itself, taken word for word, from my new book:-
"From the ridiculously poor to the sublimely brilliant! The 2-0 Kettering disappointment is quickly forgotten when at the 9th time of asking, on Tuesday 13th, United finally win a league match at Merthyr Tydfil. And what a win it is! United triumph 5-3 with a superb display of attacking football and become the first ever Southern League team to put five past them at Penydarren Park. In fact, only one club has ever done it before and that was Cardiff City’s full First Division team in a 5-4 win, so Hereford’s 5-3 goes down as their worst ever! The soccer is exuberant and the 90 minutes are thrill-packed, with nobody more delighted than former Merthyr players Jenkyn Powell and Roy Phillips, the latter being appointed skipper for the occasion. After 15 minutes, Len Anslow bursts clean through the middle to snatch the lead but the Welshmen fight back to go in 2-1 up at the break with a brace from inside-left Jarman. Anslow levels it again three minutes into the second period, then Jenkyn Powell steals the limelight. Firstly, he spread-eagles the home defence for Ron Vigar to flash home a shot to put United 3-2 up, then he lands a pinpoint cross on Jack Lewis’s head for him to nod in just under the crossbar. Finally, Powell crowns a brilliant performance by power driving in a fifth goal from 25 yards in gathering gloom. Jarman completes his hat-trick five minutes from time to make the final scoreline 5-3 and give it some respectability, although it’s no more thana consolation. Victory is all the sweeter because it has been such a long wait and follows a dismal sequence of seven losses and just one draw since Merthyr joined the league in 1946/47. To make the weekend complete, the Reserves beat a skilful young Aston Villa side 3-0, one of the goals being scored by 17-year-old Leominster lad, John Pemberton. Sadly, only 1,300 people are present to witness it."
Len Anslow scored twice against Merthyr and netted a total of 29 goals in 92 games during his three years at Edgar Street.