This Weekend In 2004

Going back to March 2004, Hereford are flying high in the Conference and they played Shrewsbury at Edgar Street,

A look back:

Derby win sees United go top

Hereford United 2 - 1 Shrewsbury Town

Hereford United gained revenge for their defeat earlier this season against Shrewsbury Town and also returned to the top of the table. The first-half had ended equal but the Shrews had shaded it. They had more possesion but created few clear cut chances, albeit more than the Bulls could manage.

United couldn't have started this local derby better. David Brown found Jamie Pitman with a crisp pass, and Pitman chipped the ball over the Salop defence for Rob Purdie to run onto and superbly volley home into the far bottom corner after just three minutes. The lead, however, was short lived. Shrewsbury broke down their right wing and Ryan Lowe crossed along the ground after skinning Michael Rose for Lee Lawrence, on loan from Mancheser United, to slot past Matthew Baker.

Hereford hardly threatened again in the first half until injury time when Steve Guinan's shot needed the finger tips of Scott Howie to direct the ball over the bar, although after about half an hour Pitmans shot could well have won the Whites a penalty. The powerful effort hit a raised Shrewsbury arm but referee Mr. A. Green waved play on. The lively Luke Rogers beat the United defence only to see his shot bloked by the chest of impressive Baker. Duane Darby and Rogers again had chances before half time.

Luke Rogers With Andy Tretton - Pic from Andy Compton

 

The second half began like the first half, exciting, with both teams playing some good football. Shrewsbury had the first chance from Darby whose shot, bound for the top corner, was tipped around the post by Baker. Ryan Green almost scored a fluke a couple of minutes later when his cross-come-shot hit the top of the cross bar.

Scott Willis would have been dissapointed not to have given Hereford the lead after Brown had held the ball up well in the area after receiving a stunning long range pass from Tony James. Brown cut the ball back into the run of Willis who powered the ball just over from twelve yards.

United did get the goal they had been pushing for after nine minutes of the second half. Man of the match Pitman threaded a wonderful through ball in between two defenders and found Steve Guinan who had beaten the offside trap. His original effort was well saved by Howie, but the ball fell kindly to the Hereford hitman who netted his twenty-second Conference goal of the season from a yard out.

Jimmy Quinn's men aimed to pull level as quickly as they had done previously, and attacked the Hereford box from the kick off. Darby got in behind the solid Hereford defence, with Tom Smith deputising for Tamika Mkandawire, and appeared to be fouled by former Shrewsbury captain Andy Tretton. The referee blew his whistle and much to the delight of the Bulls fans, booked Darby for a dive. Darby caused more trouble for United and managed to get one on one with Baker but Smith and Baker combined well to clear the danger.

The game had the passion of a local derby, both in the terraces and on the pitch. The crowd, which was a little dissapointing, of 5850 were well up for this game and so were the players. Tackles started to fly in during the second half as the Shrews began to get frustrated resulting in bookings for Trevor Challis and Dave Ridler, who was lucky to stay on the field after grabbing onto Browns leg after the striker had turned him. Ridler appeared to be the last man and Brown would have surely been through on goal if he wasn't held. Andy Tretton and Michael Rose were booked for the Bulls.

Late on Shrewsbury desperately searched for an opening to claim an equaliser. Substitute Jody Banim had the best chance of the half after a cross arrived from the right. He side footed a volley which Baker saved brilliantly from point blank range.

Even the introduction of player manager Quinn late on couldn't force a goal for Shrewsbury, who were slightly unlucky not to get anything out of this game, although Hereford could have scored more than they managed. With Chester City not playing today the result means that Hereford United return to the top of the table since November, even if it is just for a few days.

 

Steve gets the decisive goal

Steve Guinan added another to his goal to his tally this afternoon with the winner for the Bulls in the local derby with Shrewsbury. And it was even sweeter that Guinan scored the goal as he used to play for the visitors.

Interviewed on BBC Hereford & Worcester, Guinan admitted that the team knew it would be a tough game.

"First half, to be fair to them, I think they came out on top. Second half down the hill with our fans behind us, I think we were on top and I think we proved that by getting the decisive goal."

With Rob Purdie scoring the first goal of the game after three minutes, it was the dream start.

"I don't think we could have got any better (start)," said Guinan. "I don't think Shrewsbury had had that many touches. It was a great finish from Rob, but unfortunately they came back and hit us on the break."

Talking about his goal nine minutes into the second-half, Guinan said: "I think I was a bit fortunate. I think it just sneaked off the keeper and came back to me. It's got us three points. It was vital we had the three points to catch Chester and it might affect them a little bit.

He also praised Hereford's goalkeeper Matt Baker who made a great save late in the game. "Matt made some grand saves all season, none better than the penalty at Chester in the last minute. He's kept us in games left, right and centre."

Meanwhile, Graham Turner said, "We played some good football in the second half after playing second fiddle for much of the first."

And Jimmy Quinn commented, "We had the chances to go away with at least a point. Now we've got to go to Barnet on Tuesday night and get something down there."

However he did comment on the official Shrewsbury Town website:" You can see Hereford are a confident team and you can see why they are (in) the position they are."