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This weekend in 2004 was Easter Weekend. Hereford were at home to Barnet on Easter Saturday April 10th and away at Aldershot on Easter Monday April 12th.
A look back:
Bulls take the
sting out of Bees
Hereford
United 2 - 0 Barnet
Hereford United
made it eight wins in a row this afternoon, a Conference record,
as they overcame a promotion-chasing Barnet side 2-0. The Bulls
seemed to take the game reasonably easy, maybe with Monday's
clash against Aldershot in mind. Barnet rarely troubled United,
who had to play the last ten minutes with ten men.
Hereford had to make one change from the side that beat Halifax a week ago, Simon Travis replaced the suspended Michael Rose at left wing back. The first half hour was not the most entertaining to say the least due to lack of opportunities and the referee stopping play continuously. Scott Willis was booked for his first offence of the game, and Gustavo Lopez and Ben Strevens were cautioned for the visitors.
The first chance of the game fell to Rob Purdie who volleyed over the bar from fifteen yards after a well worked throw in allowed Ryan Green to cross. Shortly after, the referee made another debatable decision when he failed to book Lopez after he had appeared to elbow Tony James in the face. James was taken off to receive four stitches and returned about ten minutes later.
United took the lead with seven minutes of the first half remaining. A neat passing move following a good run from Purdie allowed Scott Willis to net his second league goal for Hereford from twenty-five yards, although the ball did take a deflection on its way into the top corner. After the goal Hereford began passing better than they had been, and finished the half strongly.
Just minutes after the restart Steve Guinan had a wonderful chance to double United's lead, but when one-on-one with 'keeper Gore, following a through ball from James, his shot was turned behind for a corner. Barnet came back into the game and had chances to equalise through Ben Strevens who volleyed over and had a shot blocked from Andy Tretton before the referee gave Barnet a penalty. Tretton will have felt hard done by when he challenged for a header with Matt Redmile, the referee pointed to the spot and claimed that Tretton was leaning over Redmile, preventing him from winning the header. This was just one of the dubious decisions R. Lewis made. However, Ian Hendon's powerfully struck penalty was brilliantly tipped away by Matt Baker as he dived to his right to keep the Bulls in front.
Ian Hendon tried to score again, this time from a free kick thirty-five yards out, but Baker gathered at the second attempt. The Bees were almost gifted a goal when Baker rolled the ball out to Travis on the left, but the ball bobbled over his foot. Guiliano Grazioli was about six yards out, one-on-one with Baker, but managed the scuff his shot wide of the post.
In the 76th minute Hereford were awarded a penalty when Guinan was given the smallest of nudges by Chris Plummer as Green crossed from the right. Skipper James stepped up confidently and hammered home to the left of the goalie, who dived the wrong way.
In the 80th minute United were reduced to ten men when Willis slid in late and was booked for a second time. Hereford pushed for a third and came closest from a Danny Williams, who had replaced David Brown, free kick thirty yards out that went inches wide of the bottom corner and in the last minute when Guinan who, once again, failed to net when one-on-one with Gore much to the dismay of most of the 4,447 in attendance.
A very solid performance from Hereford who didn't have to work too hard for their victory. It will be very pleasing for the team as they only have one days rest before they go to Aldershot who need the three points to help secure their place in the play-offs at the end of the season.
Hereford had to make one change from the side that beat Halifax a week ago, Simon Travis replaced the suspended Michael Rose at left wing back. The first half hour was not the most entertaining to say the least due to lack of opportunities and the referee stopping play continuously. Scott Willis was booked for his first offence of the game, and Gustavo Lopez and Ben Strevens were cautioned for the visitors.
The first chance of the game fell to Rob Purdie who volleyed over the bar from fifteen yards after a well worked throw in allowed Ryan Green to cross. Shortly after, the referee made another debatable decision when he failed to book Lopez after he had appeared to elbow Tony James in the face. James was taken off to receive four stitches and returned about ten minutes later.
United took the lead with seven minutes of the first half remaining. A neat passing move following a good run from Purdie allowed Scott Willis to net his second league goal for Hereford from twenty-five yards, although the ball did take a deflection on its way into the top corner. After the goal Hereford began passing better than they had been, and finished the half strongly.
Just minutes after the restart Steve Guinan had a wonderful chance to double United's lead, but when one-on-one with 'keeper Gore, following a through ball from James, his shot was turned behind for a corner. Barnet came back into the game and had chances to equalise through Ben Strevens who volleyed over and had a shot blocked from Andy Tretton before the referee gave Barnet a penalty. Tretton will have felt hard done by when he challenged for a header with Matt Redmile, the referee pointed to the spot and claimed that Tretton was leaning over Redmile, preventing him from winning the header. This was just one of the dubious decisions R. Lewis made. However, Ian Hendon's powerfully struck penalty was brilliantly tipped away by Matt Baker as he dived to his right to keep the Bulls in front.
Ian Hendon tried to score again, this time from a free kick thirty-five yards out, but Baker gathered at the second attempt. The Bees were almost gifted a goal when Baker rolled the ball out to Travis on the left, but the ball bobbled over his foot. Guiliano Grazioli was about six yards out, one-on-one with Baker, but managed the scuff his shot wide of the post.
In the 76th minute Hereford were awarded a penalty when Guinan was given the smallest of nudges by Chris Plummer as Green crossed from the right. Skipper James stepped up confidently and hammered home to the left of the goalie, who dived the wrong way.
In the 80th minute United were reduced to ten men when Willis slid in late and was booked for a second time. Hereford pushed for a third and came closest from a Danny Williams, who had replaced David Brown, free kick thirty yards out that went inches wide of the bottom corner and in the last minute when Guinan who, once again, failed to net when one-on-one with Gore much to the dismay of most of the 4,447 in attendance.
A very solid performance from Hereford who didn't have to work too hard for their victory. It will be very pleasing for the team as they only have one days rest before they go to Aldershot who need the three points to help secure their place in the play-offs at the end of the season.
Carey-Bertram
keeps title race alive
Aldershot
Town 1 - 2 Hereford United
The Nationwide
Conference title race is still alive - just - after Daniel
Carey-Bertram's late goal handed Hereford United a slender
victory over play-off challengers Aldershot Town.
The Bulls fielded a side missing the suspended Michael Rose, as well as Scott Willis and Danny Williams, and as a result, Rob Betts started the match as the only change to the team that beat Barnet 2-0 on Saturday.
Graham Turner's men could not have started better, going ahead in under three minutes. Rob Purdie smashed the ball into the roof of Nikki Bull's net after David Brown headed down well in controlling a Betts cross at the far post before threading the ball through to the ex-Leicester City man.
However, United found themselves under much pressure in the opening period, and Aldershot were a little unlucky not to be level at the break. Just a minute before half time, Tim Sills had a great opportunity to equalise, as he got his head to a corner while Matt Baker was nowhere, but he got no direction on the ball as it sailed wide.
Baker, though, made some crucial stops in the first half. Efforts from Jamie Gosling and Lee Charles were stopped by the goalkeeper, while Roscoe D'Sane had an excelling opening, but failed to connect when Adam Miller fed him in front of goal.
Within two minutes of the restart, Sills had made amends. A corner from the near side was scrambled in after hitting the crossbar, and the assistant referee on the far side indicated that it had crossed the line. A few minutes later, John Nutter fired wide of the far post when it looked easier to score, while Andy Tretton's pass-back to Baker was almost intercepted by the lively and pacy Roscoe D'Sane.
The pressure continued as United defender Tom Smith required treatment for a knock on the back. Rob Warburton headed wide at the far post, while a free-kick caused one or two problems for Baker in the Hereford goal. At the other end, Jamie Pitman fired high and wide with an awkward shot, while Ryan Green forced a good save before United's winner.
So came the decider; Mark Beesley had barely been on the field for a minute when he surged into the box on the left channel, passing the ball to Daniel Carey-Bertram. The youngster took a couple of touches before firing the ball around two defenders and into the bottom corner.
The Bulls fielded a side missing the suspended Michael Rose, as well as Scott Willis and Danny Williams, and as a result, Rob Betts started the match as the only change to the team that beat Barnet 2-0 on Saturday.
Graham Turner's men could not have started better, going ahead in under three minutes. Rob Purdie smashed the ball into the roof of Nikki Bull's net after David Brown headed down well in controlling a Betts cross at the far post before threading the ball through to the ex-Leicester City man.
However, United found themselves under much pressure in the opening period, and Aldershot were a little unlucky not to be level at the break. Just a minute before half time, Tim Sills had a great opportunity to equalise, as he got his head to a corner while Matt Baker was nowhere, but he got no direction on the ball as it sailed wide.
Baker, though, made some crucial stops in the first half. Efforts from Jamie Gosling and Lee Charles were stopped by the goalkeeper, while Roscoe D'Sane had an excelling opening, but failed to connect when Adam Miller fed him in front of goal.
Within two minutes of the restart, Sills had made amends. A corner from the near side was scrambled in after hitting the crossbar, and the assistant referee on the far side indicated that it had crossed the line. A few minutes later, John Nutter fired wide of the far post when it looked easier to score, while Andy Tretton's pass-back to Baker was almost intercepted by the lively and pacy Roscoe D'Sane.
The pressure continued as United defender Tom Smith required treatment for a knock on the back. Rob Warburton headed wide at the far post, while a free-kick caused one or two problems for Baker in the Hereford goal. At the other end, Jamie Pitman fired high and wide with an awkward shot, while Ryan Green forced a good save before United's winner.
So came the decider; Mark Beesley had barely been on the field for a minute when he surged into the box on the left channel, passing the ball to Daniel Carey-Bertram. The youngster took a couple of touches before firing the ball around two defenders and into the bottom corner.