Hereford United dominated throughout but failed to get a decisive breakthrough against Altrincham this afternoon at Edgar Street. Graham Turner made only one forced change to the side that defeated Tamworth on Bank Holiday Monday; Rob Purdie stepped into the place of the suspended Ryan Green at right wing back. There was a return for Tamika Mkandawire, but only to the subs bench and also making the bench was long term absentee Jamie Pitman.
Hereford started well but it was The Robins who first went close when, after some good build up play, Colin Potts saw his effort from the edge of the box tipped around the post by Wayne Brown. Adam Stansfield had a good chance to break the deadlock with Hereford's first real opening, when his striker partner Danny Carey-Bertram turned well and spotted the run of Stansfield but he was foiled by the on rushing Stuart Coburn when one on one with the 'keeper.
Stansfield again forced Coburn into a good save, this time when he headed Alex Jeannin's corner towards the bottom corner. Coburn failed to gather it the first time but was quick to grab hold of it again before a Hereford player got there. Stansfield finally got the ball in the back of the net but his celebrations were cut short by a raised flag on the far side for offside. After a good move Craig Stanley had slammed a shot low towards the goal and Stansfield was quick to get a foot on it and divert it past Coburn, but was adjudged to be offside.
Tempers rose soon after when Collin Little squared up to Dean Beckwith and seemed to push Beckwith in the chest right in front of the dugouts. The referee missed the incident but was informed of events by the fourth official. Beckwith was booked first and the yellow card followed for Little, much to the annoyance of Bulls coach John Trewick, who seemed to think, along with many others, that Little should have been sent off.
It was not long before the referee made another important decision which once again meant that Altrincham kept eleven players on the pitch. Stansfield got the better of Gary Talbot when battling for a long ball over the top and Stansfield got ahead of the defender, only to be pulled to the ground just outside of the box. Talbot was the last defender and still the referee failed to produce a red card. Jon Brady struck the resulting free kick but it was tipped over by Coburn.
Purdie, who played very well as stand in wing back, crossed to man of the match Stansfield before half time but the header was saved. However, before the break a Bulls counter attack saw Brady just miss a cross from the right before Jeannin cracked the ball back into the middle, where Stansfield didn't fully connect when a yard out.
Hereford started the second period with more possesion but again unable to find an opening. Stansfield cut back to Stanley, but his tame effort was blocked before Jeannin fed the ball down the flank for Stansfield, but Carey-Bertram was just inches away from connecting with the pass accross the goal face. Carey-Bertram managed to get a shot away from the next cross, courtesy of Purdie, but his deflected effort rebounded off the cross bar.
Brady was replaced with twenty minutes to go because of a hamstring injury, and so Graham Evans made his first home appearance. Stanley was at the start and finish of another Hereford move, but after Purdie had found Ferrell and he'd layed the ball out to Stanley, the low drive flashed wide. Stacey Coldicott replaced the injured Alex Jeannin with fifteen minutes left and Ferrell moved to left wing back. Stansfield created one last good chance out of nothing for United when he tackled a defender on the left, cut into the box but was denied at the near post by Coburn.
All in all, United will be frustrated with the result as they really should have won this game. In truth, Altrincham rarely troubled the home side but did look to be a decent outfit. If they continue to perform like that they should have no problems in staying in this division although they may need a little more firepower in attack. There were many good performances from Hereford players in what was probably their second best performance of the season. It was just unfortunate that they couldn't find that killer touch that was needed so badly.
HUFC: Brown, James, Blewitt, Beckwith, Jeannin, Purdie, Ferrell, Stanley, Brady, Carey-Bertram, Stansfield. Subs: Mkandawire, Mawson, Evans, Coldicott, Pitman
AFC: Coburn, Rose, Band, Talbot, Adams, Potts, Owen, Hawes, Olsen, Williams, Little. Subs: Acton, Maddox, Chalmers, Melling, Hendley.
