Hereford
United's first derby game of the season ended Chester City's 100%
record following a well earned 2-0 victory at Edgar Street this
afternoon. Both goals came in the second half after a tactical change by
Graham Turner and now United are level on points with City after three
games.
Changes
were made to United's side as captain Tamika Mkandawire was absent with
a head injury sustained against Lincoln. Dean Beckwith took his place
not only in the side but as skipper also. Martyn Giles was also called
into the starting eleven and there was no place for Gareth Sheldon.
Richard Rose moved into midfield, with Rob Purdie being forced out wide.
Hereford's
game was again cautious from the start and a direct style was adapted
for the most part of the first half. Chester's typically physical
approach appeared the more dangerous in the first forty five minutes, as
they enjoyed the better of the exchanges. However, Stuart Fleetwood's
electric pace was troublesome all afternoon for the tall City centre
halves, and it was the young Welshman who got in a cross for Andy
Williams to head back towards Tim Sills, who was only denied by the
recovering toes of a defender.
Beckwith
was called into action at the other end as he had to hook clear a low
drive from Jon Walters a minute before Drewe Broughton, formerly of
Kidderminster Harriers, headed a deep cross inches wide of the up-right.
The closest United came to opening the scoring was when Purdie returned
his own free kick back into the box, where the ball bounced, evading
'keeper John Danby, and Sills got his head to it, only to see it cleared
behind for a corner.
A
half-hearted clearance from Williams following a corner on the left
fell to Jamie Hand who smashed a volley over Scott Tynan's cross bar
before Richard Rose had to track back well to deny Hand again, as he
made a quick burst into the Hereford box. Giles then had to be on hand
to get a good block on Dean Bennett's drive, as Chester finished the
half strongly.
Ricky
Ravenhill was introduced a minute after the interval and had a lively
opening. Involved immediately, he left Williams and Simon Travis for
dead and his cross-come-shot rebounded off the bar. Defender David
Artell toed a shot over before, after a break down the left from the
visitors, the ball made its way to Stephen Vaughan on the right of the
box, but his driven effort was held well by Tynan.
The
Bulls' fortunes changed along with a timely tactical change, which saw
them deploy 3-5-2 formation. Giles moved in to make a back three and
Travis acted as a wing back with Purdie. Williams was playing more
central and his performance improved greatly. Fleetwood was benefitting
from the changes immediately as he raced onto a Rose pass, but could
only find the side netting. Fleetwood had an even better chance minutes
later when he was released by strike partner Sills, but Danby saved
well.
Fleetwood
didn't stop trying though, and was eventually rewarded, despite the
opportunity coming a bit out of the blue - with a little help from Blues
defender Artell. Williams was able to help on a long ball, which Artell
hesistated in attacking, allowing Fleetwood to speed in and take the
ball around him, before beating an on-rushing Danby with a low shot.
Just
two minutes later, and United had doubled their advantage. Man of the
Match Fleetwood was again involved, as he got the assist for Rose.
Purdie had began the move with a ball into Fleetwood, who turned and ran
at the Chester back line, before feeding Rose who'd made a run on the
overlap. He had only Danby to beat, and did so with ease as the ball
rolled into the far corner for 2-0, with seventeen minutes remaining.
Hereford
had control of the game from then on and could have added a third when
Fleetwood, again, fed Travis on the overlap, but he blasted his shot
over the bar from fifthteen yards.
Six
points from a possible nine will be seen as a good return by Bulls
fans, and they will be particularly pleased to have beaten rivals
Chester, and to have also ended their perfect start of the season. The
crowd of 3,834 (including 407 away) could still tell though that United
have work to do, as they were second best for the first half, and only
improved when the formation was changed. It will be interesting to see
if United adapt 3-5-2 from the start when they travel to Barnet next
Saturday.
HUFC:
Tynan, Travis, Gulliver, Beckwith, Giles, Williams, Rose, Ferrell,
Purdie, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Lewis, Wallis, Connell, McClenahan,
Osborn.
CCFC:
Danby, Linwood, Westwood, Artell, Stephen Vaughan, Bennett, Martinez,
Hand, Wilson, Broughton, Walters. Subs: Marples, Allen, McSporran,
Ravenhill, Blundell.
After
the game today, John Trewick spoke to Bulls News and was asked what the
thinking was behind the switch to 3-5-2 early in the second half.
"We
felt we needed to get more of a hold on Martinez so Andy Williams was
brought infield to pick him up and play just off him. We also pushed
Trav on a bit and tucked Martyn Giles in a little tighter to make a back
three. The change gave us more possession in the centre and allowed us
to let Stuart (Fleetwood) come off his marker then turn and run at them
with the ball. Stuarts pace is always going to be a problem for
defenders and we can use it in a couple of ways. We can sit him on the
shoulder of the last defender and try to reach him with balls over the
top or by sliding balls through the gaps or alternatively let him fetch
the ball then turn and run at them."
I asked John if 3-5-2 was
some thing we are likely to see more often. "We have it in our locker as
an option and the Gaffer and I have discussed it at length but it will
be used when we feel the situation requires it. Part of this game is not
letting the opposition know what you are going to do - there is a lot
more to preparing for a modern football match than meets the eye. We try
to be as thorough as possible and this includes having had Barnet
watched today and also watching videos of their recent games. We are
adjusting to League football and will, when required, take a cautious
approach early in the games. Our approach has worked for two out of the
first three games and we will continually look to change and improve our
systems. It's all about winning games."
Also after the game Andy
Williams said "I don't think they were as good as we thought they were,
they just seemed a very direct side and once we changed our system we
found it easier to get the ball down and pass it a bit. In the end we
could have had a couple more. Trav had a decent chance but we think he
had a friend in the crowd and was trying to get the match ball to them.
We're now looking forward to the game at Barnet next Saturday and look
at that as an opportunity to earn some more away points."
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