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First half performance costs United dear
Hereford were defeated this afternoon 3 -1 by Morecambe. Danny Williams was sent off at 44 minutes just before half time. Hereford battled in the second half but failed to produce a result - they didn’t deserve to lose by that margin.
First half goals cost
United dear
Morecambe
3 - 1 Hereford United
Morecambe won their eleventh home league
match of the season as Hereford United were defeated at
Christie Park, their first Conference reversal for eight
weeks.
Graham Turner made two changes to the team which beat Gravesend & Northfleet 3-0 last weekend. Steve Guinan replaced Rob Purdie up-front, as the former Leicester youth player was not fully fit, and Danny Williams was drafted into midfield for Rob Sawyers.
The early stages were pretty even, with John Grant heading wide at the far post after thirteen minutes following a corner move between Michael Rose and Paul Parry. At the other end, Matt Baker was kept busy by Wayne Curtis, who forced him into a good save on ten minutes, and Lee Elam, who tried his luck from just outside the box eight minutes later.
On thirty two minutes, though, Morecambe took the lead. Garry Thompson's right-wing cross was fired home by Elam from ten yards out, and two minutes later Elam turned provider as his cross fell to United defender Andy Tretton. The ex-Shrewsbury man should have cleared it, but made a hash of the header which looped past Baker to double the Shrimps' advantage.
To make matters worse for United, a minute before half time Danny Williams was sent off. After falling to the ground in the area, Williams alledgedly tried to kick Morecambe defender Iain Swan, and referee Mr. N. Miller had no hesitation in reaching for his red card.
Down to ten men, Hereford were the better side int he second period. Ben Smith had an early goal disallowed for offside, as did Curtis at the other end, but Hereford had several opportunities to get back into the match. There were shots aplenty in the goalmouth scramble just before the hour mark, with Steve Guinan in the path of a Smith strike and Jamie Pitman's effort blocked by a defender. However, Guinan latched onto a John Grant with twenty minutes to go to give United hope, tucking the ball into the net.
The Bulls scrambled for a second, creating more chances, but with six minutes left, substitute Nick Rogan broke away from a Hereford attack, drawing out Baker, who had had a superb game in keeping United in with a shout, and feeding the ball to Wayne Curtis, who tapped into an empty net to make the points safe.
Graham Turner made two changes to the team which beat Gravesend & Northfleet 3-0 last weekend. Steve Guinan replaced Rob Purdie up-front, as the former Leicester youth player was not fully fit, and Danny Williams was drafted into midfield for Rob Sawyers.
The early stages were pretty even, with John Grant heading wide at the far post after thirteen minutes following a corner move between Michael Rose and Paul Parry. At the other end, Matt Baker was kept busy by Wayne Curtis, who forced him into a good save on ten minutes, and Lee Elam, who tried his luck from just outside the box eight minutes later.
On thirty two minutes, though, Morecambe took the lead. Garry Thompson's right-wing cross was fired home by Elam from ten yards out, and two minutes later Elam turned provider as his cross fell to United defender Andy Tretton. The ex-Shrewsbury man should have cleared it, but made a hash of the header which looped past Baker to double the Shrimps' advantage.
To make matters worse for United, a minute before half time Danny Williams was sent off. After falling to the ground in the area, Williams alledgedly tried to kick Morecambe defender Iain Swan, and referee Mr. N. Miller had no hesitation in reaching for his red card.
Down to ten men, Hereford were the better side int he second period. Ben Smith had an early goal disallowed for offside, as did Curtis at the other end, but Hereford had several opportunities to get back into the match. There were shots aplenty in the goalmouth scramble just before the hour mark, with Steve Guinan in the path of a Smith strike and Jamie Pitman's effort blocked by a defender. However, Guinan latched onto a John Grant with twenty minutes to go to give United hope, tucking the ball into the net.
The Bulls scrambled for a second, creating more chances, but with six minutes left, substitute Nick Rogan broke away from a Hereford attack, drawing out Baker, who had had a superb game in keeping United in with a shout, and feeding the ball to Wayne Curtis, who tapped into an empty net to make the points safe.
Hereford, who brought an away following
of 221 in a crowd of 1437, drop one place to sixth, and
Morecambe leap above them into the play-off zone.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 25th January
2003.
| Morecambe | Hereford United |
| Craig Mawson | Matt Baker |
| David McKearney | Jay Lovett |
| Jamie Murphy | Michael Rose |
| Jim Bentley (off, 16 minutes) | Andrew Tretton |
| Stewart Drummond (captain) | Tony James (captain) |
| Adriano Rigoglioso | Jamie Pitman |
| Garry Thompson (off, 79 minutes) | Ben Smith |
| David Perkins | Danny Williams |
| Michael Stringfellow (off, half time) | Steve Guinan (off, 87 minutes) |
| Wayne Curtis | John Grant |
| Lee Elam | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Iain Swan (on, 16 minutes) | Ian Wright |
| Alan Morgan | Ken Griffiths |
| Danny Carleton | Richard Teesdale |
| Ryan Zico Black (on, half time) | Rob Sawyers |
| Nick Rogan (on, 79 minutes) | Michael Husbands (on, 87 minutes |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| David Perkins (foul, 47 minutes) | John Grant (foul, 67 minutes) |
| David McKearney (foul, 76 minutes) | |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | Danny Williams (violent conduct, 44 minutes) |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Lee Elam (32 minutes) | Steve Guinan (70 minutes) |
| Andy Tretton (own goal, 34 minutes) | |
| Wayne Curtis (84 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Matt Baker |
| Attendance | 1437 |
| Referee | Mr. N. Miller (Durham) |