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Penalty glory for Hereford
Hereford United progressed to the second round of the LDV Vans Trophy northern section this evening following an entertaining encounter with Scunthorpe United. After extra times the sides were still level at 1-1 and a penaly shoot out was needed to decide a winner.
Tony James, as expected, missed out and Tamika Mkandawire replaced him in the heart of the Hereford defence. Adam Stansfield was rewarded with a starting place as Lee Mills was left on the bench.
Scunthorpe had the best of the opening period as they attacked in long spells. United's defence held strong though, and kept the Iron out. Cleveland Taylor hit a side-footed volley from outside of the box that forced Johnathan Gould into a diving save. Michael Rankine got a low shot in on goal after Tom Brighton had shot just wide from twenty-five yards. Tom Smith had Hereford's first effort following David Brown's cross, but he shot well over from inside the box.
Craig Stanley smashed a thirty yard effort against a defender and Graham Hyde's follow up was tame. Hyde then set Stansfield away down the right wing and he played Danny Williams in on goal, but he was under pressure from defenders and the 'keeper, Tom Evans, managed to block his shot.
Stanley broke the deadlock after thirty five minutes with a magnificent solo effort. The midfielder picked up the ball around the half-way line, ran at the defence and cracked a great effort from twenty five yards that left the 'keeper helpless as it flew into the top corner. Scunthorpe made one half time sub, Matthew Sparrow who had been booked was replaced by Wayne Graves.
Rankine went close minutes into the second half as he span away from Mkandawire and shot a powerful low effort that went just wide. Hyde set Simon Travis away with a good pass down the right, but neither Danny Williams or Brown could get onto the end of his cross. Soon after, the Iron were back on level terms. A fifty eighth minute corner taken by Brighton was powefully headed in by Steve Torpey. Brown should have restored the lead minutes later though, Stansfield found him in space, but Brown managed to miss the target with his left foot.
Stanley received an awesome pass from Smith in defence on the left wing and played a good pass into the path of Stansfield who found some space, but shot just over from the edge of the box. Brown again went close after a poor clearance by Cliff Byrne, but he lifted his shot inches over the bar. Mills and Danny Carey-Bertram were bought on for Stansfield and Brown in an attempt to liven up the Bulls attack. The sides were equal after ninety minutes, and so the game went into extra time.
Goalscorer Torpey was replaced at the restart by Paul Hayes. Travis was called upon early in extra time, he had to clear a cross from Taylor off the line and Gould then made a good save from Graves with his legs. Brighton gave United a scare about half way through the first half, his twenty five yard shot deflected off a defender and clipped the top of the cross bar. Brighton then forced Gould into an easy save with a long range effort. Mills crossed for Hyde and he knocked the ball down for man of the match Stanley, who hammered the ball first time just over the bar just before half time in extra time.
Brighton created the first chance of the final period, but his drive was just wide.Carey-Bertram sliced a shot wide after some neat passing by Hereford before Stanley had a curling effort saved by Evans. Travis collected a quickly taken free kick, played a one-two with Mills and then had his shot saved before Travis made a great run through the middle and played Mills in on goal but, similarly to Brown, he blazed over from a good position.
Gould saved penalties from Rankine and Taylor after Williams had missed the Bulls first spot kick. Robinson, Smith and Travis then all put their shots away into the back of the net. Finally Carey-Bertram calmly tucked away the winning penalty into the bottom right corner to give United a 4-3 victory on penalties, and a place in the second round.
HUFC Team: Gould, Travis, Mkandawire, Tretton, Smith, Robinson, Hyde, D Williams, Stanley, Brown, Stansfield. Subs: Scott, Gwynne, Mills, Carey-Bertram, A Williams.
SUFC Team: Evans, Sparrow , Jackson, Stanton, Byrne, Featherstone, Taylor, Barwick, Brighton, Torpey, Rankine.Subs : Parton, Graves, Lillis, Williams, Hayes.