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Bulls drop two points
Hereford United will feel very disappointed in the manner that they let a two goal lead slip in the eary stages of the second half at Edgar Street this afternoon. Woking will be the happier of the two teams with the draw considering the half time score.
Hereford's only change from the team that started at Accrington last Monday was in the attack. Adam Stansfield was handed a start in place of Lee Mills. Tom Smith was absent from the bench with a stomach bug.
United got off to the best start possible when they took the lead quicker than they lost it on Monday Night. Danny Williams found the back of the net after good work by Rob Purdie on the left after just thirty eight seconds. The Bulls continued to play good football afer their brilliant start and Stansfield was just inches away from converting Ryan Green's right wing cross. Stansfield was presented with another glorious chance when Green switched play to the left and Purdie passed into Stansfield, who yet again was inches away from the ball when unmarked.
Green again switched play minutes after to Brown as United continued to pressure Woking. Brown found Purdie who saw his shot tipped onto the foot of the post by Shwan Jalal in the Card's goal. Stanley went close from the resulting corner with a half volley that flew just wide. Andy Tretton was dispossed in his own area by Raphael Nade, who shot just wide, with Woking's best chance of the half and just after Brown had a shot straight at the goalie, Woking swung in a dangerous free kick that just evaded the head of Justin Richards at the far post.
Ten minutes before half time Stansfield doubled the Bull's advantage. The attacker won a free kick on the left that man of the match Purdie crossed in. The ball found it's way back to Purdie who crossed for a second time. Jalal missed the ball and it hit Stansfield on the shins and rolled into an unguarded net. Woking's manager, Glenn Cockerill then made what turned out to be an inspired tactical sub. He subbed striker Amos Foyewa on for midfielder Scott Canham to form a three man attack. Still Woking didn't create anything in the first half and Andy Tretton went very close when he blasted his close range effort over.
The start of the second half proved very costly for United. They switched off for the first ten minutes and after fifty three minutes they found themselves on level terms again. Woking's first, after fifty minutes, saw Ian Selley find Richards with a through ball and he did well to turn and fire beyond the reach of Johnathan Gould. Just three minutes later Karl Murray's left wing cross find the far bottom corner with the possibility of a deflection off Green.
Hereford still didn't create anything clear cut until much later in the half but Woking also created little. Graham Hyde was tackled deep inside his own half and the ball eventually found its way to Nade who shot over from the edge of the box. Mills was introduced for Williams in a tactial sub that saw United switch to a 4-3-3 formation. Purdie made a brilliant run from the wing into the box, but the ball was smothered by the 'keeper in a spell of three minutes that saw plenty of opportunties for the Bulls. Brown cut in from the right and fired a shot from ten yards at Jalal before Stansfield headed just wide from Travis' cross.
Richard's was denied by an awesome save by Gould in a rare Woking attack. Richard's headed goalwards at the far post after a brilliant right wing cross, but somehow Gould managed to keep it out. Craig Stanley was then denied a cast iron penatly by the referee at the other end. He skinned Jon Boardman who the clipped the heels of Stanley inside the penalty area. The linesman, who was no more than ten yards away flagged, and then placed his flag across his chest to signify a penalty. Referee, Mr A. Hendley, ignored his assistant and gave a free kick outside of the box.
The dangerous Richards had another good chance on the break but shot wide of the far post from the right of the area. Mills flicked on for Stansfield soon after, but Stansfield was denied by a crucial touch by Jalal when he was through on goal in United's last real chance of the game.
The draw sees United's home run without a defeat extend to five games, but Hereford have now gone four games without victory. Yet again, it is evident that a lack of concentration in the defence let the Bulls down. It seemed that they had the game in total control at half time after a very good first half performance, but the ten minutes after half time proved very important. If Hereford can correct the few problems that they seem to be experiencing then a return to form is not too far away. The football played, in general, was good today.
HUFC Team: Gould, Green, Tretton, James, Travis, Purdie, Hyde, Stanley, D. Williams, Brown, Stansfield. Subs: Robinson, Scott, A Williams, Mills, Carey-Bertram.
WFC Team: Jalal, Murray, Boardman, McDonald, Oliver, Jackson, Selley, Canham, Evans, Richards, Nade. Subs: Smith, Tiesse, Basso, Ferguson, Foyewa.