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Defending lets United down again
Hereford United were on the wrong end of a 2-1 score line at the Interlink Express Stadium this evening in front of Sky TV cameras. The Bulls have now gone three games without a victory and are starting to fall away from the top of the table.
Graham Turner decided on a change of formation for the game meaning a couple of changes in personal. Mark Robinson and Tom Smith were dropped from the defence and Ryan Green was handed a start which was a little bit of a suprise following his long term injury. Rob Purdie played on the left wing and Danny Williams on the right. Adam Stansfield was left on the subs bench.
Hereford couldn't have got off to a worse start as they found themselves behind after just fourty three seconds. A long throw in should have been easily dealt with but Lutel James turned, Lee McEvilly forced a save out of Johnathan Gould and then Paul Mullin knocked the ball in from close range.
David Brown almost replied instantly, but his header from Graham Hyde's cross was brilliantly tipped wide by 'keeper Danny Alcock who was making his debut. Following a corner Brown again went close with a shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Williams and Craig Stanley wasted a free kick that set up a counter attack for Accrington. Mullin was through on goal, but Tony James was back in time to make a crucial challenge. Ian Craney shot just wide from twenty five yards on the half volley as Accrington looked to add to their lead.
Ryan Green started off a good move that resulted in the equaliser for United. His long ball from the defence was knocked down by Lee Mills and Williams played a good pass into Brown who found space to shoot across goal and into the bottom corner after twenty eight minutes. Hereford then started to play some fast attacking football. Williams had a shot blocked after a good move and then Simon Travis shot over from long range. Purdie was very unlucky to see his first time, left footed drive, that Alcock left standing, go just wide after a brilliant Bulls attack.
Stanley almost took the lead again a minute before half time after more poor defending by United. Tretton was forced to concede a corner when Gould failed to collect a ball in the area and the corner caused mayhem in the box. James had a shot blocked before Gould made an excellent point blank save. TV cameras showed that Travis also made a goal line clearance in the scramble.
Hereford seemed to have upped the tempo for the second half, but they failed to create many chances infront of goal. Johnathan Smith headed the first chance of the half just wide from a corner after sixty minutes. Craney then forced a diving save from Gould as he tipped the ball wide before Williams hit a free kick over at the other end. Craney had a good chance to put Stanley in front after seventy four minutes, but after latching onto a through ball he poke the ball wide when one on one with Gould.
Hyde got a lucky break off a defender and was through on goal, but he decided to cross the ball when a shot on goal seemed the sensible option. His pass was hooked away. Hereford made their first change after seventy nine minutes, Purdie was replaced by Danny Carey-Bertram. Brown hit a shot just wide from twenty yards in the eighty sixth minute before Accrington broke. James received the ball and found Prendergast on the left. He threaded a pass into the area where Craney hit a low shot that was palmed away by Gould, but into the path of Mullin who seemed to be unmarked and tucked the ball in with ease.
With some very difficult fixtures in the forthcoming weeks, Hereford will have to sort out their defence if they want to push back up the table. The defence was once again poor and with a bit more communication it is quite possible that both goals could have been prevented. Woking are the visitors to Edgar Street next Saturday and it will be another test for the Bulls who will need to bounce back from this defeat.
HUFC Team: Gould, Green, Tretton, James, Travis, Purdie, Stanley, Hyde, Williams, Brown, Mills. Subs: Smith, Robinson, Scott, Stansfield, Carey-Bertram.
ASFC Team: Alcock, Cavanagh, Smith, Flynn, Butler, James, Jagielka, Brannan, Craney, McEvilly, Mullin. Subs: Howarth, Cook, Prendergast, Williams, Tuck.