Luke Webb struck two goals in quick succession to hand Hereford a comfortable home victory over Brentford at Edgar Street this afternoon. An excellent finish by Webb, and then a simple one were the only goals of the afternoon as Hereford made it two successive victories, taking them up to second in League Two.
Webb was only handed a place in the starting line-up due to a groin injury sustained in training by Lionel Ainsworth yesterday. With Ainsworth out, and Webb promoted to the starting line-up, there was a place for Simon Johnson on the bench. Brentford named last season's top scorer for United, Alan Connell, in their starting eleven, alongside the experience of Lee Thorpe.
The first chance of the game fell to the youthful feet of Theo Robinson, after Steve Guinan's effort had trickled to him. However, the ball got stuck under Robinson's feet, and he failed to test Simon Brown in the Brentford goal from close range. Connell, attacking the Meadow End in the first half, looked dangerous, and headed a Glen Poole free-kick at Wayne Brown, before chesting down to Thorpe, who struck a shot wide. Kris Taylor, who linked up superbly with Clint Easton, cut inside from the left, and toe-poked a shot into the arms of S.Brown. But in the United area, it was Connell again causing problems. Firstly, a Thorpe head caused panic in the box, with Connell nearly poking home, before Trent McClenahan managed to clear. Then, minutes later, Connell fired a shot inches wide off the post after a weak clearence from the Hereford defence.
Brentford were made to pay for the wasted opportunities, just after the half hour mark. Guinan held the ball up in the attacking third, before finding Easton, who in turn found Webb on the edge of the box and from an angle, the ex Coventry trainee struck a placed finish across the keeper and into the far corner. Three minutes after the opener, and Webb made it 2-0. Smith this time was the provider, after he raced into the box, and crossed with his left foot; the ball skipped past a few players in the box before finding its way to Webb, who had a simple task of finishing it off.
A poked effort by Guinan was diverted wide by the legs of S.Brown, before Easton linked up with Guinan, playing a neat one-two, and then shooting over the bar. Brentford went close, and it was that man Connell again. Like so many times last season, a quick turn and snap shot threatened the Edgar Street goal, but the ball went wide of the post. Just before half time, Connell was booked for a late tackle on Dean Beckwith.
With the damage seemingly done in the first half, the second didn't offer as much in way of chances, although Hereford played some excellent football, keeping possession with ease. Webb came close when he curled a free-kick around the wall but a diving catch from S.Brown denied him his hattrick. Toumani Diagouraga, fantastic in the middle, turned superbly before setting off on a long run. He linked up with Robinson, but the Frenchman's shot was blocked. At the other end, a brave block from Beckwith denied Poole's effort. Brentford needed some inspiration, and Terry Butcher gave the opportunity to do so to Ricky Shakes, who replaced Sammy Moore. The dangerman though was Connell, as he again headed straight at Brown. Minutes later, Connell had the ball in the back of the net, but a flag for offside ruled it out, much to the delight of the home supporters.
The best chance to extend Hereford's lead fell to Smith. Good hold up play, and a neat pass from Guinan allowed Smith to strike the ball narrowly past the post. The final throw of the dice came from Butcher, as Ben Starosta and Darius Charles came on for Grant Basey, and Connell, but to little avail. Trevor Benjamin also came on, in place of Guinan, for a short run out. Despite the changes, little changed, as the game drew to a close, with many stoppages due to some feisty tackles from Brentford, and an on-going argument between Beckwith and Thorpe. In the final moments, a well thought free-kick from Hereford could have resulted in a third. With three men standing in front of the ball, Easton chipped the ball onto Smith's thigh, before the midfielder turned and volleyed wide.
All in all, it was an enjoyable game at Edgar Street, with a deserved home victory the end result. In particular, Diagouraga impressed, as did the defence, which looked solid. The attendance of just 2942, with 355 from Brentford, wasn't so good. With Hereford sitting second in the table, and 17 goals in their previous five games, the home support perhaps should have been better, although the England rugby game may have had an effect on it. Up next is a Johnstone Paint Trophy encounter against Yeovil, with squad rotation expected, before a tough-looking away trip to Chester next Friday night.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Taylor, Beckwith, Broadhurst (C), Webb, Easton, Diagouraga, Smith, Guinan, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, McCombe, Rose, Johnson, Benjamin.
Brentford: Brown, O'Connor, Basey, Mackie, Heywood, Moore, Poole, Mousinho, Pead, Thorpe, Connell.
Subs: Hamer, Pettigrew, Charles, Starosta, Shakes.