A solitary goal from Dean Keates was enough to hand Peterborough United promotion into League One with a 1-0 victory at Edgar Street. The result though could have been much worse had it not been for MK Don's victory at Stockport, which also sees The Dons promoted, and allows Hereford to stay third. Keates scored the only goal after half hour mark with a diving header.
Sammy Igoe returned to the starting line-up after missing the previous two games with injury; Simon Johnson made way. Trevor Benjamin joined Johnson on the bench, with Sam Gwynne and Lee Collins dropping out completely. The former Posh striker was fit to play but had to sport goggles to help his vision. The visitors named former Conference attacking trio George Boyd, Aaron Mclean and Craig Mackail-Smith up front, whilst 400k goalkeeper Joe Lewis started.
Boyd crashed a shot past the post after being laid off by Mackail-Smith, whilst The Bulls' first chance fell to Ben Smith, who sent a snapshot half-volley over the bar. A few minutes after, Clint Easton went close with a placed left foot shot which ended up a few yards past the post. The visitors however took the lead following a fine move. Chris Whelpdale used his pace to beat Richard Rose and get to the by-line before sending a pin-point cross to meet the run of Keates, who powered a diving header into the top corner. 1177 away supporters cheered, as their side took pole position for promotion. The half ended with Posh pushing forward looking for a second; firstly Boyd dragged a right foot shot wide after some quick control allowed him an opportunity, whilst just before the break, Boyd again had an effort on goal but this time Dean Beckwith blocked it.
The Whites made a flying start to the second-half, playing at a high tempo which hasn't been seen very often this season. Smith touched to Steve Guinan, who set himself before shooting visciously goalwards; Lewis dived to his left to palm the effort away from danger. At the other end, a quick break by Peterborough allowed Whelpdale to play Adam Newton down the right-hand side and he fizzed a shot goalwards from a tight angle which Wayne Brown had to push over. Theo Robinson replaced Igoe with 25 minutes remaining, with the Bristol Rovers man not fully fit. The on loan Watford striker nearly made an instant impact, when Guinan was found by Gary Hooper down the right-hand side, he sent in a fine cross, but Robinson just couldn't make the killer connection.
Hereford continued to push, and Smith sent a hopeful volley over the bar, before Guinan missed the best chance of the half to equalise. Easton controlled on the left-hand side, and played a pass to Guinan, who was in acres of space in the box. The experienced striker controlled, but a powerful low placed shot was denied by a strong hand from Lewis, who gathered at the second attempt. This spelled the end for Guinan's afternoon, with Benjamin replacing him, whilst Johnson came on for Easton.
Mackail-Smith should have put the game to bed, when he broke the offside trap to get goalside of Karl Broadhurst, but a powerful effort was denied by Brown. Whelpdale then sent a half-volley from long-range past the post, before Trent McClenahan's 40 yard free-kick nearly caught Lewis out, with the former Norwich 'keeper having to push the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, Smith again missed the target with a volley from outside the box. Late on, a break from Robinson allowed him to find Hooper with a pass but the Southend loanee was off balance and failed to hit the target from the right. Scott Rendell replaced Mackail-Smith late on, before Whelpdale struck well-wide in stoppage time. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes from the visting support, as they celebrated promotion, although the tannoy's announcement that Stockport had lost at home to MK Dons sparked a similar reaction within the home end.
Both sides played their part in an entertaining match, with Hereford maybe feeling hard-done by to lose out in front of 5279 supporters. The Bulls created plenty of chances, but failed to convert any, which has been a problem in recent weeks. With three games remaining, it's still in United's hands, but Graham Turner will need to look closely at the striking situation. Wrexham up next; a game in which The Dragons could be relegated, whilst the following games with Brentford and Grimsby should see both of those sides without anything to play for. The automatic promotion race is very much still on, and Hereford are still in a fine position. Onwards and upwards.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Rose, Igoe, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Hooper, Guinan.
Subs: Esson, Taylor, Johnson, Benjamin, Robinson.
Peterborough: Lewis, Newton, Morgan, Westwood, Williams, Whelpdale, Keates, Hyde, Boyd, Mclean, Mckail-Smith.
Subs: McKeown, Low, Lee, Gnakpa, Rendell.