John Oster scored a fluke of a winner early in the second-half to knock Hereford United out of the Carling Cup last night. Moses Ashikodi had headed The Bulls into the lead to shock the Selhurst Park faithful, but Nick Carle equalised for Crystal Palace on the stroke of half-time before Oster won it.
Despite a disappointing opening day defeat at Leyton Orient, Graham Turner opted to stick by his starting eleven. There were two extra faces on the bench though in Garry Breen and and Sam Gwynne, with Carling Cup rules stating that seven subs can be named. Lining up for the Eagles included former Southend shot-stopper Darryl Flahavan and highly rated winger Victor Moses.
The opening period of the game saw plenty of possession for the home side, but they failed to create anything in the way of opportunities, and instead it was United who were creating. Good passing from right to left starting with Simon Johnson ended in Matty Done striking into Flahavan's arms with a low shot. Ashikodi shot high and wide with an amibitious long-range effort from the right-hand side, whilst Robbie Threlfall curled a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards. Just four minutes shy of half-time, Hereford went one up courtesy of Ashikodi's first goal. Toumani Diagouraga played the ball into Johnson in the centre of the pitch, opening up play in the process. The former Darlington man proceeded towards the goal before switching to Kris Taylor on the left-hand side and he delivered a perfect cross for Ashikodi to head in off the bar.
The lead lasted all of four minutes though and the warning sign was there already, when Oster cut-back for Carle to slice over. Moments later, he equalised although some though Darren Randolph should have done better. Sam Oji got a foot in on Calvin Andrew but Carle picked it up to shoot left-footed into the corner. Whether Randolph was unable to see the ball to late, or that he just didn't move till late remains to be seen, but Carle looked surprised when the ball struck the back of the net.
Welsh international Carl Fletcher was introduced at half-time in place of Paul Ifil. Within minutes, Palace led for the first-time, when a cross from Oster from the right deceived Randolph, and hit the far post before bouncing into the net. Kieron Djilali replaced Moses on the left-hand side, before Oster's corner caused a scramble in the box, and a fine point blank save from Randolph to deny Jose Fonte from six yards. Done was sacrificed as United went two up front, with Bradley Hudson-Odoi replacing him, and the young striker looked lively with his pace.
At the other end though, Carle again looked the danger man, dictating play and pushing forward well with a 30 yard effort never troubling Randolph's goal. Everything was coming through the Australian midfielder, and he popped up on the left-hand side to smash a shot into the side netting. Steve Guinan and Clint Easton added experience to Hereford's side for the final ten miutes, as they replaced Johnson and Taylor but they were unable to stamp their authority on the game. Carle continued to look for his second as another left-foot shot from an angle went close, this time deflecting out for a corner. Sean Scannell came on for Oster late on, before Richard Rose nearly forced extra time from a late Easton corner, but the versatile ex Gillingham man headed past the back post despite rising well.
For the second game running, United let slip a goal advantage to lose, although this performance was more positive than the Orient match. Question marks still remain over Randolph, who could well have been at fault for both goals. United played some nice-football in front of 3,094 but again, they stuttered slightly in the final third of the pitch. Next up for The Bulls is Yeovil Town at home, and many fans will be hoping to see a more attacking performance, with hopefully Turner lining up a 4-4-2 formation.
Hereford: Randolph, Rose, Oji, Beckwith, Threlfall, Johnson, Diagouraga, Taylor, Done, Smith, Ashikodi.
Subs: Samson, Breen, Macleod, Gwynne, Easton, Guinan, Hudson-Odoi.
Crystal Palace: Flahavan, Butterfield, McCarthy, Fonte, Hill, Joster, Carle, Derry, Moses, Ifill, Andrew.
Subs: Wilkinson, Hills, Thomas, Ertl, Fletcher, Djilali, Scannell.