Thirteen Years ago this week Hereford United were third in the Conference table after a 3-0 win at Woking who had former Bull (at that time) Jamie Pitman in their squad.
Here's a look back.
WOKING 0 - 3 HEREFORD UNITED (Played September 2nd 2000)
Hereford United came to Kingfield having won their last two away games and not having conceded in 360 minutes of Nationwide Conference football. The unbeaten run had propelled them to fifth in the table but failure to win at home saw them four points behind leaders Rushden & Diamonds at the start of play. Woking, on the other hand, were sitting in 17th place having won one and drawn one of their four matches.
One change was made by Bulls boss Graham Turner prior to the match as striker Robin Elmes was dropped to the substitutes bench and replaced by new signing Kerry Giddings from Stourport. Woking were unchanged from the side that beat Doncaster 1-0 last Monday, the winner through Scott Steele from the penalty spot.
The Bulls entered the arena in a new kit! No, there hasn't been a change in away colours but as both the red away shirts and white home tops clash with Woking's red and white halved-shirts, United wore a sea green colour, not disimilar to the Manchester City home shirt. They were obviously borrowed as they didn't have the club logo, kit maker or main sponsor on the front but many fans have said that they should ask to keep them after their emphatic victory.
Kingfield stadium appeared fairly new. The huge stand behind the goal to the away end's left was impressive, but looked out of place against the rest of the stadium. At the other end, there is a terracing section and the away side is also terracing but not undercover. So, when the heavens opened umbrellas were of limited supply! On the far side, a mixture of terracing and seating areas made the arena look as if it had been botched together!
Hereford made the early attacks and could easily have been 4-0 up by half-time. The first effort came as early as four minutes when Ian Wright headed just over from McIndoe, and further pressure resulted in the away side camping out inside the Woking half! The opening goal came on fifteen minutes an Ian Rodgerson cross was chested away by Woking 'keeper Mark Ormerod. However, the ball fell to the feet of Gavin Williams who couldn't fail to score from ten yards.
Further efforts were created by Hereford with McIndoe and Williams linking well in attacking positions. Woking eventually built up enough confidence to venture forward and, on the half hour, had their first on-target effort of the match. The ball, from Rob Hollingdale, caused Scott Cooksey no problems as the ball was saved. Soon after, Ian Wright disposessed Jae Martin as he approached goal. Calls were heard for a penalty, but the referee waived the decision as the tackle by the Hereford United captain was timed to perfection.
A corner on thirty nine minutes was the result of another Ian Wright tackle, and from the set piece, Steve West managed an overhead kick. The effort went just wide of the far post. Another corner, just three minutes later, saw Woking net a goal. However, it appeared that the ball had been headed out of Scott Cooksey's hands and the goal was disallowed as the ball had gone out of play prior to reaching Cooksey.
Hereford came out in the second half as they had left the first; having the majority of possession and creating the openings. The inevitable second goal came on the hour mark, as an Ian Rodgerson ball met Gavin Williams. However, the man from Merthyr had both of his legs taken from beneath him by Dante Alighieri, who was booked just nine minutes prior to the incident. The referee, Mr Michael Cairns from Basingstoke, warned Alighieri about his future conduct and pointed to the penalty spot. With Williams running off an injury which occured in the challenge, Chris Lane stepped up to take the penalty. Lane's low drive to the right beat Ormerod and the right-back has now scored two goals this season after failing to net in either of the previous two campaigns.
Just six minutes after the penalty, Ian Rodgerson made the outcome beyond doubt with a third goal for Hereford United. Gavin Williams got hold of the ball on the left, passed Alighieri and shot towards Ormerod. Ian Rodgerson picked up the resultant loose ball and scored from nine yards.
Woking continued to press for a goal but Scott Cooksey showed why he's kept five consecutive clean sheets by saving every shot. Ian Rodgerson almost made it 4-0 with a long shot which went just wide and, despite looking tired, he is still an influential player in the Hereford side.
Woking didn't look as if they were ever likely to match Hereford and the win was completely deserved by Graham Turner's team, their third away from home this season. Cooksey was magnificent, Lane, James and Clarke reliable but Ian Wright looked a bit off-par, missing a few challenges due to a lack of concentration. Ian Rodgerson played well, as did McIndoe down the left. John Snape and Phil Robinson were their usual busy selves, and Kerry Giddings was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Matt Gardiner showed potential when he entered the fray, but Paul Parry couldn't get into the game in the nine minutes he was part of it. Robin Elmes, who came on for Giddings, again didn't look 100% fit. However, the man-of-the-match award has to go to Gavin Williams, who chased everything all afternoon and was easily the best player on the park.
The stangest event of the afternoon came towards the end of the match as the stadium announcer told of the sponsor's man-of-the-match. Jamie Pitman, the former Hereford player whose challenges almost warranted a red-card, was the player who was given the award, much to the disgust of the Hereford fans. However, they responded by chanting 'Pitman, Pitman, what's the score', a fitting end to an eventful day for the former Yeovil and Bulls midfielder.
There were four bookings, three for Woking and one for Hereford. Watson was booked early on for unsporting behaviour, and then Pitman for a foul two minutes before the break and Alighieri, for the same offence, just after it. Matt Clarke was cautioned for unsporting behaviour on sixty two minutes.
Woking manager Colin Lippiatt must be disappointed that his side couldn't put up more of a challenge after some recent results which pumped optimism into the Surrey side's camp. Graham Turner, on the other hand, will be delighted that this result has seen Hereford move up to third in the table.
Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson, Snape, McIndoe, Giddings, Williams
Substitutions - Elmes, Gardiner, Parry.
Man of the Match - Gavin Williams (Hereford)
Hereford United came to Kingfield having won their last two away games and not having conceded in 360 minutes of Nationwide Conference football. The unbeaten run had propelled them to fifth in the table but failure to win at home saw them four points behind leaders Rushden & Diamonds at the start of play. Woking, on the other hand, were sitting in 17th place having won one and drawn one of their four matches.
One change was made by Bulls boss Graham Turner prior to the match as striker Robin Elmes was dropped to the substitutes bench and replaced by new signing Kerry Giddings from Stourport. Woking were unchanged from the side that beat Doncaster 1-0 last Monday, the winner through Scott Steele from the penalty spot.
The Bulls entered the arena in a new kit! No, there hasn't been a change in away colours but as both the red away shirts and white home tops clash with Woking's red and white halved-shirts, United wore a sea green colour, not disimilar to the Manchester City home shirt. They were obviously borrowed as they didn't have the club logo, kit maker or main sponsor on the front but many fans have said that they should ask to keep them after their emphatic victory.
Kingfield stadium appeared fairly new. The huge stand behind the goal to the away end's left was impressive, but looked out of place against the rest of the stadium. At the other end, there is a terracing section and the away side is also terracing but not undercover. So, when the heavens opened umbrellas were of limited supply! On the far side, a mixture of terracing and seating areas made the arena look as if it had been botched together!
Hereford made the early attacks and could easily have been 4-0 up by half-time. The first effort came as early as four minutes when Ian Wright headed just over from McIndoe, and further pressure resulted in the away side camping out inside the Woking half! The opening goal came on fifteen minutes an Ian Rodgerson cross was chested away by Woking 'keeper Mark Ormerod. However, the ball fell to the feet of Gavin Williams who couldn't fail to score from ten yards.
Further efforts were created by Hereford with McIndoe and Williams linking well in attacking positions. Woking eventually built up enough confidence to venture forward and, on the half hour, had their first on-target effort of the match. The ball, from Rob Hollingdale, caused Scott Cooksey no problems as the ball was saved. Soon after, Ian Wright disposessed Jae Martin as he approached goal. Calls were heard for a penalty, but the referee waived the decision as the tackle by the Hereford United captain was timed to perfection.
A corner on thirty nine minutes was the result of another Ian Wright tackle, and from the set piece, Steve West managed an overhead kick. The effort went just wide of the far post. Another corner, just three minutes later, saw Woking net a goal. However, it appeared that the ball had been headed out of Scott Cooksey's hands and the goal was disallowed as the ball had gone out of play prior to reaching Cooksey.
Hereford came out in the second half as they had left the first; having the majority of possession and creating the openings. The inevitable second goal came on the hour mark, as an Ian Rodgerson ball met Gavin Williams. However, the man from Merthyr had both of his legs taken from beneath him by Dante Alighieri, who was booked just nine minutes prior to the incident. The referee, Mr Michael Cairns from Basingstoke, warned Alighieri about his future conduct and pointed to the penalty spot. With Williams running off an injury which occured in the challenge, Chris Lane stepped up to take the penalty. Lane's low drive to the right beat Ormerod and the right-back has now scored two goals this season after failing to net in either of the previous two campaigns.
Just six minutes after the penalty, Ian Rodgerson made the outcome beyond doubt with a third goal for Hereford United. Gavin Williams got hold of the ball on the left, passed Alighieri and shot towards Ormerod. Ian Rodgerson picked up the resultant loose ball and scored from nine yards.
Woking continued to press for a goal but Scott Cooksey showed why he's kept five consecutive clean sheets by saving every shot. Ian Rodgerson almost made it 4-0 with a long shot which went just wide and, despite looking tired, he is still an influential player in the Hereford side.
Woking didn't look as if they were ever likely to match Hereford and the win was completely deserved by Graham Turner's team, their third away from home this season. Cooksey was magnificent, Lane, James and Clarke reliable but Ian Wright looked a bit off-par, missing a few challenges due to a lack of concentration. Ian Rodgerson played well, as did McIndoe down the left. John Snape and Phil Robinson were their usual busy selves, and Kerry Giddings was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Matt Gardiner showed potential when he entered the fray, but Paul Parry couldn't get into the game in the nine minutes he was part of it. Robin Elmes, who came on for Giddings, again didn't look 100% fit. However, the man-of-the-match award has to go to Gavin Williams, who chased everything all afternoon and was easily the best player on the park.
The stangest event of the afternoon came towards the end of the match as the stadium announcer told of the sponsor's man-of-the-match. Jamie Pitman, the former Hereford player whose challenges almost warranted a red-card, was the player who was given the award, much to the disgust of the Hereford fans. However, they responded by chanting 'Pitman, Pitman, what's the score', a fitting end to an eventful day for the former Yeovil and Bulls midfielder.
There were four bookings, three for Woking and one for Hereford. Watson was booked early on for unsporting behaviour, and then Pitman for a foul two minutes before the break and Alighieri, for the same offence, just after it. Matt Clarke was cautioned for unsporting behaviour on sixty two minutes.
Woking manager Colin Lippiatt must be disappointed that his side couldn't put up more of a challenge after some recent results which pumped optimism into the Surrey side's camp. Graham Turner, on the other hand, will be delighted that this result has seen Hereford move up to third in the table.
Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson, Snape, McIndoe, Giddings, Williams
Substitutions - Elmes, Gardiner, Parry.
Man of the Match - Gavin Williams (Hereford)