Dragons do double over Bulls

Hereford United turned in another disappointing performance tonight that saw a fist-half howler from Luke Graham gift the lead to the hosts which was followed by a second period back post tap-in hand all three points to Wrexham.

Frankie Artus failed to make the cut and was replaced in the starting line-up by Sam Smith with Cory Williams replacing Michael Rankine on the bench.

“Low in confidence” Wrexham bossed the game from the off with the first goal coming within a minute of the start.  A low cross was driven in from the right and a regulation clearance was sliced over Lloyd-Weston and into the net by the normally reliable Luke Graham.

The Bulls had a let-off soon after when Ormerod’s chase from an offside position was not flagged by the linesman but fortunately the ageing striker saw his shot saved by DLW at the near post before another attack produced a back post header that scraped past the upright.

Dan Walker made a break down the right but showed too much of the ball and Ashton was able to clear at the expense of a fruitless corner.  Dean Keates slid a ball through to Hunt but he dragged his shot wide of the target before Sam Smith was penalised for little but being first to the ball.

The linesman eventually got a decision right on twenty-two minutes when he managed to flag Keates offside.  Dan Walker lost possession in midfield and it resulted in Harris lifting a shot over from the edge of the box.  A long DLW clearance was won in the air by Sam Smith but the ball ran safely through to keeper Coughlin in the home goal.

Coughlin Gathers With Collins Close

In a rare purposeful attack, Bush moved forward to see his low cross blocked away and Walker’s crisp effort was pushed round the post by Coughlin.  Jamie Edge looped a high ball into the box that was half cleared but Sharp first time shot was, again, blocked.

Good approach work by the home team finished with Carrington screwing a shot wide when well laced inside the box.  Chris Sharp tried a speculative effort from distance but it lacked pace and accuracy.

HT Wrexham1 Bulls 0

Little changed in the early part of the second period with the hosts continuing to benefit from some slow closing down and over generous loose passing by The Bulls.  Sharp had a cross blocked and Edge’s cross was headed wide by McDonald while Harris had a shot cannon off the crossbar from long range. 

Dan Walker cut in from the left and elected to shoot when well marshalled despite Kingsley James begging for a pass when in space inside the box.  Then just after the hour The Dragons doubled their advantage.

Dom Collins With The Ball At His Feet

Dean Keates fed the ball diagonally to the back post from the left channel and Carrington arrived unmarked to tap in.

Cory Williams, rather oddly, replaced Jamie Edge and joined Smith up front before Smith retired, waving joyfully to the crowd, to provide an opportunity for the long absent Dan Pilkington.

Danny Pilkington Looked Lively When He Came On

The trio of replacements was completed when Roberto Purdos came on for Kingsley James.

Sub Cory Williams Being Marked By Mark Carrington

Sadly the wholesale changes failed to inspire too many opportunities although it must be said that the energy and enthusiasm of Cory Williams helped to comfort those Herefordians in the crowd of 2056 that had endured the otherwise tasteless menu on offer.

FT Wrexham 2 Bulls 0

Hereford: Lloyd-Weston, Collins, Graham, McDonald, Bush, Walker, James (Purdie 81), Edge (Williams 66), Brown, Smith (Pilkington 79), Sharp. Subs not used: Moore, Murphy.

Wrexham: Coughlin, Wright, Livesey, Carrington, Ashton; Clarke, Harris, Keates (Evans 85); Hunt, Ogleby (Anyinsah 90), Ormerod (Reynolds 90). Subs not used: Mayebi, Tomassen.

We’ll be buzzing off to see the bees on Saturday.

---