Hereford FC recorded a second victory in three days over play-off contenders, this time seeing off Chester FC at Edgar Street. A deflected first-half strike from Danny Greenslade opened the scoring in the first-half for the hosts, before Mike Symons doubled the advantage on the 72nd minute. Marc Richard's men defended resolutely throughout the game, marshalled by impressive performances from both Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and Joshua Gowling, in front of 2,775 supporters at Edgar Street, with 354 making the journey south from Cheshire.
Following the narrow 1-0 win over Kidderminster on Boxing Day, Richards opted to make one change to the starting line-up. Calvin Dinsley was the man to miss out, with James Roberts coming into replace the former Gloucester midfielder, as he partnered Symons up front. The visitors, managed by former Salford duo Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson, had a host of experience within their starting eleven, including centre-halves Steve Howson and Gary Roberts, whilst midfielder George Green had previously been on the books at Everton.
Chester nearly found themselves a goal down in calamitous fashion in the opening moments; a loose back pass from Simon Grand was mis-controlled by Grant Shenton and the ball bobbled out for a corner. Right-winger Daniel Mooney was keeping Greenslade busy with some industrious running, cutting in from his position on the right before skipping past two challenges but shooting into the Meadow End. Hereford 'keeper Matt Yates was called into action after Grand got the better of Kieran Thomas on the left and cut inside to Brad Jackson. The striker got the ball out of his feet before Yates denied him from close-range. Hereford then had two soft penalty appeals turned down for possible fouls on both Roberts and George Lloyd.
Kyle Finn looped a left-foot shot goalwards from the edge of the box which Shenton pushed away, before Hereford took the lead following a well worked move down the left. A through ball sent Roberts away on the left hand side of the area and he fended off the defensive challenge before picking out Greenslade, who had ventured into the box. The former Weston full-back took one touch before placing a left-foot strike, via a deflection, past the Shenton at his near-post.
Chester could have been level in the 35th minute after Tommy O'Sullivan gave the ball away in the middle of the park; a deep cross from the right was controlled by Craig Mahon but Yates closed down the angle quickly to deny him.
Chester could have been level in the 35th minute after Tommy O'Sullivan gave the ball away in the middle of the park; a deep cross from the right was controlled by Craig Mahon but Yates closed down the angle quickly to deny him.
From a Chester corner, Hereford broke quickly and Lloyd fed O'Sullivan with a clever reverse pass. The Cheltenham loanee then continued his run as O'Sullivan returned the ball but he couldn't keep his composure from the right-side of the box, bobbling a shot harmlessly past the post. Tom Owen-Evans did well to block a vicious long-range drive from Roberts. Lloyd then had another chance to test the 'keeper, after Roberts had slipped him in but on his weaker left side, and under pressure from Grand, he failed to hit the target from the edge of the box.
After an entertaining first-half, the second-period didn't offer as much in goal opportunities but saw an entertaining encounter from both teams. A deep free-kick from Finn was just an inch too high for Symons, who had drifted to the back-post. Chester introduced Dean Smalley in place of Mahon as they looked to freshen up their attacking options; Anthony Dudley found himself in space after an unfortunate ricochet off Cullinane-Liburd broke to him, but he failed to trouble Yates from 15 yards with a mishit left-foot shot.
Richards opted to bring on namesake Eliot Richards, soon after Theo Wharton was introduced, with O'Sullivan and Roberts making way. And soon after the changes were made, Hereford found themselves two goals to the good. A corner from Finn, following Richards chasing down a lost-cause, was swung in dangerously and after two defensive headers failed to clear the ball outside the box, Symons hooked his leg at the ball and diverted it into the far corner past the helpless Shenton.
Lloyd Marsh-Hughes replaced Mahon for Chester as they started going direct, with Howson pushing up to support the attacking options. It was the big centre-halves' flick from a defensive punt that nearly resulted in a goal, after Yates had come a long way out of his goal, but the ball looped out for a goal-kick. Hereford brought on Harvey Smith, returning after concussion, in place of Finn, with the aim of dealing with any long-balls and the tactic worked, as they saw out the game comfortably to claim the three points.
It was perhaps the most encouraging performance under the new regime, as Hereford chalked up their second successive victory and second successive clean sheet. Defensively, Hereford looked very assured, whilst offering more of an attacking threat than was seen against Kidderminster, perhaps due to the change in formation to 4-4-2. Roberts looked industrious playing just off Symons, who as always was a real handful for the experienced Chester back-line. However, once again, it was the defence who should take the plaudits, with Gowling outstanding both aerially and on the floor. Next up for Hereford is the return fixture against Kidderminster at Aggborough on New Years Day.
Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Cullinane-Liburd, Gowling, Greenslade, Lloyd, O'Sullivan, Owen-Evans, Finn, Roberts, Symons.
Subs: Smith, Ricchards, Wharton, Dielna, Horsell.
Chester: Shenton, Thomson, Grand, Roberts, Moran, Howson, Mooney, Green, Jackson, Dudley, Mahon.
Subs: Smalley, Waters, Noble, Dawson, Marsh-Hughes.
Attendance: 2,775.
Goalscorers: Greenslade, Symons.
Goalscorers: Greenslade, Symons.