One game against Darlington, who are tomorrow's visitors at Edgar Street, to remember took place on November 3rd 2007.
A look back.
Five Star Bulls
Hereford
United put in a five star performance as they trounced promotion
chasers Darlington at Edgar Street. The head of Richard Rose got the
ball rolling early on, before Joe Colbeck levelled. Theo Robinson
ensured United went into the interval with a lead, before goals from Ben
Smith, Trevor Benjamin and Clint Easton in the second half sealed an
emphatic victory.
Graham
Turner opted for changes, some enforced, and some not, after last
weekend's draw at Peterborough. As expected, Lionel Ainsworth returned
on the right wing with Luke Webb dropping to the bench. With Karl
Broadhurst suspended, there was a space to fill at centre half, and Rose
was chosen to partner John McCombe. Liverpool loanee Robbie Threlfall
was also handed a debut, with Kris Taylor demoted to the subs bench,
joining ex Darlo striker Simon Johnson. Lining up for Darlington was
former Bull, Rob Purdie, who started on the left wing. Julian Joachim
partnered Tommy Wright up front, with Pawel Abbot out injured, whilst
Colbeck made a second appearence at Edgar Street this season, after
signing for Darlington on loan in recent weeks.
The
opener came just four minutes in for United, after Ben Smith's shot was
deflected out. Easton floated a corner into the danger area, and Rose
nodded powerfully past David Stockdale in front of the Meadow End. A
rare sight for both teams; Darlington had only conceded once away from
home this season whilst Hereford very rarely score from corners.
Robinson scuffed a shot wide, before Rose again got his head to an
Easton corner but this time, Stockdale managed to hold on. Joachim
intelligently held up before playing a neat pass to Wright, but Darlo's
top scorer could only shoot into the arms of Wayne Brown. Stockdale
again was tested, this time by Threlfall, as he struck a powerful
free-kick towards goal but the keeper pushed the ball away to safety.
Good link-up play from Benjamin and Robinson, saw the latter strike a
half volley goalwards with Stockdale again managing to get a hand to the
ball.
The
Bulls were made to rue the missed chances, as Darlington equalised.
Joachim picked up the ball on the left hand side, and turned past Trent
McClenahan before playing a low ball into Colbeck, who struck into the
net, despite the best efforts of Brown to deny him. It didn't take
United to hit back, five minutes after Colbeck's goal, Robinson put The
Bulls back in control. Threlfall took a quick throw, and some neat,
quick football saw Smith touch the pass to Benjamin, before the big
man's sublime touch into the path of Robinson. The on-loan Watford
striker clinically finished from inside the box, and the lead was
Hereford's once more. United continued to play some good stuff in the
first half, but created few chances, Ainsworth firing well wide after a
good burst of pace. Purdie curled well over, and a long range Wright
header was gathered easily by Brown. Colbeck came close to adding to his
tally late on, after a good run but he could only shoot the wrong side
of Brown's post.
Likewise
the first half, Hereford soon were celebrating an early goal in the
second. Benjamin caused problems on the edge of the area, and the ball
fell in the path of Smith. An attempted clearence struck Smith, and
rebounded straight into the back of the net, to the delight of the home
supporters. John McCombe headed an Easton corner over the bar, whilst a
deflected dipping Colbeck volley went close. However, the game was
wrapped up just shy of the hour mark, when Benjamin scored his sixth of
the season. Ainsworth's quick touch, and burst of pace saw him race past
Tim Ryan, and the winger put a low ball in for Benjamin to touch past
the helpless Stockdale. Dave Penney opted to change, with Michael
Cummins replacing Ryan. They failed to test Brown though, with firstly
Joachim heading wide, before the lively Colbeck struck a low shot past
the post.
Gregg
Blundell replaced Clark Keltie, as the away side looked to enhance
their attacking options, but it was The Bulls who were looking to add to
their already impressive lead, with Easton firing a long-range shot
wide, and Robinson also shooting past the post, after some great
strength from Benjamin allowed him to race in on goal. On loan Cardiff
striker Matt Green replaced the ineffective
Wright. Darlington had chances to come back into the game, but Brown
was equal to the efforts. Blundell's well directed header was tipped
wide by Brown, before yet another effort from Colbeck bounced awkwardly
but Brown again managed to push clear.
Johnson
was given a short stint to impress against his former employers, with
young Robinson making way. Minutes later, Webb also came on, with
Ainsworth this time making way. A long diagonal ball went over Rose's
head, and Green picked up, before cutting back to Colbeck, who again
shot, but his shot summed up Darlington's day, as it flew well over the
bar. Stockdale saved from a Webb half volley, before Benjamin made way
for Taylor in the 90th minute. United weren't finished though, and some
more fine football resulted in the fifth. McClenahan linked up superbly
with Johnson, playing a one-two, before cutting back for Easton, who
tapped in, to seal his second in as many games.
It
was an excellent performance by Hereford, as Darlington were blown away
by the quick flowing football played by United. The away side looked a
good unit, and they too tried to play their football on the floor, but
they couldn't cope with pace and swiftness of United. Threlfall made an
impressive debut at left back, and Rose looked very comfortable at
centre half. As the scoreline suggest, Hereford's attackers played well,
in front of 3516 fans, with the travelling support of 161. Mansfield
visit Edgar Street next, and it promises to be a good encounter, as they
too scored five today, with a home thrashing of Macclesfield.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, McCombe, Rose, Threlfall, Ainsworth, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Benjamin, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, Taylor, Gwynne, Webb, Johnson.
Darlington: Stockdale, Austin, White, Foster, Ryan, Colbeck, Ravenhill, Keltie, Purdie, Joachim, Wright.
Subs: Oakes, Miller, Cummins, Green, Blundell.