Accrington were the visitors to Edgar Street on Saturday March 24th 2007.
A look back:
Lacklustre Hereford fall to defeat
Accrington
Stanley sealed a vital three points to help alleviate their problems at
the bottom of League Two with a 2-0 victory over Hereford United at the
Fraser Eagle Stadium. Former Bull David Brown opened the scoring in the
first half, and Peter Cavanagh doubled their advantage early in the
second. However Brown was sent off late in the game.
United
made two changes from the side that lost at Darlington, reverting back
to a 3-5-2 formation. Alan Connell and Richard Rose made way with Phil
Gulliver and Dean Beckwith replacing the duo. Andy Williams moved up
front with Danny Thomas playing in central midfield. Stuart Fleetwood
was included in the substitutes, for the first time since he lined up
against Macclesfield in mid-January.
The
early stages were poor, with little created from either side. Rob
Purdie had the first opportunity for United, after he cut inside but he
shot wide of goal. On loan Liverpool defender, Godwin Antwi had
Accrington's first chance, with a powerful header from a corner. Luckily
for Hereford, Luke Webb managed to clear the ball off the line and out
for another corner. Steve Guinan then struck a half-volley into the arms
of the Stanley keeper David Martin, another Liverpool loanee.
Stanley
took the lead in the 26th minute, after good work on the left hand side
from Shaun Whalley. He ran past Simon Travis, before the ball found its
way to Brown, who struck first time from 25 yards right into the corner
of the net. The goal was similar to Eifon Williams winner for
Hartlepool three weeks ago; once again, Wayne Brown could have done
little about it.
United
should have scored an equaliser minutes after Brown's goal, when Purdie
hit a hopeful long ball up field. Robbie Williams mis-judged the ball
and it fell to Phil Gulliver, who was still up-field from an earlier
corner. However, Gulliver hit a terrible shot wide when he was through
on goal. Had it been virtually any other player on the pitch, it could
have been so much different. Shortly afterwards Travis was caught out
when Whalley managed to get past him down the left hand side, and then
the tricky winger also went past Tamika Mkandawire. Luckily, Brown
denied his low shot with his legs, and Mullin's follow up was weak. Late
on in the half, Guinan headed straight at Martin.
Much
like the first half, the second half started slowly with little threat
from either side. This all changed though in the 54th minute when
Mkandawire felled Whalley on the edge of the area. Stanley captain
Cavanagh stepped up and fired a powerful free-kick past the wall and
into the corner. Once again, Brown had no chance with the shot and
Stanley had a cushion. Graham Turner reacted to the second goal,
bringing off a defender, Gulliver, and giving Fleetwood a chance against
the team he spent a month on loan at earlier in the season.
Yet,
despite decent possesion, Hereford failed to create chances and
Accrington were looking comfortable. Alan Connell was introduced half
way through the second half for the in-effective Andy Williams. With
Guinan being marked out of the game by the impressive Antwi, it was up
to Fleetwood and Connell to make their mark on the game.
Romuald
Boco struck a shot over the bar before Guinan had a decent opportunity
to score for United. Mkandawire headed a corner back across goal, and
the ball fell to Guinan in a crowded penalty area, his powerful
goal-bound effort was blocked though and cleared. Connell also went
close after he struck a powerful left foot volley from a Thomas cross,
Martin though was equal to it, superbly holding the shot.
Stanley
could have made it three late on when Williams curled a shot towards
the corner. 'Superman' scrambled to his left and tipped the ball around
the post. In the 90th minute, goalscorer Brown saw red for a late tackle
on Thomas. United were looking to counter-attack, but Brown commited a
cynical challenge. A yellow would have been justified but the ref saw
fit to send off the former United striker. Connell tried late on to find
a consolation but his turn and volley trickled wide.
Hereford
failed to create any clear-cut chances, and it was a dissapointing
afternoon for the 250 or so fans who made the journey north. With the
season now all but over for United, the recent performances have been
lacklustre. United are now six games without a win, and haven't scored
in their last three. As for Stanley, the three points could prove vital
at the end of the season in their hunt to avoid relegation.
Next
up for Hereford are three tough looking fixtures, against MK Dons,
Swindon and Walsall. All three are chasing promotion and will be a real
test for The Bulls. Hopefully, Steve Jennings will return in midfield
and provide the bite that has been missing in recent weeks.
1848 fans were present at the game, as Accrington continued their fine record at home against Hereford. They have beaten the Bulls on every occasion the teams have met at the Fraser Eagle Stadium in the League and Conference.
1848 fans were present at the game, as Accrington continued their fine record at home against Hereford. They have beaten the Bulls on every occasion the teams have met at the Fraser Eagle Stadium in the League and Conference.
Hereford: Brown, Travis, Gulliver, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Purdie, Webb, Smith, Thomas, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Thompson, Rose, Fleetwood, Connell, Sills.
Accrington: Martin, Cavanagh, Williams, Antwi, Richardson, Todd, Boco, Proctor, Whalley, Brown, Mullin.
Subs: Dunbavin, Ventre, Welch, Doherty, Mangan.