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| Lee Rogers Held By Andy Tretton - Andy Compton Picture |
Hereford United 2 - 1 Shrewsbury Town
Hereford United gained revenge for their defeat earlier this season against Shrewsbury Town and also returned to the top of the table. The first-half had ended equal but the Shrews had shaded it. They had more possesion but created few clear cut chances, albeit more than the Bulls could manage.
United couldn't have started this local derby better. David Brown found Jamie Pitman with a crisp pass, and Pitman chipped the ball over the Salop defence for Rob Purdie to run onto and superbly volley home into the far bottom corner after just three minutes. The lead, however, was short lived. Shrewsbury broke down their right wing and Ryan Lowe crossed along the ground after skinning Michael Rose for Lee Lawrence, on loan from Mancheser United, to slot past Matthew Baker.
Hereford hardly threatened again in the first half until injury time when Steve Guinan's shot needed the finger tips of Scott Howie to direct the ball over the bar, although after about half an hour Pitmans shot could well have won the Whites a penalty. The powerful effort hit a raised Shrewsbury arm but referee Mr. A. Green waved play on. The lively Luke Rogers beat the United defence only to see his shot bloked by the chest of impressive Baker. Duane Darby and Rogers again had chances before half time.
The second half began like the first half, exciting, with both teams playing some good football. Shrewsbury had the first chance from Darby whose shot, bound for the top corner, was tipped around the post by Baker. Ryan Green almost scored a fluke a couple of minutes later when his cross-come-shot hit the top of the cross bar.
Scott Willis would have been dissapointed not to have given Hereford the lead after Brown had held the ball up well in the area after receiving a stunning long range pass from Tony James. Brown cut the ball back into the run of Willis who powered the ball just over from twelve yards.
United did get the goal they had been pushing for after nine minutes of the second half. Man of the match Pitman threaded a wonderful through ball in between two defenders and found Steve Guinan who had beaten the offside trap. His original effort was well saved by Howie, but the ball fell kindly to the Hereford hitman who netted his twenty-second Conference goal of the season from a yard out.
Jimmy Quinn's men aimed to pull level as quickly as they had done previously, and attacked the Hereford box from the kick off. Darby got in behind the solid Hereford defence, with Tom Smith deputising for Tamika Mkandawire, and appeared to be fouled by former Shrewsbury captain Andy Tretton. The referee blew his whistle and much to the delight of the Bulls fans, booked Darby for a dive. Darby caused more trouble for United and managed to get one on one with Baker but Smith and Baker combined well to clear the danger.
The game had the passion of a local derby, both in the terraces and on the pitch. The crowd, which was a little dissapointing, of 5850 were well up for this game and so were the players. Tackles started to fly in during the second half as the Shrews began to get frustrated resulting in bookings for Trevor Challis and Dave Ridler, who was lucky to stay on the field after grabbing onto Browns leg after the striker had turned him. Ridler appeared to be the last man and Brown would have surely been through on goal if he wasn't held. Andy Tretton and Michael Rose were booked for the Bulls.
Late on Shrewsbury desperately searched for an opening to claim an equaliser. Substitute Jody Banim had the best chance of the half after a cross arrived from the right. He side footed a volley which Baker saved brilliantly from point blank range.
Even the introduction of player manager Quinn late on couldn't force a goal for Shrewsbury, who were slightly unlucky not to get anything out of this game, although Hereford could have scored more than they managed. With Chester City not playing today the result means that Hereford United return to the top of the table since November, even if it is just for a few days.
Written by Brian Goodwin - 27th March 2004
Man of the Match
Jamie Pitman
Attendance
5,850
Referee
Mr. A. Green (Leicester)