Thirteen years ago today Boston were the opponents at Edgar Street. The Bulls hadn't scored in their previous seven games so were not fancied to win.
With Boston United, the visitors to Edgar Street this afternoon, flirting dangerously with relegation at the start of the day and Hereford United not all that far above them, The Pilgrims may well have targeted this as the sort of game they must take something from to avoid a return to the Conference. So you might expect a bit of a fight from the strugglers, but it wasn't to be as the game panned out more like a pre-season friendly, with the sun shining strongly.
Graham Turner was forced into a change in his defence due to Dean Beckwith's suspension and so Phil Gulliver deputised, but there was also a return for Trent McClenahan and Steve Jennings at the expense of Alan Connell and Luke Webb. However, as the half wore on it seemed these changes weren't going to help Hereford break their run of five games without a goal.
Andy Williams, partnering Steve Guinan in attack, was looking most likely for The Bulls but his low shot on ten minutes was gathered easily by Andy Marriot. Gulliver went close soon after following a corner, given when Jennings' shot was deflected behind, with a free header but he directed wide of the goal. Williams then fired harmlessley over again when Simon Travis slipped a ball square to him before Boston had a rare effort from Paul Ellender. The visitors did have the ball in the net before the break from Drew Broughton, but the offside flag had long been raised before the striker beat Wayne Brown.
Who knows what was said in the Hereford changing rooms at the break; but whatever it was it worked! The passing suddenley became fluent and The Bulls were on the charge and looking dangerous. The chances didn't come straight away, but a break with Ben Smith, Guinan and then Smith again found Danny Thomas on the left. His cut back towards Williams was toed away by a defender though, but Hereford had signalled their intentions.
On fifty six minutes, on the next real attack, the deadlock was broken and it was no suprise at all it was The Whites who'd scroed. Brown gathered a corner and, although Hereford were slow getting out, Williams made a run and Brown's kick was direct. Thomas popped up in support on the right and played a pass behind the left back for the run of Travis, but his cross was cut out. It fell to Smith, but his shot was blocked before it fell into the path of Guinan, who made no mistake from close range at the back post.
Everytime Hereford went forward from then on a goal looked likely. This was probably helped by Boston, who really looked like a team dead and buried already. Williams was again involved as Thomas came in from the left and saw a low shot skim off Marriot's fingertips and behind before man of the match Smith played a one-two with McClenahan, crossed superbly with the outside of his boot to Guinan at the far post, who forced Marriot into a fantastic save with a close range header. The flag was up for offside though.
The second goal came after seventy one minutes from another pacy break down the left as Smith switched play from Travis on the right to Thomas on the left, and the winger picked out Williams in the box. A fantastic step over fooled his marker and his drilled cross deflected off the head of Mark Greaves and into the back of the net. With nine minutes to go Guinan and Williams were replaced by Tim Sills and Alan Connell, and it was the latter who looked the more lively. His work paid dividends in the final minute as he completed the scoring with a free kick twenty yards out, which he curled precisely into the top corner for 3-0.
It was ironic that this was probably the worst performance of United's past four games, but this is the only one they've won. The main difference, in the second half mostly, was simply that they took their chances. However, maybe it was the pace of Williams in the front line that added to the creating of these more clear cut chances, or the fact that Jennings provided more cover in midfield allowing Smith more freedom. Whatever it was, hopefully Hereford can keep doing it and attract a crowd better than the 2,176 today against local rivals Shrewsbury in two weeks time.
HUFC: Brown, McClenahan, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Purdie, Thomas, Jennings, Smith, Travis, Williams, Guinan. Subs: Rose, Thompson, Webb, Connell, Sills.
BUFC: Marriot, Greaves, Ellender, Stevens, Clarke, Galbraith, Cooksey, Farrall, Cryan, Green, Broughton. Subs: Nunn, Maylett, Rowntree.
Afterwards Steve Guinan spoke to BBC Hereford and Worcester. Steve Guinan was pleased to get his 50th goal for Hereford United this afternoon even though he was booked by referee Phil Joslin for celebrating. It was the first goal for the Bulls since the Hartlepool game.
"Although it was my 50th goal it meant so much to the team that we had actually scored. We just wanted to see that ball cross the line," Guinan told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
Guinan, who was playing his last home game for Hereford this season as his loan deal ends after next Saturday's game at Peterborough, was asked about his future.
"It was nice to sign off today with my 50th goal. It was a good send off for the fans. I've enjoyed my time here. I've got a great affection for the club.
"My contract is with Cheltenham Town until June 30th. We have to wait and see who gets in touch."
Guinan is studying at Gloucester University. As Keith Hall pointed out Hereford isn't too far away.
"It's not a bad location here but I've still got a few more years left in my football career. If I have to put my degree on hold - my football career takes priority.
"I'll just concentrate on the football and if a good deal comes up in the summer I'll take it."
Graham Turner was forced into a change in his defence due to Dean Beckwith's suspension and so Phil Gulliver deputised, but there was also a return for Trent McClenahan and Steve Jennings at the expense of Alan Connell and Luke Webb. However, as the half wore on it seemed these changes weren't going to help Hereford break their run of five games without a goal.
Andy Williams, partnering Steve Guinan in attack, was looking most likely for The Bulls but his low shot on ten minutes was gathered easily by Andy Marriot. Gulliver went close soon after following a corner, given when Jennings' shot was deflected behind, with a free header but he directed wide of the goal. Williams then fired harmlessley over again when Simon Travis slipped a ball square to him before Boston had a rare effort from Paul Ellender. The visitors did have the ball in the net before the break from Drew Broughton, but the offside flag had long been raised before the striker beat Wayne Brown.
Who knows what was said in the Hereford changing rooms at the break; but whatever it was it worked! The passing suddenley became fluent and The Bulls were on the charge and looking dangerous. The chances didn't come straight away, but a break with Ben Smith, Guinan and then Smith again found Danny Thomas on the left. His cut back towards Williams was toed away by a defender though, but Hereford had signalled their intentions.
On fifty six minutes, on the next real attack, the deadlock was broken and it was no suprise at all it was The Whites who'd scroed. Brown gathered a corner and, although Hereford were slow getting out, Williams made a run and Brown's kick was direct. Thomas popped up in support on the right and played a pass behind the left back for the run of Travis, but his cross was cut out. It fell to Smith, but his shot was blocked before it fell into the path of Guinan, who made no mistake from close range at the back post.
Everytime Hereford went forward from then on a goal looked likely. This was probably helped by Boston, who really looked like a team dead and buried already. Williams was again involved as Thomas came in from the left and saw a low shot skim off Marriot's fingertips and behind before man of the match Smith played a one-two with McClenahan, crossed superbly with the outside of his boot to Guinan at the far post, who forced Marriot into a fantastic save with a close range header. The flag was up for offside though.
The second goal came after seventy one minutes from another pacy break down the left as Smith switched play from Travis on the right to Thomas on the left, and the winger picked out Williams in the box. A fantastic step over fooled his marker and his drilled cross deflected off the head of Mark Greaves and into the back of the net. With nine minutes to go Guinan and Williams were replaced by Tim Sills and Alan Connell, and it was the latter who looked the more lively. His work paid dividends in the final minute as he completed the scoring with a free kick twenty yards out, which he curled precisely into the top corner for 3-0.
It was ironic that this was probably the worst performance of United's past four games, but this is the only one they've won. The main difference, in the second half mostly, was simply that they took their chances. However, maybe it was the pace of Williams in the front line that added to the creating of these more clear cut chances, or the fact that Jennings provided more cover in midfield allowing Smith more freedom. Whatever it was, hopefully Hereford can keep doing it and attract a crowd better than the 2,176 today against local rivals Shrewsbury in two weeks time.
HUFC: Brown, McClenahan, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Purdie, Thomas, Jennings, Smith, Travis, Williams, Guinan. Subs: Rose, Thompson, Webb, Connell, Sills.
BUFC: Marriot, Greaves, Ellender, Stevens, Clarke, Galbraith, Cooksey, Farrall, Cryan, Green, Broughton. Subs: Nunn, Maylett, Rowntree.
Afterwards Steve Guinan spoke to BBC Hereford and Worcester. Steve Guinan was pleased to get his 50th goal for Hereford United this afternoon even though he was booked by referee Phil Joslin for celebrating. It was the first goal for the Bulls since the Hartlepool game.
"Although it was my 50th goal it meant so much to the team that we had actually scored. We just wanted to see that ball cross the line," Guinan told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
Guinan, who was playing his last home game for Hereford this season as his loan deal ends after next Saturday's game at Peterborough, was asked about his future.
"It was nice to sign off today with my 50th goal. It was a good send off for the fans. I've enjoyed my time here. I've got a great affection for the club.
"My contract is with Cheltenham Town until June 30th. We have to wait and see who gets in touch."
Guinan is studying at Gloucester University. As Keith Hall pointed out Hereford isn't too far away.
"It's not a bad location here but I've still got a few more years left in my football career. If I have to put my degree on hold - my football career takes priority.
"I'll just concentrate on the football and if a good deal comes up in the summer I'll take it."