Twelve years ago today Hereford United celebrated promotion to League One with victory over Grimsby Town.
A look back:
Bulls sign off from League Two with win
Hereford
United ended their two year spell in League Two with a convincing 2-0
home victory over Grimsby Town. 6020 supporters turned up to Edgar
Street to join in the party-like atmosphere to celebrate promotion and
were treated to an entertaining match. First-half strikes from Ben Smith
and Theo Robinson ensured United finished the season with 88 points,
just four shy of Peterborough.
With
no pressure on them, Graham Turner handed made six changes to the side
that sealed promotion at Brentford last Saturday. Ryan Esson replaced
the injured Wayne Brown whilst defensive duo Lee Collins and Robbie
Threlfall replaced Karl Broadhurst and Richard Rose respectively. Kris
Taylor started on left-wing with Clint Easton missing out, whilst
departed loan duo Sammy Igoe and Gary Hooper were replaced by Simon
Johnson and Steve Guinan.
The
game started with the end of season fell; neat interplay by either team
but no end product. Nathan Jarman curled effort was held by Esson,
whilst Johnson's burst saw the winger place a shot past the post with
his left-foot. An important block from Smith denied Phil Bolland, before
the follow-up effort from Danny Boshell forced a fine save from Esson
as he dived to his right to push the shot out for a corner in mid-air.
Rob Atkinson's long-range effort rose harmlessly over, whilst Taylor did
likewise, as he spooned one over from 25 yards. Good link-up from
Toumani Diagouraga and Guinan, saw the Frenchman drag a shot past the
post from just outside the area.
The
opening goal came just ten minutes before half-time, after some good
build up. Guinan's precise pass found Taylor on the edge of the box, and
from the left-hand side, played a fine ball into the danger area where
Smith slid in to finish. Grimsby were nearly level within minutes, when a
lack of concentration from Diagouraga saw an awful back-pass be latched
on by Danny North, but a toe-poke finish was blocked by Esson, who
looked solid throughout. Robinson blasted wide from a tight angle after
Guinan had layed the ball on for him, before the Watford loanee got on
the scoresheet minutes later. Taylor picked up the ball mid-way in
Grimsby's half, and found Robinson with a through ball which the
youngster finished with his left-foot. The marking wasn't the best, but
Robinson didn't mind, as he notched up 14th league goal of the season.
On the stroke of half-time, Guinan's floated pass was controlled by
Robinson, but the end product saw him drag his shot wide.
At
half-time, Grimsby introduced Martin Butler and Matthew Bird for Jarman
and North. The second-half was all Hereford, with some neat football
being played. Taylor's trickery took him into the area on the by-line,
but Dean Beckwith's strike from Taylor's cut-back was blocked.
Diagouraga's energy was well recognised as he won the sponsors man of
the match, along with Taylor. The Frenchman's powerful run allowed him
to find Guinan but from the left-hand side of the box, the former
Cheltenham striker blasted wide. Ryan Bennett's header into the hands of
Esson was a rare attack for the visitors. They introduced Andy Taylor
for Peter Till but to little avail. Two free-kicks from Hereford's
Taylor resulted in half-chances, with Guinan and Beckwith meeting them
with their heads, but failing to hit the target.
Trevor
Benjamin replaced Guinan, whose role didn't result in a goal, but his
all round play was impressive. A huge punt forward by Esson was met by
Benjamin, and Robinson raced onto the ball. After setting himself, he
blasted a shot goalwards which was palmed by Phil Barnes; the ball
bounced nicely to Robinson again, and he headed for Taylor who poked it
goalwards, but the defender on the line managed to head it clear to
safety. Broadhurst replaced Trent McClenahan, and minutes later John
McCombe came on for Beckwith, in what could have been his last
appearence for the club with Wolves expressing an interest in the
defender. In between the subs, Threlfall curled a free-kick a foot past
the post, whilst at the other end, Bolland's long bouncing effort failed
to trouble Esson. Robinson tried his best to finish the game and the
season on a personal high, with three different chances. A header from a
Smith cross bounced wide, whilst a powerful shot after cutting in from
the left was blocked by Barnes' body. In the final minute, an ambitious
35 yard lob/shot from Robinson sailed over.
After
the match, the players were able to do their 'lap of honour', and were
greeted by a huge ovation from the happy fans. As they approaced the end
of the lap, there was a mini pitch invasion, but little does it matter;
Hereford are up, and League One is the destination for next season!
The
match felt like a pre-season friendly, but with no pressure, Hereford
were able to play their 'carpet' football freely. It was a good
spectacle, with all the side impressing. In particular, Esson looked a
good replacement for Brown, whilst loanees Threlfall and Collins had
fine games at the back. Diagouraga was in fine form in the middle, and
Turner needs to do his utmost to ensure he returns next season. As for
his Watford team-mate, a return looks less likely, but the striker has
been on great form in the past three games. Next season will see trips
to Tranmere, Millwall and Huddersfield, and derbies with Swindon,
Cheltenham, Bristol Rovers and Walsall. It's going to be good!
On
a personal note, I'd like to thank everyone who has read my reports,
and hope that they have been worthwhile to you! Now, what to do on these
Saturday afternoons? August 9th 2008. I'll see you there.
Hereford: Esson, McClenahan, Beckwith, Collins, Threlfall, Johnson, Diagouraga, Smith, Taylor, Guinan, Robinson.
Subs: Rose, Broadhurst, McCombe, Gwynne, Benjamin.
Grimsby: Barnes, Atkinson, Clarke, Bennett, Newey, Till, Bolland, Boshell, Hegarty, Jarman, North.
Subs: Montgomery, Bore, Taylor, Bird, Butler.
Reaction:
In
the post match press conference, as reported in the Grimsby Telegraph,
Graham Turner thought a slow start was soon put right:
"We
have had an excellent season, not only winning promotion but we have
also had some very good cup results and performances. It was important
to win the game and I think we did things right after a sluggish start.
We
had a few days of celebrations earlier in the week but the players got
themselves focussed again. I thought we deserved the win and that we
might have scored more goals.''
Mariners
boss Alan Buckley was far from impressed with his own side, but
admitted the Bulls - and last weeks' opponents Peterboro - were
justifiably promoted:
"Both
teams look like promotion winning sides for sure, but they had a
different way of doing it. Obviously Peterborough had all the finances
while Hereford have done it differently, having shown that it can be
done by having players with lots of desire and hunger.
As
far as ourselves go, we have gone from a mean-looking fighting-machine
type of team to one that has totally lost the desire and effort and why
that should happen I don't know.''