Seventeen years ago today Hereford played Woking in the Conference.
A look back:
Saturday November 12th 2005
Bulls are Ace against The Cards
Hereford United manager Graham Turner was granted with his pre-match wish of "more goals" from his side as United swept aside a Woking side who were level on points with their opponents and on a twelve game unbeaten run prior to the game. However, the run came to an abrupt end as the hosts put in their best overall performance of the season in an entertaining encounter.
United, who were unchanged from last Friday, threatened first before Justin Richards, who'd netted ten times this league campaign, had two efforts off target. Guy Ipoua almost put his side in front early on when he found himself one on one inside the box, but his effort was denied by Shwan Jalal in the Woking goal. The Cameroonian then turned provider as Hereford took the lead on the half hour mark. He mugged a defender of the ball in the corner before finding Andy Williams who finished with a low drive beyond the reach of Jalal.
This obviously worked wonders for both Williams' and Herefords' confidence and Jon Brady almost doubled the lead with a cracking half volley from twenty-five yards, but it was deflected over. Craig Mawson had to be alert at the other end as he firstly fumbled a cross from the right, but then redeemed himself by putting in a vital tackle on the ground as several attackers lurked. In first half injury time United almost scored a second, but Ipoua, who was offside anyway, headed straight at Jalal when he really should have converted.
The second half was all one way traffic and the result could well have been really embarrassing for the Cards if it wasn't for some good goalkeeping. Tamika Mkandawire paced out of defence before finding the run of Williams minutes after the restart, and Mkandawire was first to the rebounded shot of Williams, but somehow lifted the ball over a gaping net. Ipoua then made an opening for Williams, who saw his shot saved, before he was involved in Uniteds' second goal.
Ipoua did excellently to hold off a challenge before releasing Brady on the right, and his far post cross was met by Rob Purdie who managed to slide the ball in for 2-0. It was then Woking who attacked, a rare thing in the second period, but after a nice ball inside Alex Jeannin, Richards saw his shot turned behind for a corner. Brady was soon replaced as he took a knock, Danny Carey-Bertram taking his place on the right, and it was just five minutes later when United went further in front.
Rob Purdie received a return ball from Williams, and continued his run into the penalty area before firing a great shot into the far top corner from around twelve yards. And if that wasn't enough in the way of goals for Turner, Ipoua completed the rout just two minutes later. Jeannin was the provider this time, with a perfect through ball and Ipoua unleashed an unstoppable shot in to the back of the net, via the cross bar. It was his last action of the match, that capped a man of the match performance, as Graham Evans took his place. Soon after, Andy Ferrell took Williams' place as United continued their attacking intentions.
Lloyd Blackman had fired just wide for The Cards, but both Ferrell and Evans could have added to the score line in the last ten minutes. Carey-Bertram had cut back to Evans, but his shot was decent enough, just Jalal was equal for it and then Evans provided a cross for Ferrell but his effort was deflected over the bar.
The performance was the best, overall, of the season and Turner will be delighted with the goals scored, but will be equally pleased that The Bulls have maintained their impressive defensive record, aided by some brilliant performances by Tony James and Mkandawire. The creative spark of Ipoua, who had a hand in two of the goals and got one for himself, though was enough to clinch him the man of the match award. Hereford will be desperate to maintain this form as they intend to push up the Conference table.
HUFC: Mawson, Green, James, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, Pitman, Stanley, Brady, Williams, Ipoua. Subs: Beckwith, Brown, Ferrell, Evans, Carey-Bertram.
WFC: Jalal, Jackson, Nethercott, Oliver, El-Salahi, Ferguson, Murray, Smith, Evans, McAllister, Richards. Subs: Davies, Cockerill, Rawle, Selley, Blackman.
Williams gets his first Conference goal
The local lad netted the first of the Bulls four goals in a game which was one of, if not the best, seen at Edgar Street this season.
Rob Purdie, speaking on BBC Hereford and Worcester after the match, was complimentary of Williams efforts.
"Exactly what he needed. He's been dying to score for us and has been doing really well. He deserved his goal, he's had a good game.
"He's had a few good games since he broke into the first team and hopefully now he can produce what we all know he can."
Graham Turner will be pleased with the result, but may not have thought his comment of two weeks ago would happen today.
"We do feel that if we go on creating the chances, making the chances for ourselves, sooner or later they will start going in," Turner told BBC Hereford and Worcester before the Kiddy game.
Meanwhile it is unknown whether the switching on of the new brighter floodlights this afternoon at Edgar Street had anything to do with the excellent Hereford performance.