An Easter Monday clash at Whaddon Road. John Brough playing as a makeshift striker puts Hereford ahead early in the first half, the home side equalise, but Chris Hargreaves scores a late winner to send the 1,000+ travelling support into raptures.
Line Ups Cheltenham 1 Book 2 Duff 3 Victory 4 Banks 5 Freeman 6 Milton 7 Howells 8 Knight 9 Eaton 10 Grayson 11 Wright Subs Watkins, Walker
Hereford 1 Quy 2 Rodgerson 3 Fishlock 4 Warner 5 Brough 6 Matthewson 7 Hargreaves 8 McGorry 9 Agana 10 Walker 11 Mahon Attendance 3.039
CHELTENHAM 1 Hereford 2 (report by Peter Povall)
United presented their fans with an excellent Easter present by
completing the double over Cheltenham Town today at Whaddon Road.
The entire away side of the ground was filled to capacity as 700+
United fans braved the cold, to cheer the lads home to victory.
I was personally surprised to see John Brough start the match in the
centre circle as he took up position alongside Tony Agana to spearhead
the Hereford assualt. I even questioned Graham Turners judgement with
other fans but in the 14th minute I was made to eat my words as he rose
to meet a well placed cross from Rob Warner driving it past Steve Book
to the United fans delight.
Brough was causing the home defence some serious concern as he
revelled in being let loose in his new position. He came close on a
number of further occassions during the first half as he sought his
second.
The first half was dominated by United but their former striker Neil
Grayson did manage a couple of good efforts on goal as he blazed his
first chance just over the bar from all of 20 yards out. His second
chance was headed just over as he latched onto a Keith Knight cross on
the break.
The second have proved quite different though as Cheltenham were
driven back into their own half for much of the time and Grayson was
expertly marked out of the game by Trevor Matthewson. Grayson really had
to expect this as we of all clubs know just how dangerous he can be.
Steve Book was pressured from the start as attack after attack was
sent in against the home defence which appeared fairly easily beaten but
Book make some excellent saves and the United finishing could have been
better. Brough alone had a real chance of a hat-trick here as a further
attempt was cleared from the line.
Steve Cotterill had other ideas though and an inspired substitution
which saw Dale Watkins come out to play, gave Cheltenham a fighting
chance. He quickly made a difference as the United defence was breached
and he fired a shot at Andy Quy. Quy blocked the shot but failed to hold
it, parrying it away, but Jason Eaton reached it before the defence and
he belted it into the back of the net.
Hereford fought on though and with there best run in years just
waiting to be extended they created a further chance just 6 minutes
later when a scramble in the Cheltenham area fell free to Chris
Hargreaves he had little troubling in finishing the job from 12 yards
out.
The only downside to the game is that you have to wonder where this
sort of form has been all season as United clearly deserved the victory
and were justly awarded it.