A look back to August 31 2002 and a Hereford victory at Nuneaton.
Three goals seal
third win
Nuneaton
Borough 0 - 3 Hereford United
Hereford returned to winning ways against
Nuneaton Borough at Manor Park in front of 1,332, with
around 300 supporting the Bulls. The starting line up showed one change
from the game against Morecambe which saw Sawyer replaced
by Parry in midfield and John Grant, making his first
start for Hereford, replacing Parry up front.
It was Hereford who started the brighter attacking down the slope towards the Cock and Bear stand with Rose going close with two shots inside the first four minutes. But it was Boro who should taken the lead when a free header at the back post was put across the Hereford goal, instead of on target. Then it was Hereford’s turn to go close as Danny Williams saw his deflected free kick come back of the Nuneaton bar, before Nuneaton four minutes later wasted a chance to take the lead.
This was an end to end game and it was Parry turn to see his effort blocked on the goal line by Terry Angus, but Guinan should have scored earlier in the move yet he was slow to react. After this Nuneaton at a had spell of pressure where they had a shot deflected just wide for a corner and then Clarkson wasted yet another chance as the ball fell to him, only for him to shoot at Baker. As Nuneaton looked to be getting on top a series of Hereford corners brought about two chances for the Bulls, at the end of the first half. As first Clarke had a shot from sixteen yards saved and Grant, played in by Guinan, ran through the Nuneaton defence only to place his shot onto the bar from six yards out!
The second half took time to get going before Guinan got his first goal for Hereford as he turned in a Rose free kick from the right wing, after eight minutes. Nuneaton were quick to respond bring two saves out of Baker in a minute, first from eight and then twenty yards. Guinan was again the man involved as Danny Williams and John Grant combined well to set up a chance for Guinan to force a save out of Hodgson in the Nuneaton goal. A repeat of Guinan forcing a save out of Hodgson resulted in Pitman heading home his fourth goal of the season from the rebound in the 57th minute. Then four minutes later Parry finished off the scoring spree for the Bull as he slotted home from sixteen yards after good work by Grant.
The game fizzled out a bit with neither side creating much and both sides making two subs each. For Hereford Purdie came on for Grant with twenty minutes remaining and then Voice on for Guinan with eight minute left. Rose wasn't the only Hereford to show any danger as he cracked in three of his thirty yard drives forcing Hodgson to save two of them. Nuneaton did force Baker into a point blank save from Jones’s shot, after a dangerous cross from the left and Purdie missed a one on one just seconds before the final whistle for Hereford.
This was an impressive Hereford display, helped by both sides willing to attack and besides the 10 minute scoring spree by United it was a fairly even contest. Now Hereford have over a week to prepare for the Woking game live on Sky.
It was Hereford who started the brighter attacking down the slope towards the Cock and Bear stand with Rose going close with two shots inside the first four minutes. But it was Boro who should taken the lead when a free header at the back post was put across the Hereford goal, instead of on target. Then it was Hereford’s turn to go close as Danny Williams saw his deflected free kick come back of the Nuneaton bar, before Nuneaton four minutes later wasted a chance to take the lead.
This was an end to end game and it was Parry turn to see his effort blocked on the goal line by Terry Angus, but Guinan should have scored earlier in the move yet he was slow to react. After this Nuneaton at a had spell of pressure where they had a shot deflected just wide for a corner and then Clarkson wasted yet another chance as the ball fell to him, only for him to shoot at Baker. As Nuneaton looked to be getting on top a series of Hereford corners brought about two chances for the Bulls, at the end of the first half. As first Clarke had a shot from sixteen yards saved and Grant, played in by Guinan, ran through the Nuneaton defence only to place his shot onto the bar from six yards out!
The second half took time to get going before Guinan got his first goal for Hereford as he turned in a Rose free kick from the right wing, after eight minutes. Nuneaton were quick to respond bring two saves out of Baker in a minute, first from eight and then twenty yards. Guinan was again the man involved as Danny Williams and John Grant combined well to set up a chance for Guinan to force a save out of Hodgson in the Nuneaton goal. A repeat of Guinan forcing a save out of Hodgson resulted in Pitman heading home his fourth goal of the season from the rebound in the 57th minute. Then four minutes later Parry finished off the scoring spree for the Bull as he slotted home from sixteen yards after good work by Grant.
The game fizzled out a bit with neither side creating much and both sides making two subs each. For Hereford Purdie came on for Grant with twenty minutes remaining and then Voice on for Guinan with eight minute left. Rose wasn't the only Hereford to show any danger as he cracked in three of his thirty yard drives forcing Hodgson to save two of them. Nuneaton did force Baker into a point blank save from Jones’s shot, after a dangerous cross from the left and Purdie missed a one on one just seconds before the final whistle for Hereford.
This was an impressive Hereford display, helped by both sides willing to attack and besides the 10 minute scoring spree by United it was a fairly even contest. Now Hereford have over a week to prepare for the Woking game live on Sky.
Written by Tim Ward - 31st August 2002.
| Nuneaton Borough | Hereford United | |
| Steve Hodgson | Matt Baker | |
| Andy Thackeray | Matt Clarke | |
| Ian Clarkson (captain) | Michael Rose | |
| Jason Peake | Richard Teesdale | |
| Terry Angus | Ian Wright (captain) | |
| Jamie Squires | Tony James | |
| Barry Williams (off, 76 minutes) | Jamie Pitman | |
| John Turner (off, 64 minutes) | Danny Williams | |
| Gary Jones | Steve Guinan (off, 83 minutes) | |
| Mark Quayle | John Grant (off, 72 minutes) | |
| Lee Howey (off, 58 minutes) | Paul Parry | |
| Subs | Subs | |
| Andy Wheeler | Scott Voice (on, 83 minutes) | |
| Richard Lavery | Ken Griffiths | |
| Jason Harris (on, 64 minutes) | Rob Sawyer | |
| Michael Love (on, 58 minutes) | Richard O'Kelly | |
| Warren Peyton (on, 76 minutes) | Rob Purdie (on, 72 minutes) | |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards | |
| - | - | |
| Red cards | Red cards | |
| - | - | |
| Scorers | Scorers | |
| - | Steve Guinan (53 minutes) | |
| - | Jamie Pitman (57 minutes) | |
| Paul Parry (61 minutes) | ||
| Man of the Match | Michael Rose | |
| Attendance | 1354 | |
| Referee | Mr. G. Chapman |