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| Andy Williams opening the scoring |
Hereford look to be getting their season back on track with an assured 2-0 win over a frustrating Alfreton Town side at Edgar Street.
Having lost four of their opening five games of the Enterprise National League North season, three points against Billy Heath's physical side lifted the Bulls out of the bottom four with strong performances all round.
Two goals from Andy Williams - who's fitness and ability to manage himself as a 39-year-old cannot be called into question - gave the Bulls as a boost ahead of Bedford visiting Edgar Street on Tuesday.
Two changes to the Bulls side that lost 1-0 at Radcliffe on bank holiday Monday saw Williams start up-front ahead of the unfit Remaye Campbell, with West Brom loanee Michael Parker replacing Matt Preston in the heart of defence.
At a wet and blustery Edgar Street, Hereford, attacking the Blackfriars End in the first half, immediately looked comfortable in possession and patiently tried to build attacks by creating space - a far cry from the hopeless long balls to a lone striker previously deployed.
The first chance of the game fell to Willo in the 9th minute a smart ball over the defence from Lewis Hudson saw him test George Willis with an acrobatic shot with his back to goal.
Not perturbed, seven minutes later Willo did get the better of Willis as he opened the scoring. Having been teed up on the edge of the area, a John Mills-style chop saw him beat his man before curling a sublime ball into the left-hand side of the net, far out of reach of the fingertips of Willis.
Buoyed by the early goal in the right goal for a change, the Bulls looked to build on their lead. They looked comfortable absorbing pressure, with Siya Ligendza overhitting a cross after bursting forward and Jack Leckie blazing his rash shot from range over the bar, the Bulls continued pressing for a second.
While no clear-cut chances followed for Paul Caddis's men in what was a relatively scrappy half against a side devoid of any capability to play attractive football, Max Hunt did hve an effort from a corner.
But after a headed clearance fell to his feet on the edge of the 18-yard box, he dragged his effort wide of Theo Richardson's goal. In the 38th minute he could - and should - have equalised with a powerful strike denied by a vital Aaron Skinner block. Moments later Ligendza also went close after being picked out by Billy Fewster, but the shot was wide.
Half time: Hereford 1 - Alfreton Town 0
Having looked the better of the two sides in the first half, with Lawson D'Ath - ably supported by Matt Richards - pulling the strings in midfield and playing neat, passing football bearing fruit, the theme continued after the break.
A Hereford corner turned behind by William Fewster five minutes after the restart saw the Bulls double their lead from the second. A less-than-glamourous goal from Omari Sterling-James's corner saw Williams direct the ball past Williams with his backside, sending the home side into raptures.
With the referee starting to brandish cards for late challenges and players being pulled to the floor, Leckie was giving his marching orders for a second bookable offence with Sterling-James left in a crumpled heap.
The ever creative Sterling-James, who perhaps is guilty of not firing on all cylinders at times this season, combined superbly with I-Lani Edwards - but the eventual powerful shot from Aston Villa loanee was clawed away by Willis.
Two more shots from Edwards, the first heading for the top corner only to be punched clear by Willis, and the second from an acute angle on the left going agonisingly wide with the goal gaping, should've have seen him get his name on the scoresheet but it wasn't to be.
With both sides ringing the changes, including a cameo for assistant manager Adam Rooney replacing Andy Williams in the dying stages, the Lilywhites saw the game out having been unfazed and not stifled by Alfreton's slow, long-ball approach - something which never changed even when 2-0 down.
Full time: Hereford 2 - Alfreton Town 0
Attendance: 2,313 (39 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Andy Williams
All in all, a much better performance from the Bulls. A win would have been enough to start restoring some good feeling around Edgar Street, but to do it with such a pleasing performance where actual football was played in a game involving Alfreton meant home fans left with a smile on their face. It was an important match to help the likes of Eno Nto get more minutes in their legs, but Hereford played like a team and reaped the rewards.
A special mention must go to Parker who, despite only joining the Bulls on Friday, influenced the game with his calm, measured performance in defence where he was confident and keen to play the ball out from the back, frustrating Alfreton's forwards. A man of the match-worthy performance, had it not been for Willo's brace.
Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Howkins, Parker, Hudson, D'Ath (Quansah 88'), Richards (Preston 90+6'), Sterling-James, Edwards, Nto (Bitemo 86'), Williams (Rooney 90+2').
Subs not used: Lewis, Roberts, Campbell.
Alfreton: Willis, Leckie, Anson, Hunt, Newall (Solademi 80'), Perritt, Cantrill, Lund (German 86'), Ligendza (Salmon 76'), Dodoo (Reresford 49'), Fewster (Pennant 72').
Subs not used: McDonagh, Wright.