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A look back to December 13th 2008. Hereford were playing in Division One and the visitors to Edgar Street that day were Hartlepool.
Bulls fail to take points
Hereford United failed to overcome Hartlepool United at Edgar Street this afternoon with the game ending 1-1. The first-half was dominated by the home side yet Steve Guinan's close-range finish was all The Bulls had to show for this and they were punished in the second period for failing to take their chances when Dean Beckwith headed into his own net.
Following on from the first away win of the season at Colchester last weekend, Graham Turner made two changes with Craig Samson replacing the injured Chris Weale. Richard Rose was also re-introduced to the starting-line up with Richard Jackson making way. The visitors were hit by a number of injuries with star players James Brown and Joel Porter out but Coventry loanee Kevin Kyle started up front on his own.
Hereford made a flying start to the game when Ben Smith sent a ball over Richie Humphreys in the left-back position and Lionel Ainsworth raced on to it, before firing goalwards with only a slight touch from 'keeper Jan Budtz denying the Watford winger a second goal in as many games. Ainsworth was the main threat and a cross from the right allowed Guinan to challenge in the air before at the second attempt, an acrobatical effort was clawed around the post by Budtz. At the other end, the tricky Matty Robson, playing in a similar fashion to Matty Done, crossed from the left but Kyle's header didn't trouble Samson. Guinan's vision saw him chip a pass to strike partner Andy Williams who in turn set up Done but the Welsh winger's low drilled effort was inches past the far post.
Hesitancy from Samson saw a Robson cross challenged by Kyle, beating both Beckwith and Joshua Gowling in the process but again, the big man's head failed to hit the target. The first goal of the afternoon was scored just before the 20 minute mark with Toumani Diagouraga starting the move in centre of the park, finding Ainsworth on the right. The loanee crossed into the danger area where Guinan was waiting and although his first-effort was sliced, he made no mistake when the ball fell back to him by poking it past Budtz. The veteran should have doubled his tally after fine work from Ainsworth saw the winger skin three players before feeding a pass to Guinan, who steadied himself but couldn't fire past Budtz who stood strong and blocked with his legs. Gowling headed into the body of Budtz from a Done corner late on in the half as Hereford took the narrow lead into the half-time break.
Hartlepool came out of the blocks quickly in the second-half with Robson threatening firstly seeing his strike blocked by Gowling from 25 yards before moments later he tried his luck with his right-foot and went close as the ball fell just past the far post. As if Hereford hadn't been warned about Robson's ability, he collected the ball inside the area and span before crossing into an area where defenders have nightmares about; under the challenge of two strikers, Beckwith tried to head the ball out for a corner but could only find the back of his own net to level up proceedings. It was a big blow for Hereford who had been so dominant in the first-half and they looked for a quick response, coming close through Ainsworth. The wide-man was found by a switch from Done and a neat flick past Humphreys allowed him to fire goalwards but his strike hit the side-netting.
At the other end, the hard-working Ben Clark skimmed a low long ranger past Samson's post whilst an eagerness from the Scottish 'keeper to keep the game flowing nearly resulted in a goal for Hartlepool; Samson's quick goal-kick put Rose under pressure and he was tackled by Robson who ran directly towards goal before powerfully shooting but Samson redeemed himself with a strong hand to deny him. Kris Taylor wasted a free-kick in a useful position firing into the Blackfriars End. David Foley took to the field with Michael Mackay making way as Hartlepool gave Kyle a different strike partner. The former Sunderland man forced Samson to make a diving save after a neat touch before turning and shooting goalwards whilst Samson also denied Michael Nelson after the defender was given a free-header from a corner but directed it straight at the 'keeper.
Diagouraga right-foot shot was held by Budtz in a rare Bulls' attack but it was still Hartlepool who kept threatening with Robson again dangerous shooting past the post after a strong-run, whilst minutes later, following the introduction of Jamie McCunnie in place of Antony Sweeney, a cross from Robson found Gary Liddle free but his left-foot shot was held by Samson. A chorus of boos rang around Edgar Street as Clint Easton replaced Diagouraga, who was struggling with a groin injury whilst Andy Monkhouse replaced Clark. Monkhouse nearly made an instant impact when he volleyed over from inside the box after Kyle had won a flick. Guinan did well to win the ball inside the Pools' half before he took on a snapshot from 30 yards which had Budtz scrambling but was relatively harmless, falling wide. In the final moments, Foley forced Samson to push a powerful strike away but the ball wasn't cleared fully and it again made its way to Foley with the sub this time volleying wide of goal.
It was a game of two halves, with the first dominated by Hereford and the second dominated by Hartlepool. At the end of the game, a draw seems a fair result with both sides having many opportunities to score. Ainsworth looked dangerous, especially in the first-half although fellow winger Done must be given credit, playing very well despite having a sickness bug. The Bulls will be annoyed that they couldn't put the game to bed in the first-half and may see it as 'two points lost'; they'll do their best to make up for this next Saturday when United visit Huddersfield.
Hereford: Samson, Rose, Beckwith, Gowling, Taylor, Ainsworth, Diagouraga (Easton), Smith, Done, Guinan, Williams.
Subs Not Used: Broadhurst, Gwynne, Hudson-Odoi, Chadwick.
Hartlepool: Budtz, Sweeney (McCunnie), Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Liddle, Rowell, Clark (Monkhouse), Robson, Mackay (Foley), Kyle.
Subs Not Used: Power, Cook.
Attendance: 2490, (109 from Hartlepool)
Final Score: Hereford United 1-1 Hartlepool United
Managers Reaction after Today's Game
Firstly Graham Turner for Hereford:
"I
thought we had a very good first half. I thought we should have gone in
more than the one goal in the lead," Turner told BBC Hereford and
Worcester.
"We paid heavily for a real sloppy start in the second half.
"In
the end we settled in for a point because they were on top and might
have scored but I thought the first half was extremely encouraging given
all our problems.
"I think Dean has just apologised to the rest
of the lads (about the own goal. It was one which he headed into the
back of his own net. He tried to get it over the bar. But we should have
got it away."
Turner also mentioned keeper Craig Samson.
"His
handling was very good. His kicking wasn't bad. One or two difficult
ones. He can be satified with the way he has performed.
I think
it was difficult to come in after the goalkeepers we have lost. He's
been second choice to Matt Murray and Chris Weale and he must have been
quite aggreived about that but I think he's done very well"
Secondly Danny Wilson for Hartlepool:
"I
thought we created enough chances to win the game and if we had been a
bit more clinical with them, we would have," Wilson told his Official
Website.
"However, we can't be too disappointed with it because
there were quite a few players out there suffering with the effects of
the bug we've had here - I thought their efforts were fantastic."
Diagouraga has Groin Problem
Hereford
United's midfielder Toumani Diagouraga has a groin problem and had to
be subbed late in this afternoon's game at Edgar Street. Clint Easton
took his place but received some boos from certain sections of the crowd
as he took the field probably because of his alleged involvement in the
'pub incident' just over two weeks ago.
It wasn't manager Graham Turner's intention to have to sub Diagouraga as he explained to BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"Toumi
was struggling with a groin problem. Eventually he had to come off. He
couldn't sprint. I thought he was doing ever so well. It's a blow and we
just hope he's not going to be out for any length of time," said
Turner.
"Matt Done has got off his sickbed to play and I thought
did extremely well to stick out for ninety minutes. I was just in the
process of bringing him off when Toumani indicated that he couldn't
carry on."
Ben Smith commented about the booing of Clint Easton.
"I'm
personally really disappointed with that (the reception given to
Easton) because I'd like to know if people actually know what they are
booing about," Smith told BBC Hereford and Worcester.
"There was
obviously an incident a couple of weeks ago but I think it's a lot of
gossip and a lot of heresay and how much truth people actually know I'm
not so sure.
"We're in a bad situation at the moment, we need everyone to help us out including the supporters.
"If
you look at some of our relegation rivals, if they've hearing that our
own players are being booed they will probably be licking their lips.
"Clint has made a real big impact at this club. I think he deserves a bit better than that.
"The
people who were there will know (what went on) but how many were
actually there who were booing today. We've been told what happened. The
Gaffer is obviously not happy about the situation but he knows that
nothing really untoward went on. The sort of thing that goes on up and
down the country every night of the week.
"May be it was a little bit of poor judgement by the lads but nothing they deserved to get given that reception for."