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It's back to 2004 for today's look back.
Bulls keep league run going
Hereford United defeated Farnborough Town in the first game of the season 3-1 at Edgar Street this afternoon. 3,644 turned up to see Hereford continue their great run of results from the end of last season, which now stretches to an amazing twelve straight victories. Debuts were handed to Johnathan Gould, Mark Robinson, Craig Stanley, Adam Stansfield and Lee Mills who started on the subs bench. Ryan Green missed out through injury as did Danny Carey-Bertram.
Gould didn't impress his new fans straight away. In only the first minute a misunderstanding between Andy Tretton and him led to a rushed clearance and a corner for Boro. Stanley cleared for another corner but nothing was made of it. It took fourteen minutes for Hereford to get a decent shot away, Brown received a cross from Travis and hit a shot on the turn that was gathered easily by Chris Holloway in goal for Farnborough.
The 120 away fans were delighted in the twentieth minute when Tony James was penalised by the referee for a foul on Lloyd Blackman in the penalty area. Blackman stepped up only to see his spot kick palmed away by Gould much to the delight of the United fans. The penalty was the best chance of the half that failed to create many clear goalscoring opportunites for either side. Tamika Mkandawire headed over before Travis blazed a half volley over from the edge of the area as the first half ended 0-0.
The Bulls set the tone for the second half by netting within two minutes of the restart. Danny Williams swung in a free kick that fell to Pitman. He was tripped in the area by a defender and Hereford were awarded a penalty from which skipper Tony James made no mistake powering low to the 'keepers left. Four minutes later United doubled their lead following a superb move. David Brown found Stanley on the left with a neat pass from the halfway line. Stanley sprinted down the flank and delivered a brilliant cross for Simon Travis who powered a volley past the helpless Holloway from a tight angle.
Farnborough were unlucky not to grab one back as Tony Taggart volleyed inches over. Dean Austin made his first change replacing Paul Harkness with Chaaban. Blackburn then shot wide from twelve yards as Boro looked for a way back into the game, but Hereford's defence of Mkandawire James and man of the match Tretton looked too strong. Brown and Stansfield combined well to create and opening for Brown, but his low left footed shot was wide of the far post.
Rob Purdie was subbed on for Williams with just under fifteen minutes to go and this change was soon followed by the introduction of Mills, who has signed a one year deal at Edgar Street. Brown won the Bulls a corner with ten minutes to go after good work by Purdie, but Mkandawire headed over.
Mills put the result beyond doubt in the eight fourth minute with a powerful header from a Robinson free kick that delighted the home supporters but Farnborough did manage to grab a consolation goal in injury time when Blackburn got one on one with Gould and calmly tucked the ball into the bottom corner for 3-1.
Hereford performed well and look set to mount another challenge for promotion. The result will give the side plenty of confidence going into what may be a difficult game next Tuesday evening at Crawley Town who will still be on a high following their promotion and their 2-1 victory at Leigh RMI this afternoon.
HUFC: Gould, Travis, Tretton (motm), James (c), Robinson, Stanley, D Williams, Pitman, Stansfield, Brown. Subs: Mills, Scott, Smith, A Williams, Purdie
FTFC: Holloway , Charles , Townsend , Theo , Rooney , Mulhern , Holloway , Taggart , Hughes , Harkness , Blackman Subs: Osborn , Miles , Allen-Page , Chaaban , Belaid
Mills signs season-long deal
Lee Mills has signed a season long deal at Edgar Street. Although he only joined the club last Tuesday, Graham Turner has put his trust in him to do the business.
Mills repayed his new employers by scoring on his debut for the Bulls after coming on as a substitute.
Interviewed on BBC Hereford and Worcester, Mills said that things had been difficult for him since the problems at Telford.
"I've had quite a lot of teams enquire but nobody had come up with a firm offer or made me feel welcome.
"But Graham gave me a ring about two weeks ago and I left it for a while but as nothing had come in I thought there's worse places I could be than Hereford so I plumped for it.
"I'm glad to be here and hope things will improve for me.
"I've signed for a year. So I've got twelve months to get my fitness right. I want to see the season through with Hereford and hopefully get them back into the Football League."