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Bromsgrove Rovers 1 - 2 Hereford United
Due to technical problems, I have only published the match report, written by Tim Ward, here as yet.
Tuesday 30th July 2002 - (7.45pm) - Pre-season friendly match - Third time lucky for Hereford - Bromsgrove Rovers 1 - 2 Hereford United
Hereford recorded their first win at the third time of asking, at the expense of Bromsgrove Rovers, 2-1 in front of 316.
The starting line up saw six different names from the line up against Swindon, with Clarke, Griffiths, Teasdale, Perry, Garrity and Purdie replacing Baker, Wright, Pitman, Jones, Smith and Parry.
The game got off to a quick start with Josh Perry, the ex-WBA striker, shooting wide from sixteen yards when well placed. Soon after, Rovers took the lead when a nice passing move resulting in a shot well saved by Griffiths, but unfortunately the ball fell straight to defender Kevin Banner who tapped home.
It took time for Hereford to recover, and when they did Purdie, the new signing from Leicester City, had a shot saved. Before Steve Guigan, in the 14th minute, (previously called David Smith against Swindon!) slotted home, after an excellent chest down, to level up the score. He then almost repeated this feat only four minutes later, but this time Rovers’ keeper Chris Taylor made a good save.
Then it was Perry’s turn to force the keeper into a saved with a header at the back post, before a storming run by Rose down the left wing saw him put in an excellent cross to Guigan at the back post. Guigan could not finish off the good work slicing wide, in the 30th minute.
In the last ten minutes of the first half Perry twice and Danny Williams forced the Rovers’ keeper into three more saves.
The second half did not have the same amount of chances, Bromsgrove had two chances which were both fired wide. In the middle of the chances Hereford made four changes with Grant, Smith, Pitman and Parry coming on and it was Grant who got the winning goal. Richard Teasdale’s battling run down the right wing saw an excellent cross to the back post for Grant to smack into an empty net, and he also had the final chance of the match as he shot over when eighteen yards out.
The downside to the night was when midfielder Ben Smith was brought off with a suspected dislocated shoulder, and was taken away in an ambulance.
This wasn’t as impressive as the other friendly performances so far, but with all the trialists playing it was hard for the team to play fluidly. Now for Bristol City on Saturday...
Written by Tim Ward - 30th July 2002.
Scorers
Kevin Banner (4 minutes)
Steve Guinan (15 minutes)
John Grant (77 minutes)
Man of the Match - Tony James
Attendance -316
Referee - Mr. A. Smith (Worcestershire)
