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Bulls hold out against Lambs
Hereford United's two first half goals were enough to claim all three points in their Conference encounter against Tamworth this afternoon at Edgar Street. The Lambs rarely troubled United but for a fifthteen minute spell in the second half following the dismissal of skipper Tony James.
As expected, Graham Turner kept his winning side and only made one change to the subs bench. Fit again centre back Tom Smith was named in place of Andy Williams.
Hereford started the stronger and their first attempt resulted in the opening goal. Man of the match Tamika Mkandawire collected a long ball from the once again impressive Graham Hyde and won a corner on the right. Danny Williams swung it into the near post where Mkandawire was on hand to nod into the ground and the ball bounced into the net. Despite the massive presence of Matthew Redmile, Hereford's best chances were coming in the air. After fourteen minutes Mills headed Adam Stansfield's left wing cross wide at the far post.
The Bulls two striker's linked up well when Mills returned Stansfield's pass but 'keeper Ryan Price narrowly beat Stansfield to the through ball. Mills then struck a second long range effort over the bar as he spinned away from his marker before he doubled United's advantage. Two Tamworth players collided when challenging for the same ball as it fell to Williams on the right. One of the players remained on the ground, appearing to hold his head but the ref allowed the game to continue. Williams' pin point cross was headed into the top corner by Mill's for 2-0 after thirty one minutes.
David Brown had a good run and a shot wide from twenty yards as Hereford continued with their total domination. However, following a sequence of passes by Hereford Tony James misjudged a Mark Robinson pass and allowed Taylor to find the back of the net with an absolute screamer from fourty yards or so. Craig Mawson was well off his line and Taylor showed incredible vision to spot this, and executed the shot perfectly. The remaining seven minutes of the half were played out without much incident; the score at half time was 2-1.
Tamworth started the second period with a renewed confidence and started to attack a little more. A long ball was knocked down by Taylor and his striker partner Dean Curtis shot wide from twenty yards. Then came some hefty challenges, particulaly by Matt Redmile and his Tamworth team mates, and the referee risked loosing control of the game. It was not a player he sent off with about ten minutes of the half gone, but Tamworth boss Mark Cooper who had previously been warned about his conduct. Mr. Bob Desmond ordered Cooper away from the dugout.
Tony James caught Bob Taylor on the edge of the box as he attempted to clear the ball, but was beaten to it by the striker. After consulting his assistant, the referee showed a red card to the captain as he was judged to be the last man and a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box. The defensive wall did it's job though, and the ball was deflected for a corner. Graham Turner made a change then, Smith was bought on in defence and Brown was sacrificed. This change was shortly followed by Stansfield being replaced by Rob Purdie who will not be on the bench for much longer if he keeps up his current performaces.
Curtis carried the main threat to Mawson's goal for the Lambs; Simon Travis got in the way of his powerful goal bound effort before he smashed the frame of the goal from a very tight angle on the right. He was replaced soon after by James Francis and the massive Matt Redmile was sent up front as Tamworth looked to take advantage of their extra man. This was not succesful however, as United came back into the game and started to look the stronger again.
Purdie had an excellent run from inside his own half, skinning three players on the way, before Adie Smith made a good challenge as the last man. Purdie, Craig Stanley and Lee Mills combined well on the left flank and Purdie delivered a perfect cross for Williams to put the game beyond doubt. However, Williams who stretched a leg towards the ball was just inches away from turning it into the net. Hyde set Travis up on the right but he struck over from the edge of the box and Mills found Stanley unmarked in the area, but he sliced his volley wide.
Tamworth won a free kick in the second minute of five added at the end of the game. Redmile was pushed right on the edge of the box but once again Hereford's wall did its job as Scott Stamps hit the ball against them and won a corner. 'Keeper Price was up for the corner but it was caught by Mawson. He hammered the ball out of his hands goal bound but Smith was back to collect it in his own box.
Watched by a crowd of 2714, 151 away supporters, Hereford performed very well and had it not been for a touch of sloppy play that let Taylor equalise and had James not been sent off, United could well have matched the score line that they beat Caney Island by last week. The home players worked their socks off and got the result they deserved. The gap has now been closed on Carlisle who lost at York today, but Barnet remain top after a good 3-2 win at Aldershot.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, Robinson, James, Mkandawire, Brown, Hyde, Stanley, Williams, Stansfield, Mills. Subs: Smith, Scott, Pitman, Purdie, Carey-Bertram.
TFC: Price, Smith, Culkin, Redmile, Ebdon, Curtis, Simpson, Stamps, Turner, Robinson, Taylor, Subs: Francis, Smith, Cooper, Storer, Whitman
