.jpg)
Hereford United were defeated 1-0 at Hucknall Town yesterday evening in the F.A. Trophy quarter final replay. A disappointing evening for the 166 travelling supporters, who offered plenty of vocal support, was capped off with the news that skipper Tony James now faces a spell on the sidelines, maybe the rest of the season, with suspected ankle ligament damage.
After the 2-2 draw at Edgar Street on Saturday, Graham Turner made a number of changes to his side. Mark Robinson, man of the match on Saturday, was demoted to the subs bench and Simon Travis took his place at left back. Graham Hyde was redrafted into the midfield to partner Jamie Pitman. Brian Smikle didn't travel and so Craig Stanley took to the wing for the game and Turner also decided on a complete change of strike force. Rob Purdie and Danny Carey-Bertram found themselves on the bench with Adam Stansfield and Lee Mills being the preferred partnership.
The early stages of the contest saw Craig Mawson make an easy save at his near post and Danny Williams having a shot deflected away at the other end before either side really made an impression. Stansfield met a free kick from deep with a volley, but it didn't trouble the 'keeper. Stanley and Danny Williams combined well on the right to create the best chance yet. Stanley's whipped cross was headed to the edge of the box where Pitman volleyed well, but it was pushed behind for a corner.
Ryan Green then played a good ball into the feet of Stansfield, who linked up well his strike partner, but Mill's shot flew inches over the bar. Williams then crossed a free kick but Stansfield, who met it with his head at the far post, directed it wide. Hucknall enjoyed their best spell of the game after this, and were more clinical than United had been. Good work down the left flank resulted in a cross to the middle, where Mark Smith headed well but was denied by a good diving save.
The left wing was where the hosts were enjoying most success and it was no suprise when they attacked again with little more than half an hour gone. Dean Barrick raced onto Andy Todds ball into the box but was denied by the onrushing Mawson. However the ball broke to Daniel Bacon, but Tamika Mkandawire blocked his shot on the line. Bacon was given a second chance as the ball rebounded kindly and this time he made no mistake from six yards out.
Stansfield almost hit the Bulls back level terms immediately, but his shot hit the side netting and Williams swung a powerful free kick into the arms of the goalie before the half time whistle sounded. Mkandawire saved Hereford from blushes, after Smith had sprinted through the defence, by making a superb last ditch challenge. With ten minutes of the half gone James was involved in a challenge with Gary Ricketts in which he came off the worst and had to be stretchered off and so Andy Tretton replaced him.
Travis played a one-two with Stanley before a cleared the ball against Travis. It fell kindly to Mills but his well hit twenty five yard effort was easy for the goalkeeper. The Bulls worked a neat throw in move, but Stanley was just too far adrift of Stansfield fired cross to the far post. Williams hit what originally seemed a poor corner, but it fell to Hyde on the edge of the box and he shot a dipping volley towards the top corner but the keeper forced it behind.
Carey-Bertram replaced Stansfield in the attack as Hereford continued to press and he went close with his first touches, as his shot from well outside of the area went just over the bar. For the final twenty minutes the Bulls pressured the Hucknall goal but rarely caused any real threat. Stanley's cross bounced inches wide of the far post. Hyde shot wide once again from a similar position as before but United couldn't break down the Town's defence.
The fans who had made the journey and supported throughout were left disappointed and many questioning the tactics that were used. The "long ball" seemed to be in operation far too often and it was obviously favouring the Hucknall defenders. It would seem that with Lee Mills in the attack, the rest of the side think they can lump the ball forward to him and he will win it everytime; as we have seen on many occassions this is not the case though. Some of Hereford's best chances were made when the ball was played along the ground, on what was a good surface. It was wondered why Stansfield was replaced and not Mills, as the latter appears to encourage the long ball tactic.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Green, James, Mkandawire, Travis, Stanley, Hyde, Pitman, Williams, Mills, Stansfield. Subs: Robinson, Tretton, Lewis, Carey-Bertram, Purdie.
