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Hereford United took all three points as they stole a late victory against Crawley Town this afternoon and completed a double over The Red Devils for this season. Crawley, who started the day just outside of the relegation zone, are now in 20th place and Hereford, who started just outside of the play offs, are now in 4th position.
Graham Turner made a couple of changes from the side that beat Halifax in the F.A. Trophy last week as Wayne Brown returned as did Craig Stanley, who'd been suspended. He played on the right wing and there was no place for loanee Daryl Taylor who was injured. Guy Ipoua was also recalled to the bench following an injury, as was Tony James.
Although the game started slowly, United had the lead with just seven minutes gone. Adam Stansfield and Andy Williams had worked well in a small space on the edge of the box when the ball, off a Crawley defender, slipped into the box where Williams was ahead of the defence, and the youngster showed good composure to round Phil Smith in the Crawley goal and slot Hereford into the lead.
Crawley were looking suspect in defence but were also threatening going forward. Their industrious approach often troubled United and the strike pairing of Steve Burton and Chris Giles worked well. The visitors should have levelled things up when Dean Beckwith was unable to control a long ball forward, allowing Giles to sprint clear but he fired wide when one on one with Brown. Tamika Mkandawire almost doubled the lead when he connected with Alex Jeannin's corner on the volley, but his effort was blocked. Rob Purdie had hit the side netting for The Bulls before he was taken off with six minutes of the half remaining. Purdie had not been enjoying the best of games but it was later revealed that he'd been ill. Danny Carey-Bertram came on to play on the wing.
Crawley came out for the second half looking much better and more threatening than in the first half. They began to dominate in the midfield, where Jamie Pitman had excelled in the first period, with Danny Brown's tenacious work and the creativity of Tony Scully. It was the ever-threatening Giles though who came close from a corner which he met well but Brown managed to tip over the bar. He again went close soon after with his head again, but his time was denied by the cross bar.
The visitors continued to peg Hereford back and finally got their reward midway through the second half. Adam Stansfield, who seemed to be limping, was replaced by Guy Ipoua just after the hour mark and just two minutes later Crawley drew level. They'd almost scored a minute before following a counter attack, as they quickly cleared a Hereford corner but United managed to get just enough men back. The goal was a thunderous effort, as Danny Brown picked up a loose ball thirty yards from goal and unleashed a powerful effort which flashed into the bottom corner, leaving Wayne Brown standing helpless in the Hereford goal.
Hereford were triggered into action and produced their first real attacking incentives of the second half but Carey-Bertram's cross was just beyond Williams at the far post and it was Crawley who then enjoyed another good spell, in which Ben Judge saw a long range effort held by Brown. United again tried to get back into the game but didn't look like creating much and it looked as though this would not be their day. It was the visitors who looked more likely to go on to take all three points.
However, Stanley had won a free kick on the right which Jeannin delivered into the box but it was returned to him. While some were appealing for a hand ball decision, Jeannin had crossed again and Ipoua met it with his head, but it fell just the wrong side of the post. He made amends for the miss with just two minutes left on the clock. Carey-Bertram crossed from the left this time and Ipoua, from fifthteen yards out, managed somehow to get enough power from his header to loop the ball over Smith in front of a relieved Meadow End.
The Bulls almost put the result beyond any doubt in the fourth and final added minute when Pitman released Carey-Bertram on the left flank. He cut inside and raced through on goal, but his low effort was saved by the legs of the 'keeper. It didn't matter though, and United took the three points much to the delight of the majority of the crowd of 2,782, which included 57 away fans. The result extends Hereford's unbeaten run to six Conference games and nine games in all competitions.
HUFC: Brown, Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Jeannin, Purdie, Ferrell, Pitman, Stanley, Williams, Stansfield. Subs: Mawson, James, Evans, Carey-Bertram, Ipoua.
CTFC: Smith, Judge, Simpemba, Mendy, Opinel, Blackburn, Brown, Armstrong, Scully, Giles, Burton. Subs: Ward, Jenkins, Woozley, Ekoku, Whitman.
