Report from the Times

This slightly edited report comes from this morning's Times.

Misfortune hampers Hereford by Mark Venables

GRAHAM TURNER, THE Hereford United manager, must be wondering who he has offended after the misfortune his team endured on Saturday.

It was bad enough that they let two points slip away, with a dubious penalty and what appeared a good goal ruled out for offside, allowing Accrington Stanley to stretch their Nationwide Conference lead to 13 points. But of more concern will be the horrendous facial injury suffered by Adam Stansfield and the dismissal of Alex Jeannin, which will lead to the full back missing at least four matches.

Stuart Fleetwood gave Hereford the lead after 15 minutes, slotting past Richard McKinney after a back-heel from Nicky Nicolau. But within three minutes Canvey Island were level, Neil Gregory converting a penalty after the assistant referee had spotted an infringement by Tamika Mkandawire. "The penalty was innocuous," Turner said.

Stansfield was floored on 38 minutes by what Turner called a "reckless challenge" from John Kennedy. The striker was carried off and is expected to have an operation for a depressed fracture to his cheekbone and damage to his eye socket. Stansfield missed most of the early part of the season with a hamstring injury and is no stranger to serious injury in his five years in the Conference; he suffered a serious broken leg in the first match of Yeovil Town's championship winning season in 2002.

Jeannin added to Turner's woes. Having received a yellow card for a mistimed tackle, he vented his fury at Dean Whitestone, the referee, until the official brandished red. "I have no sympathy," Turner said.

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