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On a day when everything could have gone so well for Hereford United, it all went so badly. There were, undoubtedly, a couple of crucial points in the game where the balance was tipped towards the visitors, Kidderminster Harriers, firstly when Andy Ferrell was sent off and later on when Kiddy scored the only goal of the game, moments after Andy Williams had squandered a glorious chance to break the deadlock.
United, who had Daryl Taylor and Ryan Green back in the starting eleven, with Adam Stansfield returning on the bench, started on the back foot and Tony James had to be aware to head a looping header off the line early on. Harriers continued to press forwards and it was Gareth Sheldon who forced Wayne Brown into a low save after a long free kick had fallen at his feet. Moments later Sheldon turned provider with a low cross from the right, but nobody met it as it slid across the goal face.
Stuart Fleetwood had United's first effort, and perhaps should have done better with it. Rob Purdie broke from inside the Hereford half before finding Williams. Williams played the ball onto his strike partner Fleetwood, who past his marker Jon Newby, before placing the ball just wide of the far post when he had just 'keeper John Danby to beat. Johnny Mullins was next to threaten for the visitors; his header from a free kick forced Brown into a wonderful save before Tamika Mkandawire almost netted at the other end, also after a free kick. Alex Jeannin crossed and the skipper stormed in at the near post only to see his bullet header fly inches wide of the near post.
Immediately, at the other end, Kiddy had another good chance, in what was an entertaining first half, when Paul Smith nutmegged Jeannin on his way through to goal, but drilled wide of the far post from the edge of the box. Then, when things seemed to be going well for United, with news (at this point in the game) of Accrington Stanley losing at York City, Ferrell was dismissed after reacting angrily to a nasty challenge from Terry Fleming, which left Ferrell with a gashed leg. Ferrell was straight back up after the initial foul scrapping for the ball at Flemings feet, but the referee judged Ferrell to have aimed a stamp at Fleming. Ferrell received his marching orders while Fleming was booked, with ten minutes of the half remaining.
Johnny Harkness was then booked soon after, as he felled Daryl Taylor who'd beaten him for pace yet again before Luke Reynolds shot into the arms of Brown before the half time whistle was blown.
The game became scrappy after the restart and chances were few and far between. Daryl Burgess should have done better when he headed over a corner from a central position, but it took The Bulls around twenty minutes of the half to even get a shot away, as Jeannin blasted over a free kick from twenty five yards. Fleetwood, now playing on the left wing following Ferrell's red card, was replaced by Stansfield while Mark Yates, the Kiddy boss, withdrew Reynolds and sent on Lee Thompson. Stansfield almost made a difference with one of his first touches as he flicked a long ball from Jeannin onto Williams, who found himself free in the box, through on goal, with just Danby to beat. However, he couldn't compose himself and shot inches wide of the far post.
It was looking as though United wouldn't ever score, and matters were made worse as a moment later the deadlock was broken, in the seventy second minute. Michael Blackwood stormed down the middle of the park and found himself in some space thirty yards out. He cracked in a low shot that took a wicked deflection off Mkandawire, which totally wrong-footed Brown, and flew into the opposite corner that Brown had moved towards.
United didn't have a response to the goal, though they threw Jamie Pitman on to try and help the midfield, as Taylor was replaced. Reynolds forced Brown into another save, with a shot on the turn from the edge of the box, while Hereford's only chance of an equaliser came in injury time, when Pitman crossed to the near post for Williams, but his header was well over the bar.
News had already reached Edgar Street that Accy were 4-2 up at York by the full time whistle, leaving the Hereford fans in a crowd of 4,223, very dejected, while Kiddy fans (all 398 of them) were delirious at a rare win for their side, especially as it pretty much ends any slim title hopes that Bulls fans may have held before the game.
It's back to the drawing board for Hereford, as they put in a third successive poor performance. Maybe Dean Beckwith will return to the side, having missed the past three games, firstly through suspension and then as he couldn't regain his place - quite surprising as he has formed a very good partnership with Mkandawire.
HUFC: Brown, Green, James, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, Stanley, Ferrell, Taylor, Williams, Fleetwood. Subs: Beckwith, Mawson, Pitman, Nicolau, Stansfield.
KHFC: Danby, Harkness, Burgess, Newby, Mullins, Rea, Penn, Fleming, Blackwood, Sheldon, Reynolds. Subs: Lewis, Hurren, Sedgemore, Thompson, Russell.
