Back the Bulls to the League

This article comes from the Times by George Rae.

A PLACE in the Football League is up for grabs when Hereford United and Halifax Town meet in the Conference play-off final at The Walkers Stadium on Saturday. The game, which kicks off at 5.30pm, is live on Sky.

Hereford, who finished the regular season as runners-up to Accrington, two places and five points above Halifax, have fallen at the semi-final stage in the play-offs the past two years but are well equipped to triumph this time and look worthy favourites at a general 5-4.

The Bulls finished the season strongly, putting together an unbeaten seven-match sequence from April, and held their nerve well in their play-off semi-final with Morecambe, after drawing the first leg 1-1, triumphing 3-2 after extra time at Edgar Street.

Guy Ipoua was the hero there, coming off the bench to score the winner. With fellow forwards Adam Stansfield, Danny Carey-Bertram, Stuart Fleetwood and Andrew Williams competing for places, Hereford have plenty of attacking options.

Halifax, best-priced at 2-1 with Coral and Bet365, showed plenty of resolution when edging out Trophy winners Grays by an aggregate 5-4 in their play-off semi-final. However, their propensity to concede goals makes them vulnerable to a strikeforce of Hereford's calibre. The draw is a general 9-4.

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