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Hereford United's first derby game of the season ended Chester City's 100% record following a well earned 2-0 victory at Edgar Street this afternoon. Both goals came in the second half after a tactical change by Graham Turner and now United are level on points with City after three games.
Changes were made to United's side as captain Tamika Mkandawire was absent with a head injury sustained against Lincoln. Dean Beckwith took his place not only in the side but as skipper also. Martyn Giles was also called into the starting eleven and their was no place for Gareth Sheldon. Richard Rose moved into midfield, with Rob Purdie being forced out wide.
Hereford's game was again cautious from the start and a direct style was adapted for the most part of the first half. Chester's typically physical approach appeared the more dangerous in the first forty five minutes, as they enjoyed the better of the exchanges. However, Stuart Fleetwood's electric pace was troublesome all afternoon for the tall City centre halves, and it was the young Welshman who got in a cross for Andy Williams to head back towards Tim Sills, who was only denied by the recovering toes of a defender.
Beckwith was called into action at the other end as he had to hook clear a low drive from Jon Walters a minute before Drewe Broughton, formerly of Kidderminster Harriers, headed a deep cross inches wide of the up-right. The closest United came to opening the scoring was when Purdie returned his own free kick back into the box, where the ball bounced, evading 'keeper John Danby, and Sills got his head to it, only to see it cleared behind for a corner.
A half-hearted clearance from Williams following a corner on the left fell to Jamie Hand who smashed a volley over Scott Tynan's cross bar before Richard Rose had to track back well to deny Hand again, as he made a quick burst into the Hereford box. Giles then had to be on hand to get a good block on Dean Bennett's drive, as Chester finished the half strongly.
Ricky Ravenhill was introduced a minute after the interval and had a lively opening. Involved immediately, he left Williams and Simon Travis for dead and his cross-come-shot rebounded off the bar. Defender David Artell toed a shot over before, after a break down the left from the visitors, the ball made its way to Stephen Vaughan on the right of the box, but his driven effort was held well by Tynan.
The Bulls' fortunes changed along with a timely tactical change, which saw them deploy 3-5-2 formation. Giles moved in to make a back three and Travis acted as a wing back with Purdie. Williams was playing more central and his performance improved greatly. Fleetwood was benefitting from the changes immediately as he raced onto a Rose pass, but could only find the side netting. Fleetwood had an even better chance minutes later when he was released by strike partner Sills, but Danby saved well.
Fleetwood didn't stop trying though, and was eventually rewarded, despite the opportunity coming a bit out of the blue - with a little help from Blues defender Artell. Williams was able to help on a long ball, which Artell hesistated in attacking, allowing Fleetwood to speed in and take the ball around him, before beating an on-rushing Danby with a low shot.
Just two minutes later, and United had doubled their advantage. Man of the Match Fleetwood was again involved, as he got the assist for Rose. Purdie had began the move with a ball into Fleetwood, who turned and ran at the Chester back line, before feeding Rose who'd made a run on the overlap. He had only Danby to beat, and did so with ease as the ball rolled into the far corner for 2-0, with seventeen minutes remaining.
Hereford had control of the game from then on and could have added a third when Fleetwood, again, fed Travis on the overlap, but he blasted his shot over the bar from fifthteen yards.
Six points from a possible nine will be seen as a good return by Bulls fans, and they will be particularly pleased to have beaten rivals Chester, and to have also ended their perfect start of the season. The crowd of 3,834 (including 407 away) could still tell though that United have work to do, as they were second best for the first half, and only improved when the formation was changed. It will be interesting to see if United adapt 3-5-2 from the start when they travel to Barnet next Saturday.
HUFC: Tynan, Travis, Gulliver, Beckwith, Giles, Williams, Rose, Ferrell, Purdie, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Lewis, Wallis, Connell, McClenahan, Osborn.
CCFC: Danby, Linwood, Westwood, Artell, Stephen Vaughan, Bennett, Martinez, Hand, Wilson, Broughton, Walters. Subs: Marples, Allen, McSporran, Ravenhill, Blundell.
