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Hereford United suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Lincoln City at Edgar Street this evening. Lincoln, defeated in last seasons League Two play offs, claimed all three points in a 2-1 victory having weathered a late storm by the hosts.
United made two expected changes from their opening day success with loan signing Scott Tynan filling in for the injured Wayne Brown and Phil Gulliver deputising for Dean Beckwith.
Much like last Saturday, The Bulls' opponents had the better of the chances early on, although the hosts did see more of their oppositions goal. Mark Stallard had hit a snap shot wide before the scoring was opened after eleven minutes. Hereford allowed him too much time on the edge of the box and he took full advantage by chipping a flat-footed Tynan in the Hereford goal.
Stallard was again close just minutes after, but this time Tynan was out well to deny the attacker lobbing in a second, having latched onto Ryan Amoo's ball in. At the other end, Tim Sills was making life difficult for Alan Marriot in the Imp's goal. Sills was up well and got a powerful header on Simon Travis' cross, but Marriot saved in some style. And it turned out to be an important save, as The Imps doubled their lead just before the half hour mark. This time a good move saw the ball played out to the left where Jamie Forrester beat Travis and delivered a cross to Stallard, who headed in beyond the reach of debutant Tynan.
Sills was again dangerous twice more before the break but was denied on both occasions by top quality saves. First his header from Andy Williams' delivery was clawed out of the top corner, and then Marriot was down well to save a low shot from close range.
Stallard almost completed a hat trick before the break, but was denied by the post as he headed Amoo's cross from the bye line. Tynan was lucky to stay on the pitch as just before the half time whistle he felled a break away Lincoln attacker just outside of his penalty area, and was yellow carded, but made amends by tipping the resulting free kick around the post.
No changes were made at the interval, and Lincoln threatened less in the second period, probably because they were happy to sit on their lead. They still though dominated the midfield and looked dangerous on the counter attack.
Williams almost had his side back in the game when man of the match Sills knocked on a throw in, but his instinctive volley flashed over the cross bar, while Lincoln went even closer at the other end, hitting the wood work once again - this time through Forrester. A corner then flew across the Hereford goal face and inches wide of the far post before Graham Turner made his first change, with around twenty minutes to go. Gareth Sheldon, unimpressive on the left, was replaced by Martyn Giles and Turner went for a 3-4-3 formation as Alan Connel took Gulliver's place just minutes later.
Immediately before the first changeJeff Hughes had burst into the box and fired wide for the visitors and between the two changes Stuart Fleetwood curled a shot from twenty yards beyond the far post. However, the changes had an almost immediate impact as Sills was fouled in the box and Rob Purdie hammered in the penalty to make it 2-1.
Things got much better for Hereford from then on as they enjoyed some good chances at the end of the game. The ball was turned into the net by Connel after Richard Rose had headed back across goal, but he was judged off side and the home sides wild celebrations were cancelled. Fleetwood had the best of the remaining chances, as he forced another top class save from Marriot with a powerful shot on the turn.
One win and one defeat is how the start of Hereford's league campaign has gone, but in both games they have, for the most parts, been second best. It was again evident in this evenings game that the midfield needs work on, and maybe an addition or two is needed to the squad. That said, The Bulls were a tad unlucky not to get a point from the game given the chances they had, but The Imps will also be thinking they could have scored a couple more as well.
However, The last time United won on the first day of the season and lost the second (2-1 to Cambridge United last season) they were promoted!
HUFC: Tynan, Travis, Mkandawire, Gulliver, Rose, Sheldon, Ferrell, Purdie, Williams, Fleetwood, Sills. Subs: McClenahan, Harrison, Connel, Giles, Wallis.
LCFC: Marriot, Amoo, Beevers, Moses, Mayo, Hughes, Morgan, Kerr, Frecklington, Forrester, Stallard. Subs: Rayner, Semple, Cryan, Birch, Gritton.
