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Tim Sills opened his Hereford United account with his first goal of the season this afternoon, as United overcame a Hartlepool United side full of confidence following a Championship scalp in the League Cup midweek. Of course, The Bulls themselves had recorded a similar victory in the Cup, and just one change was made to the sixteen, with Glyn Thompson making the bench for the first time in place of Karl Lewis.
The first half was a poor encounter as both sides came out of the blocks slowly, though it was the visitors who had the better of the opportunities. This was mostly down to the threat posed by Joel Porter, who crossed dangerously twice across the goalface, with Anthony Sweeney just inches away from meeting the first, and the second was mis-hit by Eifion Williams at the far post.
In between, the ball took a bounce back towards goal off Martyn Giles after a corner, and the big centre half Michael Nelson hooked over the bar. Stuart Fleetwood was unsuprisingly lively for the hosts, and it was his running that was troubling the Pool rearguard. He crossed for Andy Ferrell, who fired harmlessley wide in United's first attack, after twenty five minutes. The first shot on goal from Hereford came after thirty three minutes, and it resulted in the first goal of the game.
It was also the first time United got the ball down and passed it out wide, and it paid off as Sills netted with his head. The target man had a big part to play in the build up as well, as he collected and released the ball to Trent McClenahan, who crossed from deep. Sills' header was straight at Dimitrios Konstantopoulos in the Pool goal, but he somehow let the ball slip through his hands and into the back of the net. The visitors did come close to levelling things up before the interval, but Scott Tynan palmed Gary Liddle's low drive around the post.
The second half was a far more lively spectacle and six minutes into it, the referee signalled for a penalty to Hereford. It was Fleetwood's willingness to chase what seemed a lost cause that earned it as well, as he ran after an overhit pass from McClenahan. Nelson was covering as his 'keeper came to collect, but he lifted his arm to block off Fleetwood and a penalty was awarded. Rob Purdie stepped up clamly and placed the ball into the top corner in front of the Meadow End.
Just as it was on Tuesday, United had a two goal lead, but conceded almost immediately after. Just two minutes later, Hartlepool were back within a goal as James Brown, who'd been on the pitch no more than a minute netted with a low shot across Tynan. There was a decent call for handball though as the striker took the ball down, but Hereford gave their opponents far too much time to pick out the pass in the midfield (something that sounds familiar by now?).
Sills saw a tame effort easily held having received the ball from a Purdie free kick before Tamika Mkandawire fouled on the edge of the box, following Nelson's burst from defence, unopposed through the Hereford midfield, but Porter fired off target from the set piece. With seventy one minutes on the clock, fresh legs were obviously needed in the Hereford side, so Graham Turner replaced Fleetwood and Sills with Andy Williams and Alan Connell, giving an all new strike force. And it had an immediate impact.
Williams was dangerous during his spell, and linked up well with Connell from the start, as he trapped the ball and his strike partner hammered a shot inches wide with his first touch from twenty yards or so. The two were involved again a minute later, as Hereford sealed their 3-1 victory. Connell provided the ball to set Simon Travis away down the right, and he cut back from the by-line for Williams at the far post, who side footed into the back of the net.
Tynan was tested again this time by Lee Bullock as he pulled off the save of the game, fully outstretched he managed to push the long range effort over. Goalscorer Purdie made way for John Wallis, making his Hereford debut with ten minutes remaining, and Wallis did well in his short spell.
It was the two previous subs running the show by now though, as they again linked up to provide Richard Rose with a chance to make it four. Connell played Williams away on the left with a tricky flick, and was then on the edge of the box to dummy Williams' centre for Rose, whose effort was drilled just the wrong side of the post. Tynan was on hand to deny Hartlepool just one more time as Porter got in benhind Hereford's backline, as he rushed and and blocked the shot well.
Hereford showed once again they've undoubtedly got the quality to compete in this league, in front of a crowd of 3,156 (189 away), but the midfield showed up as a week link once again. Too much time on the ball allowed Hartlepool to get their goal, and have their most dangerous efforts on goal. Graham Turner's realised his side has much less time on the ball in this league, so it has to be asked why his side to give their opponents so much time on the ball. If United sort this problem though, they can look forward to a good league campaign.
HUFC: Tynan, McClenahan, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Giles, Purdie, Ferrell, Rose, Travis, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Gulliver, Thompson, Wallis, Connell, Williams.
HUFC: Konstantopoulos, Darren Williams, Liddle, Nelson, Brackstone, Eifion Williams, Bullock, Sweeney, Robson, Porter, Proctor .Subs: Provett, Clark, Humphreys, Strachan, Brown.
