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Hereford United enjoyed a successful return to the Football League after a nine-year absence at Edgeley Park this afternoon, as they overturned a strong Stockport County side. The two sides met in last years F.A. Cup at Edgar Street, but the scores were reveresed today as The Bulls claimed a perhaps lucky 2-0 victory on the first day of the League Two season.
United named debutants Richard Rose, Gareth Sheldon and Tim Sills in their starting eleven, and had new signings Paul Harrison, John Wallis, Alan Connell and Philip Gulliver on the bench.
Hereford began, not suprisingly, with a cautious approach and it was no surprise that County had the better of the opening exchanges. Glenn Murray threatened first as the Hereford defence at first struggled against a fast paced opposition, but his effort was hooked just wide before former Bull Michael Rose struck the post with a free kick, which was then turned over the bar by Keith Briggs.
United were looking nervous at this stage and the hosts were pleased to take full advantage, going close on several more occasions. Andy Williams had to clear a header off the line and Murray then went close again, forcing a low save from Wayne Brown from Michael Malcolm's cross. Hereford did go close moments before Murray's effort, when Tamika Mkandawire header froced a fine save from James Spencer.
Hereford's fortunes did change, but ironically it was after a forced change, as Dean Beckwith went off injured and Gulliver replaced him. Briggs had glanced another dangerous Malcolm centre wide before the deadlock was broken on thirty six minutes. Sills did his part in helping on a Sheldon throw in to Stuart Fleetwood, who dropped a shoulder before racing away from his man and towards goal, where he beat Spencer with a low drive from inside the box. The half finished at 1-0 to the visitors but, in all honesty, it was not deserved.
Hereford re-appeared after the break with a new pace about them, and it was needed if they were to have any say against what had been a superior Stockport side. Rob Purdie made a good break, linking up with Fleetwood, but his cross from the left was cut out. Hesistancy crept into the County defence though, allowing Purdie to steal in and fire inches wide from inside the penalty box.
County replied though through substitute Damien Allan, who'd been on the pitch little more than a minute before creeping in behind United's rear-guard and forcing another fine save from Brown. Purdie again came close to netting a Hereford second when Sills did well to keep the ball in play, but Purdie's goalbound effort was deflected inches over the bar. A minute before the hour mark though, The Bulls had bagged a second. Purdie swung in a corner and Mkandawire sailed in unmarked and thumped in a header from close range, in front of a delighted away following of over 1,000.
Hereford support at Stockport.
From then on though, Stockport got a hold on the game again and enjoyed most of the possession and several chances to get back in the game. Gareth Owen crashed a header from a corner whiskers away before man of the match Brown denied Adam Le Fondre with another top class save. Just a minute later Brown was again on hand to keep his clean sheet in tact, as he saved low at his near post following a desperate goal mouth scramble.
Brown picked up an injury however, and was replaced by Harrison on seventy one minutes, and Martyn Giles took the place of Gareth Sheldon, allowing Richard Rose to move forward to midfield. United's chances to secure the win came on the break and Simon Travis was almost an unlikely scorer as Andy Ferrell had torn clear down the left before centring to the unmarked right back. Spencer was soon off his line to block Travis' effort, but Ferrell was at it again moments after. This time he played in Sills, but he mis-hit his volley while under pressure from a recovering defender.
Michael Rose crossed for Murray as County threw everything they had at The Bulls, but Murray's header landed on the roof of the net. Rose was again the supplier when Stockport finally managed to net late on, but the linesmans flag was raised. Michael Rose was announced man of the match, but he seemed to be picking out Hereford players more often than not - it's a shame he couldn't do that more often in his spell with the club!
County kept trying to salvage something from the game in the final five added minutes, but Brigg's volley, which dropped wide of Harrison's post, was the closest they came.
So Hereford held on and claimed a brilliant 2-0 win on their return to the Football League. It may not have been deserved, but Hereford managed to put the ball in the back of the net - and it's goals that win games. There were plenty of positives to pick out from the game, but one expects that there are also a number of things to work on, most notably from today - possession. The visit of Lincoln (a play off side for the past three seasons) on Tuesday may well give a clearer indication of what can be expected from this Hereford side.
HUFC: Brown, Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Rose, Williams, Ferrell, Purdie, Sheldon, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Gulliver, Harrison, Giles, Wallis, Connell.
SCFC: Spencer, Williams, Raynes, Owen, Rose, Briggs, Dinning, Taylor, Malcolm, Murray, Le Fondre. Subs: Deasy, Dickinson, Robinson, Allen, Clare.
