Wastefulness cost Bulls game

Below is an edited report of yesterday's game from the Western Mail:

The Red Dragons had been boosted by the return of highly-rated left-sided midfielder Matt Done and former Darlington defender Ryan Valentine - but skipper Neil Roberts and central destroyer Shaun Pejic failed early-morning fitness tests.

The Bulls made two changes to the side dumped out of the Carling Cup at Edgar Street in midweek - former Torquay goal poacher Alan Connell and Frenchman Alex Jeannin coming in for the injured Andy Williams and banned Trent McClenahan.

Just 80 miles separated the rivals, and this derby ignited from kick-off as Hereford, backed by a 700-strong following, began a ferocious opening assault.

The Red Dragons, had shipped 10 goals in just over two hours of league soccer. And defensive frailties were showing once more as towering Dean Beckwith powered Jeannin's delivery over in the fourth minute.

Jittery Wrexham wobbled again on 12 minutes. Retreating Valentine was totally skinned by Rob Purdie - the schemer's curling cross bravely punched clear by keeper Michael Ingham as Tim Sills roared in.

Home anxiety increased in the moments that followed. Blond-haired Connell had Evans and Danny Williams seemingly mesmerised, but spun to pull wide from eight yards.

The Bulls must have rued their wastefulness as embattled Wrexham smuggled a critical lead.

United's Simon Travis has initially cleared John McAliskey's flick from the goal line. But the ex-Telford man was unable to repeat his heroics seconds later as Evans reaped maximum return from another Darren Ferguson corner.

Yet stunned Hereford will wonder why they weren't level in this entertaining collision. Midfielder Richard Rose fizzed a low drive inches wide and the raging Bulls claimed Ingham had clawed Sills' header back from behind his goal angle.

The Red Dragons were, though, so unfortunate not to have doubled their lead near the break. Valentine's menacing ball was just deflected to safety by a stretching Tamika Mkandawire and only Travis' last-ditch intervention thwarted McAliskey.

Wrexham's determination was always evident throughout a tense second half. The swashbuckling Done was fractionally wide with a 30-yard rocket and Mark Jones went close. But Stuart Fleetwood almost stole a late reward for the visitors - just off-target from close range.

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