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A 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley gave Hereford United their first back to back victories of the season at Edgar Street this afternoon. United though, made a couple of changes to the side that started against MK Dons, as they hoped to kick on from that impressive result. Rob Purdie, as he did last weekend, deputised in place of the injured Trent McClenahan and Richard Rose lost his place to new loan signing Neil Mackenzie.
The Bulls started the game in a generous manner, as they gifted possession to old Conference rivals Stanley, though the Lancashire outfit couldn't take advantage. Hereford had to work for their chances, and did so very well, with some good play in a midfield that, for once, wasn't over-run! Andy Williams had picked out Alan Connell after some neat approach play, however Connell's first time effort was saved by Ian Dunbavin.
Connell had a better chance with twenty three minutes on the clock, as Williams hit a loose ball, which was deflected into the path Connell. He lifted the ball over the 'keeper, but just wide of the near post as well. Mackenzie had a low shot soon after, as once again Hereford built up the attack well with some decent passing.
The visitors had a rare glimpse of goal as a long ball evaded Tamika Mkandawire, allowing Sean Doherty to get in behind, but his low drive was claimed well by Wayne Brown, before Williams had a chance on the stroke of half time. Connell had picked out Stuart Fleetwood to the left of the box, but the ball was knocked out of his path by Michael Welch into Williams'. However, he shot tamely allowing Dunbavin a simple save.
The Reds had what was probably their best opportunity of the game a minute after the restart, and it was ex-Bull David Brown who should have netted. Andy Todd burst through the middle and centred from the by-line, where Brown was denied by his name-sake at the near post. Fleetwood was always looking dangerous with his pace, and it was his charge forward before releasing Alex Jeannin down the left that almost resulted in the opener. Williams, who'd got between the two centre backs, was just short of the Frenchman's whipped cross though.
Fleetwood was then to be denied by another good Dunbavin save, tipping the red-headed strikers low shot around the post, before, at the other end Andy Mangan latched onto a top through ball, but Wayne Brown again came out on top, blocking the first effort before forcing a goal kick. With eleven minutes left, and, despite having in general the better of things, Graham Turner replaced Williams, who'd recently been booked along with Connell, with Tim Sills and six minutes later, it paid off.
Before the goal finally came, Connell forced another good save from Dunbavin, who was having a good game, with a fierce effort after the ball had fell to him when Stanley cleared a corner. Dunbavin's afternoon turned into a nightmare though, as he made a shocking mistake with just five minutes left, gifting the victory to United.
Sills had got his head under a long ball forward, and the ball fell to the edge of the box, where Connell took authority over Fleetwood to meet the dropping ball on the volley. He didn't catch it cleanly though, and the ball made it's way, at no great pace, towards goal. Dunbavin, seemingly having a simple task, somehow allowed the ball to roll through his arms and creep into the bottom corner, to send all but the 122 away fans in a crowd of 3,391 into raptures.
Dubavin looks back as Connell's winner goes into the net - picture by Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal
John Coleman's side couldn't muster up a fight back in the remaining minutes, though Wayne Brown did have to rush out to deny Ian Craney in injury time, but otherwise, the Hereford goal was under no threat. Coleman still had something to complain about when the final whistle sounded, as he immediately ran to the referee to give his opinion on a couple of matters.
All in all, 1-0 was probably the right result in the end, as Hereford just about edged play. United had more control on the game today than they have done in previous outings to date, undoubtedly due to the introduction of John Eustace and Mackenzie into the middle of the park.
HUFC: Brown, Mkandwire, Beckwith, Gulliver, Jeannin, Purdie, Eustace, Mackenzie, Connell, Fleetwood, Williams. Subs: Rose, Thompson, Ferrell, Webb, Sills.
ASFC: Dunbavin, Edwards, Welch, Williams, Cavanagh, Todd, Proctor, Craney, Doherty, Mullin, Brown. Subs: Elliot, Harris, Boco, Mangan, N'da.
