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Hereford United were defeated by local rivals Shrewsbury Town in the Johnstones Paint Throphy at Edgar Street this evening. Graham Turner used the game as an opportunity to give a run out to a few fringe players, with Luke Webb and Glynn Thompson making their full debuts and Andy Ferrell, Alan Connell and Tim Sills all returning to the side.
Luke Webb in action - picture by Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal
Sills' striker partner Stuart Fleetwood made the early running though as he fired over from out side of the box before the pacy striker had a decent opportunity with thirteen minutes on the clock. Having been played in behind the Shrewsbury back line, Fleetwood was only able to direct his first time effort wide of the far post. Ten minutes later though, Michael Symes had put the visitors in front. Steve Leslie crossed in a free kick, won by Symes in the corner, and the striker met it at the near post and turned it in.
Steven Hogg found himself in a good position when Derek Asamoah had got to the by-line, but totally mis-hit from the centre of the penalty box, while a minute before the interval Connell saw a header easily saved by Chris Neal after some good approach play by The Bulls.
The second half was a far more lively affair and this time it was The Shrews who saw the first opportunity. David Edwards had raced past Phil Gulliver only to see his low effort pushed away by Thompson and then turned behind by Gulliver. A dangerous cross followed as Shrewsbury tried to double their lead, but nobody was quick enough to meet it as it flew across the goal face.
Webb's corner from the left was met by a firm header from Gulliver, but Neal made a good diving save before Ferrell's low drive from twenty five yards flashed wide of the far post. Neal then pulled off the save of the game to deny what would have surely been goal of the season from Connell. The attacker hit an absolute screamer of a volley from thirty yards out, which seemed destined for the top corner. That was, until Neal threw himself airbound and got just enough of his fingertips on the ball to direct it onto the cross bar.
A triple change followed by Turner as Simon Travis, Ferrell and Sills were all withdrawn and Rob Purdie, Richard Rose and Andy Williams were introduced. The change didn't pay off immediately though, as within a few minutes, and with twelve left to play, the Shropshire outfit grabbed a second. It followed another set play as well, which United didn't defend properly, and the ball fell to Symes who made no mistake from ten yards out.
Two minutes later though Williams got himself on the scoresheet to make it 2-1, as he picked up on Purdie's attacking run, shooting from inside the box into the far side of the net on the turn. This set up for a lively last ten minutes which saw Hereford push for the equalising goal that would have taken the game to penalties. Purdie almost grabbed the goal as well, as he beat his man and cut into the box, only to see Neal pull off another fine save. Dean Beckwith had the final chance from a corner, which 'keeper Thompson came up for, but he headed over.
The second half, at least, provided some entertainment for the 2,007 in the crowd (including 371 away), but the game will have proved a good run out for a number of players. The football on show from Hereford wasn't too bad either, and there was less to be seen of the "long ball" tactic than in a number of games this season.
HUFC: Thompson, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Travis, McClenahan, Ferrell, Webb, Connell, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Jeannin, Brown, Purdie, Rose, Williams.
