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Andy Williams' goal nine minutes from time gave Hereford United their third successive victory, as they upset Swindon Town at the County Ground. Graham Turner stuck with a winning formula as he made no changes to his side, and it paid dividends in the end.
It was by no means an easy victory for The Bulls, who were under the cosh for large periods of the game, as the 6,000 home fans in a crowd of 6,910 tried to spur their team on, but they couldn't match the vocal support of the travelling army of close to one thousand.
Despite Williams' early shot going wide, the first half hour belonged to The Robins. Few clear cut chances came about, though John Eustace had to clear a Jerel Ifil header off the line following a corner from Aaron Brown. The hosts had a succession of four corners, at the end of which Wayne Brown made an easy save when Ifil attempted an overhead kick, but Swindon finished off their dominant spell with a goal on thirty two minutes.
United may feel aggreived though, as Eustace seemed to be fouled on the left by Michael Pook, but play went on and Pook delivered the cross for Christian Roberts, returning from injury, to power in a header from six yards out. Wayne Brown could have done better, as he got a hand to the effort, which was straight at him.
The goal seemed to wake Hereford up, and four minutes later a fantastic break down led to their first shot on target, and their first goal of the afternoon. Stuart Fleetwood was at the heart of it, bursting from the middle to the left before crossing to the far post where Williams met the ball with a powerful strike, beyond the reach of debutant Andy Lonergan.
The ball was very much in Hereford's court now, and they took control of the remaining ten minutes of the half, and could well have taken the lead two minutes after having equalised. Andy Connell saw a shot take a deflection and then fall kindly to Eustace, who'd got in behind the defence. Lonergan was out quickly though, and blocked Eustace's shot, though he should have done better. Before the half time whistle sounded, United had two more opportunities, both headers, the first Lonergan made easy work of Williams' effort and the second, from a corner, travelled inches wide off Tamika Mkandawire's head.
Swindon were rejuvenated second half, and took control once again as they had done in the first half hour. Once again though, Hereford had an early opening. Fleetwood had released Alex Jeannin on the overlap, who crossed superbly towards Williams the far post; only a vital touch from the 'keeper prevented Williams' second. Goalscorer Roberts had a mazy run but couldn't force any danger with the resulting shot, but Paul Evans' effort from the edge of the box following Aaron Brown's dash down the flank.
Swindon really were dominating the second half and, although the visitors broke away on a couple of occassions they couldn't get an effort in. Wayne Brown wasn't really troubled either, for all of the possession Town were enjoying, only going close through Ricky Shakes who blasted over. That was until Roberts held off the challenge from Phil Gulliver, and then centred from the by-line for Shakes, who had what seemed an easy chance from point-blank range. Rob Purdie was the saviour though, as he threw himself in front of the ball, and turned it out for a corner.
That challenge really was important, as, although Lee Peacock had a shot deflected onto the roof of the net soon after, Hereford got the vital winning goal late on. Neil MacKenzie played a long ball for Williams, who was waiting on the left. He then managed to round right-back Jack Smith, before tucking away a clever low shot.
Swindon's only chance of levelling the scores came in the third of four added minutes, when Aaron Brown curled a free kick inches wide of the top corner. A third win on the bounce means United move up to eight, just two points out of a play off position. If they can continue this rich vein of form, the future is looking bright for the Whites.
HUFC: Brown, Beckwith, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, MacKenzie, Eustace, Connell, Fleetwood, Williams. Subs: Thompson, Ferrell, Rose, Webb, Sills.
STFC: Lonergan, Jack Smith, Vincent, Ifil, Nicholas, Shakes, Evans, Pook, Brown, Roberts, Peacock. Subs: Phil Smith, Williams, Whalley, Rhodes, Onibuje.
