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Things probably couldn't have gone any worse for Hereford United at Gay Meadow this afternoon as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat, and defender Dean Beckwith was sent off late on. It seems the Gay Meadow holds a bit of a curse for United who haven't won there at all in recent years. Hereford's cause wasn't helped by the recall of John Eustace, meaning Luke Webb had to fill in, and they were also missing Andy Williams through injury. Shrewsbury were without captain Sagi Burton.
Shrewsbury dominated pretty much from start to finish as Hereford really under performed, having their only real decent spell just after the break. David Edwards seemed to be at the heart of most of The Shrews attacks and he was first to force Wayne Brown into a low save. It was Edwards' original shot that led to the ball ending up in the back of the net for the first time, but it was ruled offside as a striker got a decisive touch with his head. On the twenty minute mark Derek Asamoah was replaced by the hosts as an early challenge from Alex "
Guillotine" Jeannin caused an injury, and the Frenchman was booked.
Hereford's best chances in the first half came aerially, but Webb's attempt from Stuart Fleetwood's cross was easy for Scott Shearer.
Luke Webb received a cut to his face after clashing with a Shrewsbury player believed to be Hope - picture by Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal.
Town had a good call for a penalty turned down when Tamika Mkandawire had handled inside the box, moments after Brown had kept The Bulls level with a fantastic save. Neil Ashton had raced to the by-line on the left before crossing low, but Brown palmed it away into the path of Andy Cooke. Brown, somehow though, managed to leap in front of Cooke's goalbound effort just in time to divert it over the cross bar.
With the pressure building, the homeside finally made a break through with ten minutes until half time, with Cooke scoring a great opportunist goal.
Brown beaten by Cooke's first goal. - another Andy Compton picture
United's defence let the ball bounce in the box from a cross and Cooke, with Mkandawire close behind him and his back to goal, hooked the ball over his and the defenders head, and it dipped into the far side of the goal. Hereford replied with a couple of headed efforts, both from Rob Purdie crosses but both Tim Sills and Alan Connell didn't make Shearer work too hard.
At the break Graham Turner made a straight swap at left wing back, Simon Travis on for Jeannin but it had little effect on the outcome, though Travis' slip was crucial for Shrews' second goal. Neil MacKenzie, a contender for United's man of the match though the competition wasn't up to much, had a low drive blocked before a mix up between 'keeper and defender almost gifted Travis an equaliser, but he sliced high and wide with his left foot.
After a good spell from The Whites, Town broke away at pace through first half sub Danny Thomas but his near post cross was met by Edwards, who couldn't hit the target. United needed to get more of a hold in midfield, and Turner tried to address this by introducing Andy Ferrrell in place of Fleetwood, meaning Connell had a rare opportunity as striker. Ferrell was straight in on the act as he fired wide from the edge of the box, after Webb had ventured forward down the right. Connell then fired a free kick off the wall and just wide before Shrewsbury got the sucker punch on sixty six minutes. Connell had tracked back well on the left and won the ball, but then played it back to Travis, who slipped allowing Ben Davies to cross low to the near post for Cooke to get his second.
Connell had a half chance before United had a penalty appeal turned down moments before Town got a penalty themselves. Dean Beckwith was sent off for an off the ball incident in which the linesman judged him to have elbowed an opponent, and a penalty was given. Michael Symes took authority over Cooke, who was on a hat trick, but fired wide of the mark. It didn't matter though, as Shrews got their third just a minute later. A good move down the right resulted in Edwards heading in at the near post, glancing the ball in at the far.
Connell went close again from a free kick but the game had been sealed at 2-0 in all honesty. United really were poor this afternoon, and will be needing to get back on track next Friday against Notts County. It'll be interesting to see if Turner changes his midfied, which is where the game was lost today. Eustace, despite not having played that well as of late, was sorely missed. It's onwards and, hopefully, upwards for The Bulls though, who, on the bright side, never have to visit Gay Meadow again!
HUFC: Brown, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Jeannin, Purdie, MacKenzie, Webb, Connell, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Travis, McClenahan, Thompson, Ferrell, Rose.
STFC: Shearer, Aston, Herd, Hope, Edwards, Drummond, Davies, Asamoah, Symes, Cooke, Langmead. Subs: MacKenzie, Jones, Thomas, Sorvel, Fortune-West.
