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A week in football is a long time, it's proved once again. Following the second unacceptable performance in as many weeks by Hereford United, the gaffer Graham Turner took out his cheque book, made three signings and it has paid off following todays encounter with Notts County.
Though there was no place for Danny Thomas, Ben Smith and Steve Guinan both made their first starts following their singings, and Steve Jennings was star of the show as he made his home debut. Turner axed Dean Beckwith, Stuart Fleetwood, Andy Williams and Alex Jeannin from the starting eleven and there was no place for Gareth Sheldon on the bench either. In came Trent McClenahan, Smith, Tamika Mkandawire, Alan Connell and Guinan.
The Bulls made a positive start, as they attacked the Meadow End with Smith and Guinan both showing early promise, however it was the visitors who netted first. The presence of Jason Lee paid off for County as he got a touch off his head to an inswinging cross from the left, and the ball bounced off the far post before hitting the back of the net. The lead lasted just two minutes though, as United seemed to adopt an old policy of, "we'll score one more than you", which was familiar in Guinan and Smiths last spell with the club. And the two were involved in the goal as well, as Guinan played to Smith, who volleyed from the edge of the box against the foot of the post. The ball ran to the far side of the box where McClenahan was hand to fire into the roof of the net for the equaliser.
Rob Purdie burst away on the right flank but was hacked down by Michael Edwards, who was booked, before Connell met a half clearance with a full volley that only went behind thanks to a deflection off Alan White. Smith had a very ambitious effort from all of forty yards, having been picked out by Guinan, with the Kevin Pilkington off his line, but his attempt was wide. Then the two new signings linked up fantastically as Guinan netted on his return to Edgar Street to put The Bulls into the lead. With twenty seven minutes gone Smith played a perfect through ball for Guinan to race onto, and he took the ball around the 'keeper before passing into the net in front of a delighted Meadow End.
Smith almost doubled the lead when Purdie found him on the right, Smith advanced into the box before flashing a shot inches wide of the far post. Guinan whipped a cross into the box, which Jennings didn't connect enough with to make Pilkington work before a rare chance for County at the other end. Simon Travis sold Wayne Brown short with a poor head back, but Andy Parkinson, having raced in, toed the ball wide. Connell went close again with another volley following a poor clearance, but this time it was only just wide of the mark. Then at the end of the half Purdie played an inch perfect pass through to Smith, in a crowded area, and Smith beat Pilkington, but was denied by the post, though the flag was raised for offside.
United came out in the second half with a little more relaxed mentality, and compared to the first, the second forty five was lacking in opportunity. Jay Smith crafted an half chance for himself, but fired wide before Jennings was denied by a point blank range save after a free kick, but again the flag was up. Despite not looking under any pressure, United conceded on sixty four minutes, as Lee netted again. It was his aerial ability that paid dividends again as, again from the left, he rose to head in powerfully from twelve yards. Some blame may be layed with Brown, who came to catch but got nowhere near the cross.
Guinan was having none of it on his return though, and four minutes later had restored his side's lead with a stunning strike. McClenahan crossed from the right, Guinan controlled with his left, taking the ball into his stride, and hammered home from just inside the box with his right foot to make it 3-2. Connell was replaced by Williams with fifthteen minutes left, and he almost got a fourth for Hereford as he cut in from the right, but Pilkington made a low save. The midfield general Jennings, who'd worked all day long cutting up attacks, making good passes and charging forward, seemed to pull up late on and was replaced on eighty nine by Luke Webb. Hereford had to defend in injury time and survived a couple of late scares to take all three points.
You could say it was almost scripted, with Guinan and Smith linking up as much as they did, especially for the second goal with saw Guinan cap a wonderful move. No doubt the two will steal the headlines, but there were many other good performances today, and undoubtedly if they continue in this way, there will be an improvement on the crowd, which was 3,218 (with 396 away) though most were very entertained.
HUFC: Brown, Rose, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Travis, McClenahan, Purdie, Jennings, Smith, Connell, Guinan.
NCFC: Pilkington, Gleeson, White, Edwards, Silk, Smith, Somner, Martin, Parkinson, Lee, Dudfield. Subs: Deeney, N'Toya, Mendes, Sheridan, Wilson.
