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Hereford United played host to Rochdale this afternoon on an Edgar Street turf which had a significant part to play in Hereford keeping a clean sheet in what was an evenly matched encounter. Both sides were obviously looking to take all three points, with both enjoying a good run of form but they seemed to cancel each other out, helped by two good goalkeeping displays.
United were unchanged in their starting eleven that demolished Lincoln in the week, but Tamika Mkandawire and Simon Travis returned to the bench at the expense of Phil Gulliver and Alex Jeannin. The match started brightly, with Rochdale quickly notching up two, of an eventual eighteen, corners before The Bulls won a corner of their own but nothing came of any of them. Steve Guinan, who seems to have a knack of netting in a Hereford shirt, wasn't quite so fortunate today as he squandered a number of chances; firstly scuffing wide with a clear view on goal on his weaker left foot.
For Dale, Adam Le Fondre was a constant nuisance amongst the Hereford backline, and, with the help of a bounce that evaded Dean Beckwith, had a clear run on goal but Rob Purdie was quickly back to put him off, though the striker fired into the arms of Wayne Brown, saving the blushes of Beckwith. Alan Connell was perhaps the more dangerous of the two Hereford forwards, and he almost broke the deadlock midway through the half when he headed a Trent McClenahan cross just over the bar from eight yards out. Connell the turned provider for strike-partner Guinan, assuming possession in the box before crossing into the middle, where Guinan stood unmarked. He, however, mis-hit a volley, much to the amusement of the 340 travelling fans housed in the Blackfriars end, in a total attendance of 3,090.
Guinan almost silenced the away fans in first half injury time after Steve Jennings found Williams on the right, who delivered a cross into the middle. Guinan had a free header but, most uncharacteristically, headed straight at Matthew Gilks. United continued after the interval from where they'd left off and enjoyed a spell of dominace when they really should have gone ahead. Connell fired wide on the turn following a long free kick, before he made a good connection to a fantastic cross by the impressive Danny Thomas, but Gilks denied him once again. This triggered a counter attack by Dale, and Brown made an important save from Glenn Murray, before McClenahan got in the way of a second effort from the same man.
Jennings and man of the match Connell then almost pulled off a simple, but perfect free kick move, as Jennings quickly took it, threading a through ball between the two centre backs into the path of Connell, but Gilks was out to make a good save with his feet. At the other end, Brown denied Murray again before Dale had a superb chance to take the lead on seventy two minutes. Richard Rose, who was troubled by Le Fondre and Murray all afternoon, was held off by the latter, who burst into the box crossing to the former, who was unmarked at the far post. However, the Edgar Street turf gave way from under his feet at a vital time, and he fell to the ground and Beckwith was in to clear up the mess.
Andy Williams combined with Ben Smith well on the right, and the stand-in-skipper delivered a good cross to Guinan who again headed straight down the throat of Gilks before Connell was replaced by Tim Sills with twelve minutes left. Graham Turner was perhaps thinking that Sills' aerial threat would be more beneficial as United were attacking well down the wings, but, especially with hindsight, taking off Connell who was probably Hereford's greatest threat might not have been the correct decision. However, United were still pressing, and a burst from the middle by Jennings caused havoc in the Dale box, but the ball was eventually cleared following a poor touch from Sills.
Rochdale sub Louis Dodds forced a save from Brown late on before Guinan had one last chance for The Bulls. Brown played a free kick long which went all the way through to Guinan deep inside the box, but he was denied from a narrow angle by Gilks, who blocked his half volley and turned it behind for a corner before the final whistle was blown.
United will be disappointed that they couldn't continue their winning form, but on the other hand will not be too disheartened having drawn 0-0 with one of the league's in form sides. There were plenty of positives to be taken, including the clean sheet and Danny Thomas' display on the left, as well as creating a number of chances. Maybe some shooting practice is in order this week in training!
HUFC: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Rose, Purdie, Williams, Jennings, Smith, Thomas, Guinan, Connell. Subs: Mkandawire, Thompson, Travis, Ferrell, Sills.
RFC: Gilks, Brown, Stanton, McArdle, Goodall, Muirhead, Perkins, Doolan, Rundle, Le Fondre, Murray. Subs: Edge, Prendergast, Buckley, Dodds, Crooks.
