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Hereford United had to work hard to claim their first home win of the season, but did so with a 4-2 defeat of Bradford City. First half strikes from Toumani Diagouraga and Steve Guinan gave United a comfortable advantage, before Guylain Ndumbu-Nsunga pulled one back before half time. However, a penalty from Trevor Benjamin in the second half gave Hereford the two goal advantage once more, but again, Ndumbu-Nsunga pulled another back, before Theo Robinson tucked in his fourth of the season, and Hereford's fourth and final goal of the game.
Graham Turner decided against any changes from last weekend's starting eleven at Morecambe, despite slight doubts over the fitness of both Guinan and Benjamin up front. Robinson replaced Simon Johnson on an otherwise un-changed bench. Notable names lining up for the away side included the experience of David Wetherall and Peter Thorne, whilst Barry Conlon, who scored against United for Mansfield last season, took a place on the bench.
Like previous home games, Hereford came out of the traps quickly with Clint Easton having a long-range effort tipped wide by Bradford goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. The resulting corner was met by Dean Beckwith, but his effort went over. At the other end, Thorne met a cross from Joe Colbeck, but put it wide of Wayne Brown's goal. The opener came in just the 15th minute, after good work from Easton on the left hand side. He controlled and spotted the run of Diagouraga, and passed the ball into the path of the midfielder. The Frenchman, on loan from Watford, managed to get past the defender before tucking the ball under Ricketts and send the Meadow End into raptures.
Minutes after the opener, and United doubled their advantage. After some good pressure on the Bradford area, Richard Rose put in a deep cross from the right hand side and it was met by Guinan. Despite the header coming from a tight angle, the power was too much for Ricketts and it was 2-0. Bradford reacted to the shock of conceding two goals in little over three minutes, and went extremely close to pulling one back. The lively Omar Daley cut in from the left hand side, and played a ball to Ndungu-Nsunga, who struck powerfully against the crossbar but luckily, the ball was cleared. Minutes later though, not so lucky for United, Bradford pulled it back to 2-1. Eddie Johnson found space in the middle and fired a low shot towards goal. The ball deflected off Ndumbu-Nsunga and past the helpless Brown. The pressure mounted on Hereford, as Bradford gained confidence, with both Johnson and Daley spurning half chances. On the stroke of half time, good link-up play between Ben Smith and Lionel Ainsworth gave Smith the chance to shoot, but his effort was weak and straight at Ricketts.
The second half started with an easy save from Brown from a Thorne half volley, but in the 52nd minute, Hereford were awarded a penalty. Smith poked a pass to Ainsworth, who managed to touch it past Heckingbottom. The former Sheffield Wednesday full-back pulled at Ainsworth's shirt, and it was spotted by both the referee and the linesman. Up stepped Benjamin to power the penalty into the back of the net and restore the two goal advantage. That advantage lasted for just seven minutes though, as Ndumbu-Nsunga notched his second goal of the game. Quick thinking, and a huge throw out from Ricketts was met by Thorne's head and the ball fell in the path of Ndumbu-Nsunga. The Congo striker used his pace to beat Broadhurst, before touching the ball past Brown from an acute angle.
Kyle Nix and Conlon took to the field in the places of Colbeck and Daley, whilst Robinson was introduced, with Benjamin making way. Despite the changes for both sides, neither created any notable chances until relatively late on when Paul Evans, once rumoured to be a target of Turners, placed a free-kick wide. Luke Webb then came on for Ainsworth, and within minutes, United wrapped up proceedings. A fine counter-attack, saw Rose burst out from right back and find Diagouraga down the right wind. He spotted Robinson in acres of space in the box, and found him to perfection. Robinson's first touch took him past Ricketts, and he then took his time, before firing into the net. Soon after, Robinson had an effort fantastically tipped over by Ricketts after good work from Webb, before Webb himself should have grabbed his second goal in as many appearences, after good work from Diagouraga, but Webb's strike was tipped away by Ricketts once again. In stoppage time, Thorne had a low shot saved by Brown's legs, before the referee signalled the end to an entertaining game.
For the first time this season, Hereford win at home, against arguably, the best opposition they have faced. The win, which sees The Bulls move up to 2nd place meant that it's the first time they have won back to back league games since mid-February. Next up is two away trips to Grimsby and then Notts County, and with Guinan, Benjamin and Robinson all scoring today, United can pin their hopes on their strikeforce when they play these games.
Hereford: Brown, Rose, Taylor, Broadhurst, Beckwith, Ainsworth, Easton, Diagouraga, Smith, Guinan, Benjamin.
Subs: Ingham, McCombe, Webb, Gwynne, Robinson.
Bradford: Ricketts, Harban, Heckingbottom, Wetherall, Bower, Colbeck, Daley, Johnson, Evans, Thorne, Ndumbu-Nsunga.
Subs: O'Brien, Williams, Phelan, Nix, Conlon.
