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Hereford United failed to build on the mid-week victory at Elland Road in the league after Accrington Stanley managed to gain a 0-0 draw at Edgar Street this afternoon. Theo Robinson went close on many occasions, but failed to test Ian Dunbavin, whilst a poor shot by Leighton McGivern after a good counter-attack kept the scores level.
The departure of Lionel Ainsworth left a gap to fill on the right wing; with Luke Webb out injured, Sam Gwynne notched up his first league start. On the other wing, Clint Easton failed to shrug off an injury and Kris Taylor took his place. Stanley loanee Ian Craney partnered Jay Harris in midfield, with former Bulls striker David Brown named amongst the substitutes, alongside new loan signing Billy Dennehy, who signed from Sunderland on Thursday.
A fine chance was presented to Trevor Benjamin in the early stages, when Gwynne touched the ball away from left back Graham Branch. Benjamin, inside the six yard box, stretched to touch the ball goalwards. Dunbavin was beaten, and the home fans were celebrating, but the ball had brushed on the side netting, and not the back of the net. Dean Beckwith headed a Liam Richardson cross over his own crossbar as Stanley had a flurry of corners, but United were looking more likely to open the scoring. Firstly, Robinson linked up with Smith before running in towards goal, and from an angle, struck a shot just past the post. Then Benjamin turned in the middle of the Stanley half, and progressed forward, before unleashing a fierce shot but Dunbavin held on.
The nifty Roscoe D'Sane looked lively, and his powerful effort was deflected just past the upright by Robbie Threlfall. Minutes after this, Richard Rose was bought off, after he had picked up a knock; Wolves loanee Lee Collins took his place at right back. Good comination work by Richardson and Paul Mullin, led to the former bursting into the box, and just as he went to pull the trigger, he appeared to have his legs touched by Threlfall. The referee didn't agree though, and pointed for a goal-kick. A mix-up between the otherwise solid John McCombe and Dean Beckwith led to D'Sane dragging a shot wide, before the ref signalled for the interval.
Craney met a Mullin lay-off, but a curling shot failed to trouble Wayne Brown, whilst at the other end, a sloppy pass led to a good chance for United. Taylor picked it up before slipping a pass to Robinson, but like the first half, a left footed shot from the Watford striker went wide off the post. Changes were needed to shaken the game up, and both sides did just that. Firstly McGivern came on for D'Sane, and minutes after, Steve Guinan took the place of Benjamin, who had done little in the match. A Guinan head down, saw Taylor smash a right-footed volley over the Blackfriars end, before Romuald Boco replaced Branch.
Good work down the left hand side saw Taylor play a pass into the feet of Guinan, before a reverse pass found Robinson, but the youngster struck past the post. At the other end, Harris weaved his way round three challenges but could only shoot over from just inside the box. Then, a Threlfall free-kick was cleared, and Harris burst forward once more, before finding McGivern, but the substitute wasted a good opportunity, when he curled over the bar from 18 yards. Taylor made way for Johnson, as an injection of pace was introduced. He soon became involved, as his run set up a good passing move, which ended with Robinson firing over from an angle, after Smith had opted to pass instead of shoot. A Craney snap-shot found the back of the Meadow End, before one final chance failed to be converted. Johnson made progress down the left hand side, before passing to Robinson. The striker powered a shot wide, and the effort summed up a frustrating afternoon for the youngster, and also for The Bulls.
The game was one of the poorer spectacles this season at Edgar Street, in front of 2804, including a fine away following of just 52. At times, United looked to lack the killer pass, and didn't have the pace and trickery of Ainsworth to call on, although Gwynne had an encouraging display. The defence was solid though, and a third clean sheet in four games will make happy reading for Brown and co. A week off may be what United need, with no mid-week match. Hartlepool visit Edgar Street next Saturday, in what should be a good game of football between two sides who like to get the ball down.
Hereford: Brown, Rose, Beckwith, McCombe, Threlfall, Gwynne, Diagouraga, Smith, Taylor, Benjamin, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, Collins, Johnson, Palmer, Guinan.
Accrington: Dunbavin, Richardson, Proctor, Roberts, Williams, Branch, Webb, Craney, Harris, D'Sane, Mullin.
Subs: Boco, Whalley, Dennehy, Brown, McGivern.
