John Trewick marked the start of his managerial reign at Hereford United with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Northampton Town. Andrew Holt put the hosts in front in the first-half before a rare Andy Williams goal levelled up proceedings early in the second period. Jason Crowe smashed in the decisive goal which puts Town in a good position to beat the drop and also ensures that Hereford will finish the season at rock bottom. 5518 were present at Sixfields, with 204 making the journey from Herefordshire.
Changes were made to the United line-up following the 2-2 draw at Yeovil on Tuesday with Joshua Gowling replacing Dean Beckwith in the heart of the defence. Toumani Diagouraga and Marc Pugh were also restored to the starting eleven with Craig Jones and Matt Done making way. Febian Brandy was named amongst the subs meaning that Hereford had six loanees in their squad, when regulations only allow five. Northampton beat Hereford 2-0 at Edgar Street in November, and goalscorer that day, Danny Jackman started whilst top goalscorer for Town, Adebayo Akinfenwa led the line.
Hereford made an encouraging start to the game and in truth, should have been a goal up with some early chances. Good work on the right from Jennison Myrie-Williams saw him skip inside Jackman before laying on the ball to Pugh, who from inside the box on the left, hit a left-footed shot over when he really should have hit the target. Neat football involving the forward partnership of Steve Guinan and Williams saw the latter shoot wide from again a decent position. At the other end, the point-blank reactions of the ever reliant Peter Gulacsi denied a close-range header from Mark Hughes after a corner had been put into the danger area. Chris Dunn took no chances with a Pugh free-kick from the left by tipping the ball over before Trewick made his first sub in his new role, replacing the ill Gowling with Beckwith. Excellent work down the left hand side from Pugh saw him neatly beat Hughes before pulling the ball back to Guinan, who ballooned a shot with his left-foot from close-range.
The hosts took the lead in the 29th minute when a cross from the right from Hughes went through a number of bodies before eventually falling at the feet of Holt, who from 8 yards out made no mistake with a powerful left-foot shot past Gulacsi. United responded positively with two similar moves; firstly a low corner from Myrie-Williams made its way to Pugh at the back-post who forced a smart save at his near post from Dunn whilst soon after, another corner from Myrie-Williams, this time deep again came to Pugh who smashed a right-foot shot towards the other post and hit the inside of the woodwork before the ball was cleared. Jackman curled a free-kick straight at Gulacsi before Jared Hodgkiss replaced the injured Chris Doig. The Bulls continued to threaten towards the end of the half with more corners as Myrie-Williams again delivered for Guinan this time who flicked the ball on for Richard Rose but his header was pushed over by Dunn. Luke Guttridge sent a rising shot over the bar whilst at the other end, Williams twisted and turned but could only shoot tamely goalwards towards the near post although Dunn took no risks pushing the ball behind.
Hereford made a perfect start to the second-half by scoring after just six minutes. Diagouraga played a ball to Myrie-Williams on the right and he cut inside to try his luck but his effort was blocked. It fell nicely though for Williams who was close by and hit a superb looping shot over the head of Dunn and into the far corner. Hereford had their tails up following the goal with Pugh and Williams linking up and the on loan Shrewsbury winger hit a right-foot shot a yard past the far post. Aleksander Prijovic replaced Guttridge as Stuart Gray looked for fresh options up front. The hosts managed some sustained pressure on Hereford with Hodgkiss believing he had scored but he was denied after a deflection off a Northampton man meant the offside flag went up. Holt rose at the back post above Gwynne to win an aerial dual but Gulacsi caught his effort before Pugh was replaced by Done on left-wing.
The sheer strength of Akinfenwa saw him hold off a challenge to blast over with a half-volley after a ball had been played into the danger area before the striker provided an assist for the decisive goal soon after. The ball was flicked on to Akinfenwa who held it up before passing to Crowe who hit a powerful shot from 20 yards which flew past Gulacsi at his near-post. Abdul Osman struck wide from outside the box before Leon Constantine replaced Akinfenwa and the sub set up the tricky Ikechi Anya whose pace took him past Rose but his shot was well blocked by Gulacsi. Towards the end of the game, a quick throw from Done allowed Williams to turn his man and dig out a cross from the by-line which found Guinan in the box but his header lacked power and Dunn held on. With that chance not taken, Town held on relatively comfortably although Osman tried to add a third but couldn't hit the target with a curling placed effort falling past the post.
On a sunny yet windy day in Northamptonshire, Hereford can be encouraged by the first game under Trewick. There was some neat passing and movement today and some good chances were created. It was particularly pleasing to see Williams scored his second goal of the game after being on a barren spell since October. Hereford play their final game of the season, and final game in League One for the time being, when MK Dons travel to Edgar Street next Saturday.
Hereford: Gulacsi, Gwynne, Rose, Gowling, Taylor, Myrie-Williams, Diagouraga, Smith, Pugh, Williams, Guinan.
Subs: Veiga, Beckwith, O'Leary, Done, Brandy.
Northampton: Dunn, Hughes, Doig, Watts, Jackman, Guttridge, Crowe, Osman, Holt, Akinfenwa, Anya.
Subs: Walker, Gilligan, Hodgkiss, Prijovic, Constantine.
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