Hereford eased past a poor Darlington outfit at Edgar Street this afternoon, climbing the table to the dreaded seventeenth place with defenders providing both goals, and confirming their opponents' rock bottom position.
Manager John Trewick welcomed back Darren Jones and Marc Pugh to replace a poorly Ryan Green and James Walker, late of this parish, but now returned to Saafend. Craig King was given a more attacking role.
The Bulls had the better of the early exchanges, with Keith Lowe, King and Mark Marshall combining well to find Pugh, whose shot was saved by Nick Liversedge. Matthieu Manset was once again proving a strong handful, with his penchant for holding the ball up and laying it neatly into the path of teammates. In successive moves he twice sent Pugh free down the left wing, the first cross being cleared for a corner and the second marginally too high for the onrushing King.
The game entered a quiet phase with Hereford on top, but unable to make a breakthrough, and Darlington offering little in response. Adam Bartlett made one excellent stop, but the whistle had already sounded for a free kick. Some entertainment was gleaned from the sight of two spectators in a cherry-picker sneaking a view over the stand, Darren Jones' attempt to start demolition of the Blackfriars terrace with one long range shot, and the belated recognition of the end of summer as the stadium clock was spookily put back one hour.
As the half-time Bovril beckoned Hereford then made the breakthrough. Pugh trickily evaded tackles and sent in a low cross. The recipient, Keith Lowe showed equally nifty footwork, calmly steadied himself and then gleefully slammed the ball home. Forty-one minutes played and 1-0 to the Bulls.
In the remaining minutes, Jeff Smith sent in a teasing cross which Danny Blanchett did well to head for a corner. Some comic defending then almost presented the hapless Darlington with an undeserved leveller. At the other end, a promising move ended with Ryan Valentine curling his shot narrowly wide.
HT: HUFC 1 DARLO 0
Within two minutes of the restart, Hereford doubled their advantage. A free-kick for a push on Pugh was lofted into the box by Valentine. Up popped Darren Jones, and not to be outdone by his defensive partner, emulated the composure and footwork needed to fire home. 2-0 on forty-seven minutes.
Sam Gwynne was showing tenacity in midfield, making three excellent tackles, Kenny Lunt was distributing rapidly and accurately and the Bulls looked comfortable. Gwynne took a knock, to be replaced by Sonko, and Darlo supremo Steve Staunton made a double substitution to try to salvage something. Marshall, King and Manset all came close to adding to the lead, but chances were being created at the other end too. One useful move saw the ball cut back to James Collins who, on seventy-two minutes slotted the ball into the corner to make it 2-1.
Bartlett was called on to tip over a point blank shot as the Northerners pressed for an equaliser, and the Hereford defence had to deal with a number of corners and other situations from a newly energised Darlo. But hang on they did, dear reader, even coming close to a third goal. Manset unselfishly tried to set up King, and Marshall and the Beast got in each others way when clean through - zut alors! Four minutes of added time brought no further incidents and a few feeble fireworks heralded a deserved victory.
FT: HUFC 2 DARLO 1
ATTENDANCE: 2238, including 98 from the Arctic Circle.
HUFC: Bartlett, Lowe, Jones, Blanchett, Valentine, Pugh (Godsmark 86), Gwynne (Sonko 61), Lunt, Marshall, King, Manset Subs not used: Rose, Constantine, Done, Adamson, McCallum
DARLO: Liversedge, Arnison (Barnes 45), Plummer, Foster, Smith, Convery (Mulligan 56), Chandler, Davis, Collins, Barnet, Thomas (Diop 56)
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