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Hereford United made it three wins on the trot against Northampton last night when goals from Nathan Elder, Steve Leslie and Harry Pell were more than enough to see off Berahino's reply.
"Bruno" Dalibard replaced the suspended Joe Heath at left back and Simon Clist returned in midfield at the expense of Sam Winnall while it was good to see Ryan Green back in the matchday squad as a substitute.
The Bulls started the match brightly but neither side produced an effort on goal in the opening minutes but it was United who took the lead on thirteen minutes. Harry Pell burst forward through the right of midfield and his cross-shot from just inside the box was parried by home keeper Walker into the path of Elder who gratefully stabbed home from six yards. As the game flowed from end to end, Cornell did well to push Berahino’s effort round the post before The Bulls added a second on nineteen minutes.
Steve Leslie was chopped down in full flight but he picked himself up to fire the free kick past Walker from just outside the box with the help of a deflection off the home defensive wall. Former Slop, Kelvin Langmead powered a header against Cornell's crossbar as the half-hour approached before Tom Barkhuizen was brought down when cutting in from the right but the free kick was dragged wide of the upright. The Bulls came close again with a fine move that started at the back with Andy Todd. He laid the ball wide to the advancing Dalibard who struck a sweet diagonal ball out to Barkhuizen on the right who immediately switch it back across to Steve Leslie. His pinpoint cross was glanced just over by Elder.
HT Northampton 0 Bulls 2
Steve Leslie scorched an effort inches wide of the post when he met a Barkhuizen cross with a first-time volley. Then Barks jinked his way past two defenders to set up Harry Pell but the Essex Socrates pulled his shot wide while, at the other end, Turnbull saw his attempt blocked by the hard-working Featherstone.
Nathan Elder left the field on the hour to generous applause and was replaced by Yoann Arquin. However, two minutes later the hosts gat a goal back when Cornell could only partly clear a cross from the left and Berahino drove home from 12 yards.
Ryan Green replaced Andy Todd before, with twenty minutes remaining, United restored their two-goal lead. Barkhuizen beat two defenders to cross for the onrushing Pell to head home from close range. His goal celebrations earned him a yellow that will cause him to miss Saturday's match at Torquay.
Pitman withdrew Barkhuizen with about five minutes remaining. Green moved to fullback and Rob Purdie pushed up to an attacking wide midfield position with Michael Towsend joining the game in the centre of defence. As the game reached the final minutes, Stefan Stam brought off a fine clearance but, in general, The Bulls rarely looked in danger of conceding.
FT Northampton 1 Bulls 3
This was a very encouraging performance in which Featherstone and Clist were excellent in their holding midfield roles freeing Harry Pell to follow the play and feed both strikers and widemen alike. Leslie and Barks were a constant threat down the flanks while; firstly Elder then Arquin led the attack with pace and menace.
See you all at the seaside.
