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Suspicious betting patterns, a delayed kick off, a dodgy surface, and a promise of a more combative midfield able to engage in some “ratting” gave this evening’s fixture some New Year spice. The outcome, however, was one that is becoming familiar, with a much-changed Hereford side once more failing to hold on to an early lead. Stefan Stam returned to action, and Michael Townsend also started after serving his suspension. Rob Purdie was pushed into midfield alongside Simon Clist and Joe Colbeck. The Bulls led from the fifth minute, but conceded a second half equaliser which the linesman seemed certain had crossed the line.
Recovering from illness, Ryan Green played an incisive through ball to Yoann Arquin. The youngster lost his marker, showed some instant control, and fired a terrific low shot from the edge of the box which flew into Ian Dunbavin’s net via the far post. Tracking back, Arquin then gave away a free kick from which Bryan Hughes forced Adam Bartlett to make a save. Another Stanley free kick was then cleared firmly by the head of Delroy Facey.
Colbeck looked lively, not allowing the visitors time to clear, and Tom Barkhuizen and Arquin caused a threat, with Facey providing some useful flicks. Townsend and Stam dealt confidently with what attacking moves the visitors could muster. A long clearance by Stam found Arquin who found the side netting from a tight angle, and then Colbeck’s pass found the Frenchman marginally offside. Meanwhile, Craig Lindfield slipped the ball through for Padraig Amond who shot tamely into Bartlett’s arms when well placed. A promising move down the Hereford right saw Green involved twice, and culminated in a shot that was well fielded by Dunbavin.
HT: HUFC 1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0
John Coleman’s half time talk seemed briefly to galvanise the visitors. Bartlett did well to gather a long distance cross from Dean Winnard, when under pressure, and the Bulls keeper was then alert to clear after Townsend misread the flight of another long ball from the visitors. Barkhuizen latched onto a weak back header, knocking it past the keeper, but sadly he could not keep it in play. Arquin’s cross was hoofed for a corner kick, from which Purdie’s downward header was grasped by Dunbavin before the strikeforce could react. Facey’s centre found Colbeck who could not control it and then Arquin was twice unlucky with passes intended for Facey. Clist joined in the fun with an enterprising run as the Bulls created the majority of chances.
Andrew Procter’s long range effort cleared the bar, and then Purdie timed his saving tackle on Lindfield to perfection. These incidents aside, it still seemed likely that Hereford would “see the game out” as Jamie Pitman had advocated. Those present at previous games knew what the script had in store. On 72 minutes, an over-eager Arquin gave away a free kick for a trip on Winnard way out near the touchline. Sean Hessey ballooned the ball towards the far post, Bartlett misjudged its flight and an unholy goal-line scramble ensued. Eventually, the football emerged to safety, and the referee would certainly have played on were it not for the frenetic waving of a flag that persuaded him that it had crossed the line. Substitute Micah Evans’s head had apparently made the telling contact. Cue calls for goal-line technology/ divine intervention/ Acts of Parliament to avoid perceived injustices in future. Suffice it to say that we will never see an adequate replay, and that The Official With The Flag seemed pretty adamant.
The Bulls barely looked like restoring their lead, and managed to survive a couple of late scares. A corner played back to Hessey was belted goalwards, and Peter Murphy could not deflect it home, and Evans then set up Lindfield whose cross was overhit. Another case of what might have been, with the added worrying prospect that by this time tomorrow, Hereford could conceivably hit rock bottom. Perhaps we should have started without them?
FT: HUFC 1 ACCRINGTON STANLEY 1
Attendance: 2057, with 108 Ultras, plus the inevitable drum.
HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Townsend, Stam, Dalibard, Purdie, Clist, Colbeck, Barkhuizen, Arquin (Pell 82), Facey (Elder 76).
ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Dunbavin, Winnard, Hessey, Murphy, Long, Procter, McIntyre, Hughes, Lindfield, Stockley (Evans 53), Amond.
