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Thirteen years ago this weekend Hereford United travelled all the way to Hayes for a Bank Holiday Saturday Conference fixture. Here's a look back.
August 26th 2000:
HAYES 0 - 2 HEREFORD UNITED (report by Terry Goodwin)
Hereford were on top from the word go this afternoon and the score could so easily have been much higher than two nil. With the exception of a couple of saves on the half hour mark, Scott Cooksey was a virtual spectator for the game and even managed to assist a goal!
Steve Piearce missed the match through injury as did Paul Sturgess, and the side was unchanged from the one that beat Kettering Town as Paul Parry continued to warm the bench.
The first half saw Hereford possession nearly all the way with few chances being created in awful conditions. A torrential rainstorm made the pitch very wet and the floodlights were turned on before the kick-off. Hayes, however, created the early efforts - firstly when winger Preston broke and knocked the ball to Rocky Baptiste, but Cooksey was equal to the effort as he tipped away. From the follow up, Cooksey was again as bold as brass when he saved from close range. Rocky Baptiste is a promising youngster who could well go on to bigger things in the future. Soon after, Hayes striker Dave Stevens had a good twenty yard effort go wide of the post whilst Steve McKimm missed an effort which went over Scott Cooksey's crossbar.
John Snape tried an ambitious effort which he almost pulled off midway through the half. His dipping volley hit the crossbar from twenty five yards, and continued pressure was always going to result in a goal. The effort, however, was not at all a one-man affair. The to R's, Robinson and Rodgerson, linked well on the right before Williams knocked the ball back to the former Halesowen midfielder.
The goal inevitably came with two minutes of the half remaining, when a Chris Lane cross was met by both Williams and Wright. The headed goal was awarded to Gavin Williams, his first of the season. In added time at the end of the first half, Paul Gothard showed his resiliance by preventing a second goal from Williams. Gavin's low shot was stopped before it had time to reach the right hand corner. Michael McIndoe created a further chance which Williams saw saved by Gothard.
The second half was no different, with continued pressure from Hereford United. Hayes had to chase the Bulls for most of the half. The professional outfit showed their superiority of fitness as they wore Hayes down. On the hour, Elmes doubled the score. A Scott Cooksey free kick from inside the United half went high over the heads of the defenders and met up with the former Halesowen striker, one-on-one with goalkeeper Gothard. Robin Elmes hit a low drive past the goalkeeper from ten yards.
John Snape tried yet another long range effort, but this time from the halfway line! A long ball was dropping into the goal but 'keeper Paul Gothard managed to tip it obver for a corner. Soon after, Elmes messed up a good opportunity and Gavin Williams hit a good cross to Elmes, but his effort hit the outside of the post. However, Hayes weren't dead and buried as late in the game, efforts from Jason Tucker and Lee Flynn made sure Cooksey had something to do. The former Shrewsbury 'keeper dealt with both. Tucker's effort was a long shot from twenty five yards, but went just over Cooksey's upright.
There were four yellow cards dished out by referee Mr Conn from Royston, and they were all for fouls. Hereford's Snape on sixty six minutes, Williams on eighty one, Hayes' Sterling just a minute later, and Coppard right at the end. Of the 703 crowd, almost a third were behind Hereford and they saw United go home victorious and propelled to second in the league table.
Paul Gothard, the Hayes goalkeeper, couldn't keep Hereford out but was a superb player in a suspect-looking defence for the Middlesex side. Hereford's own Tony James also has a superb match, perhaps his best ever for the club, and deserves credit for his performance. Alongside Ian Wright, Matt Clarke and Chris Lane, the defence had very few problems and look much more comfortable than they did last season, underlined by their three consecutive clean sheets. They quartet left Scott Cooksey out of work and he was rarely required throughout the course of the afternoon Hereford are now the only side not to have conceded a goal in the Conference this season. The website man-of-the-match award was awarded to Gavin Williams for his superb off the ball play, and unique skill on it. However, Paul Gothard, Tony James, Robin Elmes and John Snape were all contenders.
The Hereford workrate was first class, not only from the defence but in midfield and attack too. Rodgerson, Snape and Robinson were simply a delight to watch, with McIndoe linking with the attacking two of Gavin Williams and Robin Elmes to complete a well-balanced line-up. However, criticism where its due - United must convert more of the chances that they create from the wings. Throughout the afternoon the service from both the left and the right was first class but the strikers couldn't convert as many as one would have liked. Nevertheless, an emphatic victory which sets the Bulls up nicely for Monday's home match against Northwich Victoria, kick off at three o'clock.
Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson, Snape, McIndoe, Elmes, Williams
Substitutions - Giddings (76)
Man of the Match - Gavin Williams
HAYES 0 - 2 HEREFORD UNITED (report by Terry Goodwin)
Hereford were on top from the word go this afternoon and the score could so easily have been much higher than two nil. With the exception of a couple of saves on the half hour mark, Scott Cooksey was a virtual spectator for the game and even managed to assist a goal!
Steve Piearce missed the match through injury as did Paul Sturgess, and the side was unchanged from the one that beat Kettering Town as Paul Parry continued to warm the bench.
The first half saw Hereford possession nearly all the way with few chances being created in awful conditions. A torrential rainstorm made the pitch very wet and the floodlights were turned on before the kick-off. Hayes, however, created the early efforts - firstly when winger Preston broke and knocked the ball to Rocky Baptiste, but Cooksey was equal to the effort as he tipped away. From the follow up, Cooksey was again as bold as brass when he saved from close range. Rocky Baptiste is a promising youngster who could well go on to bigger things in the future. Soon after, Hayes striker Dave Stevens had a good twenty yard effort go wide of the post whilst Steve McKimm missed an effort which went over Scott Cooksey's crossbar.
John Snape tried an ambitious effort which he almost pulled off midway through the half. His dipping volley hit the crossbar from twenty five yards, and continued pressure was always going to result in a goal. The effort, however, was not at all a one-man affair. The to R's, Robinson and Rodgerson, linked well on the right before Williams knocked the ball back to the former Halesowen midfielder.
The goal inevitably came with two minutes of the half remaining, when a Chris Lane cross was met by both Williams and Wright. The headed goal was awarded to Gavin Williams, his first of the season. In added time at the end of the first half, Paul Gothard showed his resiliance by preventing a second goal from Williams. Gavin's low shot was stopped before it had time to reach the right hand corner. Michael McIndoe created a further chance which Williams saw saved by Gothard.
The second half was no different, with continued pressure from Hereford United. Hayes had to chase the Bulls for most of the half. The professional outfit showed their superiority of fitness as they wore Hayes down. On the hour, Elmes doubled the score. A Scott Cooksey free kick from inside the United half went high over the heads of the defenders and met up with the former Halesowen striker, one-on-one with goalkeeper Gothard. Robin Elmes hit a low drive past the goalkeeper from ten yards.
John Snape tried yet another long range effort, but this time from the halfway line! A long ball was dropping into the goal but 'keeper Paul Gothard managed to tip it obver for a corner. Soon after, Elmes messed up a good opportunity and Gavin Williams hit a good cross to Elmes, but his effort hit the outside of the post. However, Hayes weren't dead and buried as late in the game, efforts from Jason Tucker and Lee Flynn made sure Cooksey had something to do. The former Shrewsbury 'keeper dealt with both. Tucker's effort was a long shot from twenty five yards, but went just over Cooksey's upright.
There were four yellow cards dished out by referee Mr Conn from Royston, and they were all for fouls. Hereford's Snape on sixty six minutes, Williams on eighty one, Hayes' Sterling just a minute later, and Coppard right at the end. Of the 703 crowd, almost a third were behind Hereford and they saw United go home victorious and propelled to second in the league table.
Paul Gothard, the Hayes goalkeeper, couldn't keep Hereford out but was a superb player in a suspect-looking defence for the Middlesex side. Hereford's own Tony James also has a superb match, perhaps his best ever for the club, and deserves credit for his performance. Alongside Ian Wright, Matt Clarke and Chris Lane, the defence had very few problems and look much more comfortable than they did last season, underlined by their three consecutive clean sheets. They quartet left Scott Cooksey out of work and he was rarely required throughout the course of the afternoon Hereford are now the only side not to have conceded a goal in the Conference this season. The website man-of-the-match award was awarded to Gavin Williams for his superb off the ball play, and unique skill on it. However, Paul Gothard, Tony James, Robin Elmes and John Snape were all contenders.
The Hereford workrate was first class, not only from the defence but in midfield and attack too. Rodgerson, Snape and Robinson were simply a delight to watch, with McIndoe linking with the attacking two of Gavin Williams and Robin Elmes to complete a well-balanced line-up. However, criticism where its due - United must convert more of the chances that they create from the wings. Throughout the afternoon the service from both the left and the right was first class but the strikers couldn't convert as many as one would have liked. Nevertheless, an emphatic victory which sets the Bulls up nicely for Monday's home match against Northwich Victoria, kick off at three o'clock.
Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson, Snape, McIndoe, Elmes, Williams
Substitutions - Giddings (76)
Man of the Match - Gavin Williams
