Defence lets Hereford Down
Hereford United put in yet another dismal home display and sank to their second consecutive home defeat of the season against Halifax Town this afternoon. The Bulls fell to a 3-2 defeat and have now only picked up three from a possible nine points at home this season. Graham Turner will have to sort out the home form if he wants his side be title contenders come next May.
Hereford made one change from the squad last Monday, Rob Purdie missed out through injury and was replaced by Mark Robinson on the subs bench. The Shaymen took a shock lead after only three minutes. A gap opened in the United defence and Lewis Kileen scored in the bottom corner when one on one with Johnathan Gould in the Hereford goal. Adam Stansfield almost replied for Hereford, but afer receiving a pass from Ryan Green he shot wide.
Dean Howell was replaced by new signing Darren Mansaram after just nine minutes due to injury. Mansaram was making his debut after joining on a one month loan, and definitely impressed. He made his presence felt and caused all sorts of problems in the defence. Martin Foster was the first of five players to be yellow carded for Halifax, all for unsporting behaviour.
As the half hour mark approached, the Bulls started to mount pressure on the away side. Andy Tretton flicked on a header for Stansfield, but it was just too high for him to reach at the far post. Danny Williams shot wide from twenty yards before Hereford netted the equaliser. Craig Stanley broke from the midfield and threaded a pass into Stansfield who shot low, under the 'keeper into the back of the net.
However, United took their foot of the gas and were made to pay seven minutes later. A corner was swung in and following a scramble in the box a pass was played across the goal face and was knocked in by Ryan Sugden. After fourty minutes Hereford found themselves in a position that they are not used to, two goals behind on their home turf. Tony James failed to clear a header and so Halifax capitalised and Mansaram found Steve Bushell in space and he knocked in the third from inside the box.
The Hereford fans were expecting their team to come out for the second half with all guns blazing, but it never really happend. Within ten minutes of the restart Graham Turner decided to switch to a 4-4-2 formation, replacing Tamika Mkandawire with Lee Mills. David Brown dropped back into the midfield. Mills had the Bulls first notable chance of the second half following a switch of play from the right to the left, and then back to Mills on the right of the box, but his effort was easily caught by Ian Dunbavin.
On the hour mark Town had a good chance but Gould made a great one handed save to deny Sugden. Graham Hyde replaced Jamie Pitman as United tried to look for an opening but it was Halifax who netted again, although it was ruled out for handball by Mansaram. Hereford pressed but couldn't create any real opportunities. Simon Travis forced a corner after man of the match Adam Stansfield had a shot blocked and David Brown got in a good header that was saved well. Lee Mills flicked on a left wing cross and the ball was headed in by Denny Ingram, but it was too little too late for Hereford as that was the last action of the game.
Another good attendance of 3,022 including 54 away fans will be very dissapointed by the performance that Hereford put in. If Hereford are to live up to their reputation of title contenders then they will have to improve significantly at home. United will be looking to put things right when they go to Gravesend next weekend, one of the three teams that are unbeaten this season.
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