Hereford United will have a week before they play again after this afternoon's excellent result from Underhill. Next Saturday the Bulls are at home against Canvey Island.
The Bulls have now played both top teams, Barnet and Aldershot, twice and face current third placed Carlisle for the second time this season at Edgar Street in a months time on March 15th, a Tuesday evening. The Cumbrians defeated the Bulls 3-1 last October.
However of the other teams in contention for a play-off place, Hereford United have to travel to both Halfax and Woking in the last few days of the season.
Meanwhile Jamie Pitman admitted to BBC Hereford and Worcester after the game that Barnet are still in the driving seat.
"They have been magnificent this year. You hope that they might slip up and we keep winning but their lead is quite substantial.
Of the game itself Pitman commented:
"I think we've looked a lot stronger on the break today. They had to come at us, but we know we are a good side and at the moment confidence is high and we have to keep pushing as much as we can.
"Set pieces caused us a few problems and Craig made two or three great saves when he needed to."
The second goal was scored in injury time and Pitman said it would have been nice to have the cushion of that goal sooner.
"We felt it (the second goal) was coming at times and we had a couple of good balls into the box we possibly should have down a bit better with beforehand."
Meanwhile a young trialist from West Bromwich has been at Edgar Street this week according to BBC Sport.
West Brom have terminated Phillip Midworth's contract by mutual consent.
The Baggies defender, whose contract was due to end in June, had been on the transfer list for more than six weeks and has been training with Hereford.
Midworth is also expected to link up with League two side Shrewsbury Town for a reserve team match.
Manager Bryan Robson said: "I decided Phil is not part of my plans a few weeks ago but he is a terrific pro who I'm sure will do a good job elsewhere."
Midworth is 19 and six feet tall.
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Saturday, February 12, 2005
Week off for the Bulls
Hereford defeat Barnet 2-0
In a very tense game Hereford United have roundly defeated Barnet by 2-0. The Bulls move up to fifth in the Conference table equal on points with third place Carlisle. Aldershot are second with one more point.
1 Barnet 29 63
2 Aldershot 29 48
3 Carlisle 27 47
4 Halifax 27 47
5 Hereford 28 47
6 Woking 29 47
7 Accrington Stanley 29 47
Hereford went ahead against Barnet in the 33rd minute through Daniel Carey-Bertram after good work from Danny Williams.
Hereford were awarded a free-kick which Stanley took. Danny Williams picked-up the ball on the left, went past several Barnet players and slotted it through to Carey-Bertram who was one on one with the keeper. The Hereford striker calmly put the ball in the far corner of the net.
David Brown has come on for Danny Williams in the middle of the second half and later Adam Stansfield came on for the Bulls. Ryan Green also featured late in the game.
Adam Stansfield scored Hereford's second goal in injury time. He was released and went around the keeper very calmly.
Hereford United, who have about 500 supporters at the game, played up the famous Underhill slope in the first half.
Herefords' starting line-up was the same as last week against Hyde but with Adam Stansfield on the bench instead of Graham Hyde. Andy Tretton is also on the bench for Tom Smith.
Hereford Team: Mawson, Travis, James, Mkandawire, Robinson, Williams, Pitman, Stanley, Anyinsah, Purdie, Carey-Bertram. Subs: Green, Tretton, Scott, Stansfield, Brown.
Conditions at Barnet were blustery with a few light showers.
Meanwhile two Conference games have been postponed because of wet conditions. They are Morecambe against Aldershot and Tamworth versus Leigh RMI.
More professional clubs in the Conference
David Brown, the Hereford United striker, has questioned whether the standard of the Conference has improved this season.
"I don't know whether the standard is not as good this year or whether people have raised their standards a little more. There are definitely more professional clubs now in the Conference than at any time before," Brown told the Evening News.
"Barnet have been fantastic this season. They have done better than I expected. They have been the pace-setters for much of the season and others have struggled to catch up.
"Saying that, we played Barnet at home earlier this season and ended up drawing 1-1 when we should have beaten them."
"Barnet are 19 points ahead of us. For us, it's making sure we end up in the play-offs. That's the main thing.
"I don't think the pressure is on us to beat them. It is on Barnet as they are leading the Conference and everybody is chasing after them. They are expected now to win week-in-week-out and that could have an effect.
"We are quite confident after our last couple of games. It was important we beat Aldershot a fortnight ago because they had been playing well and it kept us in there."
Friday, February 11, 2005
It's a good game to look forward to
This afternoon's game at Barnet is a good game to look forward to says Graham Turner.
The Hereford United manager interviewed by BBC Hereford and Worcester continued: "What happened at Aldershot, the result there, has given us a tremendous amount of confidence.
"To go there whilst they were on a winning streak, never an easy place to go to, they're one of the fancied sides, and to come away with a 2-0 win and a very good team performance has boosted the confidence no-end.
"I think we go to Barnet looking forward to the game."
The weather at Underhill is expected to be mainly dry for the game after early rain but it will be windy.
Meanwhile latest betting suggests a Barnet win this afternoon. Late last night Skybet was offering the following odds:
Barnet 4/6 Draw 12/5 Hereford 7/2
Barnet have been outstanding says Turner
Graham Turner, the Hereford United manager, has told the Evening News of his thoughts about tomorrow's game at Barnet.
"It's a big challenge for us. Barnet have been outstanding all season and they have got a terrific record. It will take a dramatic slip-up for them to miss out on winning the league. It looks as though they have got enough to win it. There's nobody really competing with them.
"Their defeat in the FA Trophy also means they have a clean run in the league without the problem of fixture congestion to worry about. I'm not quite sure if the result at Carlisle will affect them. It was a drubbing.
"We realise that they did not put out their strongest side, but the result may just sow the seeds of doubt. There is always a little bit of pressure on the sides at the top. Barnet are a good side but we also can be a good side.
"The victory at Aldershot did us a power of good. Our performance was very solid and we were creative."
Turner confirms that the injury worries at Edgar Street have lessened although Lee Mills has not trained much this week and will not travel. However Adam Stansfield is reported to have recovered from his leg injury. The manager faces having to leave Stansfield on the bench if he continues with the pairing of Danny Carey-Bertram and Rob Purdie.
"Rob and Danny have been playing well in the last couple of games. Rob is growing in confidence in that position. He has a lot of pace and mobility which troubles opponents," commented Turner.
Meanwhile late this afternoon it has been reported that Aaron McLean has moved from Aldershot to Grays Athletic. However he could well be back in the Conference as Grays top the Conference South table by 14 points.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Bulls hope to halt the Bees
Hereford United travel to table toppers Barnet tomorrow afternoon in an important Conference clash. The runaway leaders boast an impressive fifthteen point lead over second place Aldershot Town, and nineteen points over their opponents at Underhill this weekend, who are in seventh place.
Paul Fairclough's side have been delt a blow before the game, with the news that Ismail Yakubu is likely to miss out. The centre back, who has had flu, is struggling with a hamstring problem. Damian Batt is ruled out having picked up a hamstring injury against Carlisle last Saturday, when an understrength Bees side were dumped out of the F.A. Trophy 4-1.
Attacker Lee Roache is another major doubt due to a foot injury for the league leaders. Goalkeeper Scott Tynan though does have a chance of recovering; he is rated a 50-50 to be fit in time.
Lee Mills is a major doubt for Hereford, he is unlikely to feature at all after having a scan on his leg injury. Adam Stansfield is returning to fitness for United and should he be in contention he is expected to partner Danny Carey-Bertram in the strike force. Ryan Green is also back following a spell out with a hamstring problem.
Of the game against Barnet, Graham Turner told the Hereford Journal, "We go to Barnet and they've had a great season. We go there seeing it as a big challenge and that's how we'll approach it, and hope we can cause an upset."
He has also spoken to BBC Hereford and Worcester saying that this will be a big game for both clubs.
"They've been under pressure at the top of the table. Okay they've had a big lead and perhaps that eases the pressure, but for us it is a big game.
"We need to stay in touch with everybody around us
"It's an amazing season with the number of clubs that could be in contention and our feelings are that it doesn't matter whether we finish second or fifth, we've just got to be in the play-offs at the end of the season."
The Bulls could jump to third place with a victory, but everyone at the club knows that they face a huge task in defeating the high flying Bees. The two sides met at Edgar Street earlier in the season, and in a very even game they shared the points with a 1-1 draw.
Both teams play attacking football and so should provide a good spectacle at Underhill tomorrow afternoon.
Contrasting statistics from the Bulls and the Bees
The statistics for both fouls and card counts for this season show that there is a significent difference between Hereford United And Barnet. The two teams play each other tomorrow at Underhill.
As regards fouls committed, Barnet have the second highest total in the Conference of 414. Only local rivals Stevenage have committed more fouls.
Hereford have committed 277 fouls, the second lowest total in the Conference. Only Northwich have a lower total.
The contrast in the number of cards given out this campaign is also worth noting. The Bees have collected 3 reds and 48 yellows, whereas the Bulls have received 2 reds and just 19 yellows.
When the two teams met at Edgar Street earlier this season three Barnet players were booked but none from Hereford went into the referee's notebook.
We won't under-estimate Eastwood says Turner
Hereford United manager, Graham Turner, has told BBC Hereford and Worcester that he is well aware that although Eastwood are three levels below the Bulls they will be ready for the challenge for the Conference side in the forthcoming FA Trophy game.
"We won't underestimate them, Eastwood are the lowest club left in the Trophy, so, in that respect I suppose it has been kind to us.
"We can expect a tough one up there, they have nothing to lose, it'll be a big game for them.
"We've got to treat them with respect, but it gives us an opportunity to progress further."
Meanwhile in his weekly column in the Hereford Times Graham Turner reveals that he has lost both his father in-law and his father recently. It can't have been an easy time for him and his family.
Another ex-Conference player starts for Wales
First it was Paul Parry, now Sam Ricketts has seen a very quick rise from Conference football to International level.
Ricketts, who was playing for Telford last season before moving to Swansea, made his debut for Wales last night in their two -nil win over Hungary.
"I thought it went well on the whole," he admitted to the Shropshire Star
"I knew that they wanted me to play on the left but I didn't know how long I was going to play so it was an added bonus to get the full 90 minutes.
"I didn't imagine anything like this happening to me at this time last year when I was at Telford.
"It's been an exciting year for me really and it's come about so quickly."
Ricketts follows Hereford's Paul Parry who took just over a month to move from Conference football to playing for Wales after moving to Cardiff City. Gavin Williams, also formerly with Hereford and now with West Ham, was also picked to play but missed out because of injury.
The fact that these three players all either started with or spent their youth at local Conference clubs shows that they can progress to greater rewards given time.
Barnet ready for Hereford
The local Barnet press reports that most of the players on the Bees injury list are expected to face the Bulls on Saturday.
Barnet will welcome back a number of key players for the first in a trio of clashes that could go a long way to deciding their fate.
Captain Ian Hendon, top scorer Giuliano Grazioli and fellow marksman Liam Hatch are all fit to face Hereford at Underhill on Saturday.
The Bees then travel to Accrington and entertain Aldershot in what could be one of the toughest spells of the season.
On paper, it does not get much trickier than this, as all three opponents are gunning for the play-offs.
But a good return from these fixtures will surely result in another giant step towards lifting the Conference title.
Manager Paul Fairclough said: "They are big teams and big games. You don't know what's going to happen, but it could mould the season one way or another."
Fairclough is confident his side will bounce back from Sunday's disappointing 4-1 FA Trophy defeat at Carlisle.
He said: "I have had a great response from the players in training. That's what's so good about this team."
But Fairclough still has injury concerns going into the match. Ismail Yakubu, Lee Roache and keeper Scott Tynan were all described as touch and go' yesterday. Of the three, Yakubu, who has a hamstring problem, has the least chance of starting.
Meanwhile, Barnet yesterday denied claims Grazioli was in talks with League Two side Leyton Orient.
The club laughed off the rumours and reiterated that the Conference's top scorer was happy at Underhill.
Local Cup game on March 1st
The semi-final of the Herefordshire Senior Cup involving Hereford United is to take place on March 1st.
The fixture against Kington Town will be played at Edgar Street with a 7.45pm kick-off.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Eastwood Gate Prices announced
Eastwood Town last night announced that they would be charging realistic prices for the FA Trophy game against Hereford United on February 26th. Below is their statement:
Hereford game - admission prices
Paddy Farrell 09 February 2005 18:26 GMT
That tremendous fourth round Trophy win over Hayes F.C has been richly rewarded by another draw in the fifth round to Conference giants Hereford United.
This game will be played on Saturday 26th February, 2005. For our four home games so far in this Competition we have played more than fair with our fans by leaving our admission prices at League game levels.
For the visit of Hereford Utd. we had to reach agreement between our level of £5/£3 and the "Bulls" level of £13/£7.
We have both compromised and agreed to charge £8/£4 at our ground and £9/£5 if a replay is required.
I must emphasise once again that both Season Tickets and Vice Presidents passes are invalid in this Competition. For these games ALL PAY!!
Paddy Farrell (Secretary Eastwood Town F.C.)
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Yeovil may owe transfer money to Hereford
Bulls News understands that questions are being asked over the transfer fees of both Michael McIndoe and Gavin Williams from Yeovil to Doncaster and West Ham United respectively. The two players were formally with Hereford United before being
sold to the Somerset club.
Details as yet are sketchy but it is known that both players were transferred from Edgar Street to Yeovil with sell-on clauses.
McIndoe was sold to Doncaster for a reported fee of around £50,000. It now appears that as Doncaster were promoted to League Division One an extra fee may have been forwarded to Yeovil. It is thought that in this case Hereford could be entitled to a cut of any extra payment.
As regards Gavin Williams the picture, as yet, is less clear. He was reportedly sold from Yeovil to West Ham for £250,000. Whether there were any extra clauses in the deal is not known, but it is thought that any dispute over Williams' transfer could centre around the fine details of the deal.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Hereford have asked the Football League to look
into the deals. One source said that the Bulls may have been alerted by Doncaster
chairman, John Ryan, to the situation.
Hereford United have not commented on the rumours as yet but may make a statement when matters become clearer.
It's Barnet on Saturday
Hereford United travel to Barnet on Saturday and for anyone who has not been to Underhill before here are some directions. (Thanks to Confguide and Bullseye for most of the details)
If driving from the Hereford area it's probably best to take the M40 and join the M25 (going North) at junction 16.
From the M25:
Leave the M25 at Jct 23, South Mimms. Do not take the main A1(M) here, but get onto the A1081, signed for Barnet.
This road passes Underhill after about three miles - Turn right for the ground just after you pass High Barnet tube station as you go down Barnet Hill. The turn is just after the Old Red Lion Pub, continue into Fairfield Way and then right again into Westcombe Drive. The ground is on the left.
By Rail:
The nearest mainline station is New Barnet, which is served by West Anglia Great Northern trains from London Kings Cross. Journey time 20 mins, and it's a frequent service.
Out of the station, walk to the main road, and turn left. This is Station Road, heading West. After about 0.6 miles, you will reach Barnet Hill. Turn right (north), then left into Underhill after crossing the tube lines.
By Tube:
Underhill is very close to High Barnet station, the terminus of one of the branches of the Northern Line. Out of the station turn left, and walk down Barnet Hill. After about 300 metres, turn right into Underhill.
Parking:
There is no parking as such at Underhill, but some parking is available at the High Barnet tube station, or below the ground about 300yards on the left by the sports fields.
Tickets:
Adults £11 Concessions £5 for the away supporters terrace. There is a family stand where the charge is Adults £12 Concessions £6 but you may be siting with Barnet fans.
Barnet have a ticket system for Concessions for the away end. Vouchers can be obtained from the Hereford United office.
We would love to be there says Turner
Graham Turner has confirmed that Hereford United are taking the FA Trophy seriously.
In a short interview on BBC Hereford and Worcester this afternoon, he said that there are those who look down on the Trophy as a competition but he's not one of them.
"Some years ago we got to the semi-final and blew it."said Turner.
"It is a prestige competition. The final at Villa Park. I've been to a couple of them over recent seasons.
"It's a terrific occasion, so we would love to be there."
Poor example from Fairclough
It is always difficult for a manager to know whether to chase everything that his club competes in or to pick and choose which to work for.
In Barnet's case it looks like the Conference league title is all they are interested in this season.
Last Sunday they played Carlisle in the FA Trophy and were roundly defeated 4-1 but the impression is that Bees's manager Paul Fairclough had decided before the match that he wasn't interested in the Competition.
According to the official Barnet Website, Fairclough only selected four players "that could lay claim to a regular place this season". Last week Bulls News reported that five players were injured for this game but were all expected to make recoveries before next weekend's game with Hereford United.
Assuming that perhaps 15 players would make up the "regular place(s)" in the side, the implication is that the Bees rested at least six other first team players for the game, none of whom were said to be injured.
Fairclough is manager of the English National Side which has a game against Holland on February 16th. If most of the Conference clubs took the same attitude to this game as Fairclough has to the Trophy, he could find it difficult to pick a half decent side for the game.
It is therefore questionable whether a manager in his position should put out a reserve side in a Trophy game. When Liverpool did the same recently in a Cup game they were roundly condemned.
Barnet were the top team in the Trophy, similar to Chelsea's position in the FA Cup. Smaller clubs dream of playing top Conference sides just as Conference sides dream of playing top premier clubs. Just look at the pleasure Exeter received from the games with Manchester United recently. And in the same vein the visit of Hereford United to Eastwood in the next round of the FA Trophy.
By putting out a "reserve side" Barnet have snubbed the Trophy and at the same time helped their promotion chances by having less fixtures to play. Some will say clever tactics, other will disagree.
It is not the first time Barnet have used the reserve team tactic in a Cup match this season. They lost at home 0-3 to Greys Athletic in the Conference Cup last month thereby curtailing their fixture list.
Carlisle are now said to be worried about a fixture backlog according to the Daily Telegraph this morning. What would Barnet have said had the Cumbrians put out a reserve side last Sunday and allowed the Bees to win the game?
As well as losing the game, Barnet's afternoon was made worse by an injury to Damian Batt, who was carried off midway through the first half. It is understood he could be out for up to six weeks.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Turner up for FQ Award
Four personalities in the world of football has been nominated for the uhlsport/FourFourTwo FQ Awards and amidst them is Graham Turner, manager of Hereford United.
uhlsport, the world's largest football-only company, present the 2004-5 FQ Awards. The FQ Awards are a monthly search for those people who have an advanced understanding of football, an FQ.
All four of the nominees have shown their FQ, but who has the greatest understanding of the beautiful game?
Hereford United Manager Graham Turner
Without people like Graham Turner there wouldn't be football clubs. The Hereford Chairman and Manager has almost single-handedly kept the club afloat during many a stormy season. For his investment in his community, perseverance and loyalty we salute Turner's FQ. Let's hope we welcome him back to the Football League this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur Manager Martin Jol
The linesman got in wrong, the referee got it wrong, Carroll's blushes suggest he knew while Ferguson was eerily quiet. Only one man came out of it all with dignity. Martin Jol showed dignity and restraint with his post-match comments on "that" goal.
Bradford City
Bradford donated part of their gate receipts from the Boxing Day game with Wrexham to the Welsh side, who are in administration. "We've been in administration twice in three years, you need all the help you can," said club secretary Jon Pollard.
Gordon Strachan
Redknapp went to Southampton, Smith went to Manchester United, former Saints manager Strachan's response to an invitation to manager Pompey: "Everything's right - it's 10 minutes away, there are good players there, a good set-up, a good atmosphere at the ground but I've got too many memories of the other side and I don't want to sour those memories." It's refreshing to see a man who understands how supporters feel.
To vote for either of these go to http://www.precisionfootball.com/scripts/fourfourtwoaward.asp?lang=en&sitetypID=2&sessionID=
Away support averages 328
Hereford United are very lucky that so many supporters travel to watch the Bulls' away games.
The average turnout this season so far is 328 per game. Figures used are either offical ones released by the home club or Bulls News reporters' best estimate (E)
Aug 17th Crawley 500E
Aug 21th York 459
Aug 30th Northwich 600E
Sept 11th Gravesend 244
Sept 25th Leigh 300E
Oct 5th Dagenham 200E
Oct 11th Accrington 150
Oct 23rd Carlisle 300E
Nov 20th Canvey 243
Dec 11th Scarborough 100E
Dec 26th Exeter 300E
Jan 8th Burton 391
Jan 30th Aldershot 481
Chester's bid rejected for Twiss
Morecambe Football Club received a bid this afternoon for the transfer of registration of top goal scorer Michael Twiss to Chester City Football Club for the total sum of £50,000.
The bid has, this evening, been rejected by the Morecambe board of directors.
Twiss who has scored 16 goals this season was given a free transfer by Chester and joined Morecambe last August. Mark Wright was manager at that time.
Morecambe manager, Jim Harvey, was delighted that the offer had been rejected by the Morecambe board. He told the official Morecambe Website, "Michael has done well for us this season, his football and confidence are improving all the time and I feel he will play a pivotal role in our assault for a play-off place in the Nationwide Conference. I spoke with Michael this morning & he made it very clear to me that he did not want to move from Morecambe.
Michael Twiss himself said, "I am very happy at Christie Park and enjoying my football more now than I have for quite some time. We have a great set of lads and the atmosphere and team spirit at the club is superb, we are in a good position to be in the play-offs and I am certainly not looking for a move from here at all.
Tamworth away game may be on March 8th
The Offical Tamworth Website has reported that the Hereford United away game (at Tamworth) will be played on Tuesday March 8th at 7.45pm.
However this could be subject to Conference Cup fixtures. (See earlier article)
Youth team now in different league
Hereford United's youth team change leagues this month to the Merit Division South Division Three.
Last Saturday the young team were defeated 5-0 at home by Rushden and Diamonds. They finished bottom of the table of nine clubs.
The Football League describes the change as follows: The Conference phase of the Football League Youth Alliance has now come to an end and the Merit Division phase begins this weekend. Clubs have been split into Merit Divisions on the basis of how they performed in the Conference phase. The Merit Divisions form the most demanding and testing part of the season, it is felt that by pitting teams of similar standard against each other it aides the development of the players involved and also makes the competition more demanding as clubs are getting a variety of fixtures rather than playing clubs local to them repeatedly in one season.
Other clubs in this league are Cheltenham Town, Cirencester, Gillingham, Newport County, Northampton Town, Southend United, Swansea City and Wycombe Wanderers.
The youth team's first fixture in the new league is on Feb 19th against Cirencester at home.
A trip to Eastwood
Hereford United have been drawn away to Eastwood Town, known as the Badgers, in the next round of the FA Trophy.
Eastwood, which is just to the left of junction 26 of the M1 near Nottingham, reached the fifth round with a 1-0 win against Hayes in front of 324 supporters.
They currently lie in ninth place in the Unibond Division One.
After Saturday's win against Hyde, Graham Turner told the media: "It's high time we had a good run.
"The prospect of a final at Villa Park is a very attractive proposition."
Hereford United have every prospect of at least getting through this round on February 26th and being one of the last eight in the competition.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Bulls face fixture congestion
After defeating Hyde United last Saturday, Hereford United will find out later this morning who they will meet in the fifth round of the FA Trophy on February 26th. A win at this stage will be worth £6,000 to the Bulls.
As reported on Saturday the Tamworth away game scheduled for the last Saturday in February will be moved to a later date. At present that is unlikely to be much before the beginning of April as Hereford could be playing every Tuesday night for the next few weeks starting on February 22 with a Conference Cup game against Northwich.
However should Graham Turner, the Hereford United manager, decide that this cup is one cup too many he may decide to play a reserve team on this occasion.
The fixture list for the next few weeks is as follows:
Saturday Feb 12th League Barnet away 3pm
Saturday Feb 19th League Canvey Island home 3pm
Tuesday Feb 22nd Conf Cup Northwich home 7.45pm
Saturday Feb 26th FA Trophy Eastwood away 3pm
Tuesday March 1st FA Trophy replay (should one be needed)
Saturday March 5th League Morecambe home 3pm
Tuesday March 8th Conf Cup (if Hereford defeat Northwich, they play either Accrington Stanley or Tamworth) away 7.45pm
Saturday March 12th League Forest Green away 3pm
Tuesday March 15th League Carlisle home 7.45pm
Saturday March 19th FA Trophy Round Six or League Crawley Town home 3pm
Tuesday March 22nd FA Trophy replay or League Morecambe away 7.45pm
Friday March 25th League Farnborough away 3pm
Monday March 28th League Northwich home 3pm
Away supporters put off visiting Barnet
There is a long letter in today's Non League Paper about how Barnet charge away supporters. As Hereford United visit Underhill next Saturday the letter was revelent to Bulls fans.
Dennis Signy, the author of the letter, describes himself as a PR consultant to the Barnet directors. He explained how the concession for admissions worked.
In effect, if an away supporter, who qualifies for a concession, visits Barnet and wants to go into certain areas of the ground, that person needs to collect a voucher from Hereford United. That means a visit to Edgar Street which isn't easy for those fans who live a long distance away from Hereford. It also could curtail fans who are unable to make a decision to go to Barnet until late in the week.
It needs to be asked why this system is in place. The writer doesn't make this point clear.
As far as Bulls News is aware, Barnet are the only club in the Conference that uses a concession arrangement for certain away fans. Perhaps the system is designed to put off away supporters following their team.
The writer says that the (above) concessions will apply for our next home game against Hereford United.
So if you qualify for a concession you need a voucher for next Saturday or you may have to mix with the Barnet fans.
Fitness told against Hyde
Graham Turner was pleased with the victory over Hyde yesterday. It will be the first time in three seasons that the Bulls have reached the last 16 of the FA Trophy.
"Our fitness told in the second half," Turner told the NLP.
"The confidence has started to come back and it's about time we did something in this competition."
Meanwhile former Hereford United striker Rob Elmes has moved to Stratford Town and bagged a brace yesterday against Romulus. Elmo had recently been with Moor Green.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Bulls drop to seventh in league
Although without a Conference game today, Hereford United have dropped to seventh place in the League.
Accrington Stanley go above them on goal difference after their 2-1 win against Scarborough. There are now four teams, including Hereford, all with 44 points and three of the four have a goal difference of nine, again including Hereford.
It is so close at the top of the Conference that only four points separate second place Carlisle and twelvth place Morecambe.
However Aldershot could move up to second place tomorrow, above Carlisle who play Barnet in the Trophy, should they defeat York.
Bulls cruise into next round
Hereford United dominated throughout as they eased past Hyde United in the F.A. Trophy fourth round at Edgar Street this afternoon. Hyde held out in the first half, surviving an early onslaught by Hereford, but conceded three second half goals as the home sides' fitness and class shone through.
The Bulls were unchanged from the side that defeated Aldershot Town 2-0 last Sunday but Ryan Green was back on the bench following a hamstring injury. Rob Purdie was again chosen to partner the in form Danny Carey-Bertram in attack.
Hyde very rarely threatened Craig Mawson's goal, and when they did the 'keeper was not made to work very hard. He denied Matty McNeil's early effort before Craig Stanley fired United into action with a powerful first time effort that slammed against a defender. Carey-Bertram layed on for Stanley to drive wide before good work by Danny Williams and Simon Travis led to Carey-Bertram hitting a goal bound effort, which was turned away by Mullock in Hyde's goal.
On twenty five minutes Stanley arrived unmarked in the area to meet Travis' cross, but he managed to head wide what was Hereford's best chance of the first period. The game then became scrappy, with a booking for both sides, though Jamie Pitman's caution was a tad unfortunate. Williams forced another good save with a low shot as the half came to a close before Stanley shot again, but it was caught with ease.
The second half started perfectly for Hereford; Stanley fed Anyinsah a pass down the right, and he nutmegged his opponent before seeing his near post effort turned behind. Under a minute later, the deadlock was broken. Purdie crossed from the left and Mkandawire, up from the corner, glanced a header in at the near post. The Bulls sat back for a few moments after, but when Dean forced Mawson into a save at full stretch they woke up again.
Williams had a good chance to double the advantage before Carey-Bertram succeded where he failed. Stanley lifted a pass to Travis on the right flank, and his pin point cross was nodded in at the far post by Carey-Bertram. Williams went very close again, this time Mark Robinson crossed and Williams met it with a volley that crashed against the underside of the bar.
Man of the match Anyinsah made yet another good run down the wing before crossing for the onrushing Purdie, who headed wide at the near post. Williams cut in from the left and shot from the edge of the box, but his effort was palmed away. However, Pitman was onto it quickly and he cut back for Purdie who fired in from inside the six yard box. The goal was credited to Purdie although it looked to have taken a slight touch off the head of Carey-Bertram.
The result was safe at 3-0 and so both managers made changes. David Brown and Green came on for Hereford in place of Carey-Bertram and Travis. Williams was later taken off for Graham Hyde. Robinson was booked late on just before Purdie paced clear on a counter attack, that resulted with Hyde's low shot being saved.
The 113 away supporters were a credit to their side, offering plenty of vocal support. They will not be dissapointed with their sides efforts who put plenty of effort in trying to deny Hereford. Most of the crowd of 1,575 though, will be happy that their side got a job well done and now have a place in the fifth round of the trophy.
Hereford Team: Mawson, Travis, James, Mkandawire, Robinson, Williams, Pitman, Stanley, Anyinsah, Purdie, Carey-Bertram. Subs: Green, Smith, Scott, Hyde, Brown.
Bulls win the cash
Hereford United will receive £5,000 after defeating Hyde United in the Trophy game at Edgar Street this afternoon in front of a crowd of 1575.
The Bulls took the lead with a 48th minute goal from Tamika Mkandawire.
Danny Carey-Bertram scored Herefords' second in the 63rd minute from a Simon Travis cross.
The third goal came from Rob Purdie in the 76th minute after the Hyde keeper failed to deal with a Danny Williams shot.
The next round of the Trophy is due to be played on February 26th. The away game against Tamworth arranged for that day will be postponed.
Interviewed after the game by BBC Hereford and Worcester, Danny Carey-Bertram thought that it had been hard work to break Hyde down but Hereford should have scored more goals later in the game. However looking forward to next Saturday he admitted that the game against Barnet would be harder.
Friday, February 04, 2005
Carey-Bertram aims for extended run
Danny Carey-Bertram has finally been given a chance in the Hereford United side, and he hopes to grab the opportunity with both hands and continue in the rich vein of form that he has shown in January.
The twenty year old netted six times from four starts last month, which he hopes will be enough to earn himself a run in the first eleven, having spent most of his one and a half year career at Edgar Street on the bench. But with David Brown, Adam Stansfield and Lee Mills providing tough competition he knows that he will have to keep playing well to retain his place.
"I've been waiting all season for my chance and the gaffer has shown faith with me in the last few weeks. I've done myself justice by scoring six goals." He told the Evening News. "It's been difficult this season because I had a problem with my knee and hamstring and it kept me out for two months. Then I've got competition from Browny, Millsy and Adam. All I could do is work hard and bide my time."
The start of the season proved a frustrating time for Carey-Bertram, with the three strikers hitting the back of the net frequently it was always going to be a difficult task displacing them. "All three of them started the season off well and it was disappointing for me because it makes you feel like you want to be out there doing your bit. The other three have got the experience on me. But I've always thought I could do the job for Hereford up front. The gaffer's always believed in me and I believe in my own ability.
"At the moment, I'm doing well. I'm just looking to keep my place in the side. I've got to keep scoring, working hard in training and doing my best in games. "But I'm enjoying things. It's the best feeling in football, scoring goals and running to your own fans."
Injured players recover in a week at Barnet
The revelation that five Barnet players are to miss the Trophy game with Carlisle on Sunday but will all be fit for the Conference fixture with Hereford United next Saturday suggests Paul Fairclough, the Bees manager, is worried about the game with the Bulls.
Ian Hendon, Ismail Yakubu, Scott Tynan, Liam Hatch, and Giuliano Grazioli are all out for the Trophy game with various ailments.
Fairclough told the official Barnet website that he expected a full complement of players to be available for the home game against Hereford United at Underhill on February 12.
Grazioli, he reported, had made a good recovery and progress with his injury: "if it were the last game of the season and we needed three points it might be different", said the manager. Hatch is also on the mend.
Fairclough readily admits that the Nationwide Conference title is his priority but says of Sunday's game against close rivals Carlisle: "We will give it our best shot. But while it is a competition I would dearly love to win it won't be at the expense of denting our championship hopes".