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KETTERING (home) 08/03/03 Hereford finally got back to winning ways with a hard-fought win over bottom-of-the-table Kettering Town, with goals in each half from Ben Smith and the returning Matt Clarke. With the exception of Clarke taking Jay Lovett's place, the Bulls kept the same line-up as the one beaten at Yeovil last week. Former Hereford player Scott Goodwin was suspended for this game, hence only one Kettering player picked up a booking! A strong wind and boggy pitch made life difficult for both teams, especially the two goalkeepers whose goalkicks often fell well short of the halfway line. The first half was mainly forgettable, with both sides playing a lot of long-ball. However, Kettering enjoyed some success with this tactic, with a couple of shots going wide or over the bar. From a corner kick, Neil Haworth rose above Matt Baker but directed his header inches wide. Kettering did not look like they were the bottom side in the Conference, with the two centre backs, Haworth and Mark Haran, working very hard to keep out any Hereford attacks. Paul Parry was again causing plenty of problems down the left flank, continually embarrassing Danish defender Brett Solhkon. John Grant was put in the clear, but with the angle narrowing he elected to shoot wide of goal instead of squaring for a colleague, which would have left a simple tap-in. Hereford took the lead shortly before the half-time whistle. Steve Guinan had a shot blocked at the expense of a corner. Danny Williams played it short to Michael Rose, who tapped it back to Williams. The former Chesterfield player then crossed the ball, and Ben Smith headed the ball into the bottom corner for his sixth goal of the season. The first half can be best summed up by a free-kick routine that United tried. Williams and Rose stood over the ball, and Williams played it into the middle.where nobody was expecting it, and eventually Hereford conceded possession. Kettering had a glorious opportunity to equalise straight from the kick-off. The ball was played out to the left wing, where Craig Norman put in a lovely low cross to the unmarked Carl Shutt. From six yards however, the player-manager somehow managed to blaze the ball over the bar with no defender anywhere near him. In fairness, it was the only time the concentration of either Tony James or Andy Tretton lapsed. Kettering pushed forward, but keeper Matt Baker did not have much to do with the majority of Town's efforts going high or wide. More often than not, they were closed down by one of James, Tretton or Jamie Pitman. Hereford looked the more dangerous side and created several chances. Substitute Rob Purdie was played in, but his shot was too close to visiting keeper Ian Bowling. Paul Parry set off on a run and cut inside, but with the angle narrowing he could only fire into the side netting. Michael Rose had an audacious attempt from 40 yards that flew only just wide. Man-of-the-match Parry was next to have a go, picking up possession and striding forward before unleashing a shot from 25 yards, which Bowling did brilliantly to keep out, tipping the ball over the crossbar. Eventually the pressure told, and Hereford killed the game with ten minutes remaining. Parry was again involved, crossing low from the left, leaving Matt Clarke with plenty of time to fire into the roof of the net from eight yards. It could have been more, and United felt they should have had a penalty when Jamie Pitman was pulled back during a goalmouth scramble. Purdie had another shot comfortably saved by Bowling as Hereford finished strongly. The Bulls were made to work hard for their win, but it was probably deserved. Kettering worked very hard to keep the opposition at bay, but their forwards, in particular Victor Asombang, were guilty of poor control at vital times. However, Hereford's two central defenders, Tretton and James, also worked very hard to keep them out; Tretton especially had a good game. James also showed his class by providing a 60-yard diagonal pass straight to the feet of Paul Parry, who took the ball on and won a corner. Parry was Hereford's best performer, although Danny Williams also had an excellent game in midfield. It was a good result, but tougher opposition await in the coming weeks. Hereford: Baker, Clarke, Rose, Tretton, James, Williams (sub Lovett), Pitman, Smith, Parry, Grant (sub Purdie), Guinan. Subs not used: Teesdale, Griffiths, Sawyers.
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