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BURTON ALBION (home) 05/04/03 After three successive defeats, Hereford finally picked up three points to close the gap on fifth-placed Dagenham to four points. Three of the goals came before the half time whistle, as Burton Albion proved to be rotten opposition. Danny Williams was dropped to the bench, with Steve Guinan lining up on the right hand side of midfield. Rob Purdie moved into the middle of the park to accomodate Guinan. John Grant made an appearance on the bench after his suspension, but Tony James missed out through injury. Burton player/manager Nigel Clough decided not to play himself although he was named among the five substitutes, and former England winger Andy Sinton lined up on the left. However, he was an England winger during the days when Graham Taylor was manager, and consequently Matt Clarke had his easiest game in weeks. United took the lead with the first noteworthy effort of the match. Paul Parry cut inside a defender and pulled the ball back into the area. Ben Smith shot first time, but the ball struck loan signing Karl Hawley. Nevertheless, the Walsall man collected the ball and span quickly before firing under goalkeeper Matt Duke. Hereford dominated the match with Burton rarely threatening, the majority of their attacks being cut out by Andy Tretton. Matt Baker had only one save to make in the first half, rushing out to deny Jon Howard with a brave block near the end of the half. Steve Guinan justified his inclusion by scoring twice in quick succession midway through the first half. United won a corner, and Parry played the ball short to the near post. The Hereford fans grumbled with frustration - how many short corner routines have worked so far this season? However, Smith returned the ball to Parry, who provided the perfect cross for Guinan to glance a header into the top corner. Minutes later, he had his fourteenth of the season. Smith won the ball and passed to Purdie, who laid the ball off superbly. Guinan ran onto it and hit a shot first time from the corner of the box that flew into the net at Duke's near post. He could not have hit it harder, but even so the goalkeeper was unhappy at letting that one in. Hereford passed the ball well and did not allow Burton to get anywhere near the goal at the Meadow End. Duke made a fine save to deny Parry, then dived to catch a header from Albano Correira. The pattern of play continued at the start of the second half, with Duke making another good save low to his right, turning a shot around the post. Ian Wright sent a header over the top from a corner, then came even closer with another that flashed literally inches wide. After his display against Margate last week, it was pleasing to see that he has returned to the Ian Wright we all know so well. Eventually the pressure told and United added a fourth with twenty minutes to go. In a similar build up to the first goal, Purdie fired a shot at goal. The ball struck a defender and rebounded to Correira, who made no mistake from eight yards. Correira should have added another soon after when his header looped onto the bar, with the rebound striking the post with the goalkeeper nowhere. Burton did have their chances in the second half, with Baker making a good save to deny Darren Stride with a header. A few minutes later he made an even better save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar after a close-range header. It was a comfortable display by the Bulls, with Rob Purdie and Steve Guinan completely dominating the midfield and Andy Tretton again having a good game in defence. Burton however were one of the poorest sides to visit Edgar Street this season. I'm sure Hereford only did this to make us all excited about the play-offs again... Hereford: Baker, Clarke, Rose, Tretton, Wright, Guinan (sub Williams), Purdie, Smith, Parry, Correira, Hawley. Subs not used: Griffiths, Grant, Sawyers, Teesdale.
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