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DONCASTER (home) 26/04/03 Hereford's season drew to a close with another defeat, this time against high-flying Doncaster Rovers. Six goals were scored in a highly entertaining match, which also saw a little bit of history being made with the appearance of 52 year old club owner John Ryan, who became the oldest person to make an appearance for a professional club. Hereford made a couple of enforced changes. With Ian Wright injured, Matt Clarke returned to the side, with Richard Teesdale being moved into a more familiar central defensive role. Paul Parry returned to replace John Grant, who has been released and so did not feature. Karl Hawley was dropped to the bench and replaced with Albano Correia, who scored the winning goal at Southport on Easter Monday. Both midfields started well in what proved to be a competitive match, with both teams being prepared to get stuck in - a little too literally in the case of Ricky Ravenhill, who made several stiff challenges on United players. It was the Hereford midfield that carved open the first chance, when after good interplay between Ben Smith and Matt Clarke, Correia somehow sent the ball wide from five yards when the ball was played straight to his feet. Teesdale also came close to opening his United account, heading inches over the crossbar from a corner. Smith had a header well tipped over by Andy Warrington, but the referee had already blown for an infringement. However, it was Rovers who had the best chance of taking the lead following a poor goalkick by Matt Baker. His clearance dropped to the feet of Andy Watson, who pushed the ball forward to Paul Barnes. Despite being clearly offside, the Conference's top scorer raced through. The presence of Baker pushed the striker out wide, but he still managed to get in a shot that was well saved by the goalkeeper. Baker also made a comfortable save from a header off a corner, and a couple of ambitious long-range efforts from John Doolan also missed the target. Five minutes before the break, United took the lead. They won a free-kick 25 yards out and to the left hand side of the box. Danny Williams stepped up to take it, and curled it around the wall and into the top corner of the net for a brilliant fifth goal of the season. After the break, Rovers started to get on top and created several chances, with Barnes twice shooting wide when well placed and numerous other chances going begging. Eventually however the pressure told, although it was a soft goal to concede. Chris Beech crossed from the left, Baker came and didn't collect, and Watson was left with a simple header from three yards. The scores were only level for a short time however. Correia made up for his earlier miss when a low cross from Williams was tapped home at the far post to give United the lead once more. This lead was cancelled out two minutes later when Tristram Whitman tapped home at the back post following a similar move to the goal preceding it, although the young striker looked to be offside. Worse was to come only minutes later when Donny took the lead. Barnes received the ball and shrugged off a pathetic challenge from substitute Andy Tretton before continuing forward and finishing from eight yards. In a frantic finish, United should have equalised when Karl Hawley turned well in the box but saw his shot come back off the post with Warrington not even moving. The goalkeeper also made a fine save from man-of-the-match Williams as the Bulls looked for an equaliser. With two minutes to go however, the game was over as a contest after a debut goal from substitute Gregg Blundell. Again Beech was the provider, with Blundell's shot from twelve yards striking both goalposts before going in. There is no doubting the Rovers were the better side, although the Bulls did not play particularly badly. There were good displays from Ben Smith and Danny Williams in midfield, and Tony James was again excellent in defence. Paul Parry also showed what United have been missing in the last few games, tormenting Simon Marples down the left flank. However, Donny are where they are for a reason. Whilst United have found goals hard to come by, Rovers possess the leading goalscorer in the Conference, with Paul Barnes netting his 25th goal of the season today. It has not been a bad season as such - surely it couldn't have been worse than last season's 17th placed finish? However, it has been so frustrating. The talent and potential is obviously there, and with a few good signings the Bulls should be looking to better their sixth-placed finish next season. The consistency needs to be there though: in some games, such as the FA Cup tie with Wigan, United have been superb, whereas in other games they have, quite frankly, been awful! This is your correspondent Andy Carswell signing off until next season. Hereford: Baker, Clarke, Teesdale (sub Tretton), James, Rose, Williams, Pitman (sub Purdie), Smith, Parry, Correia, Guinan (sub Hawley). Subs not used: Griffiths, Sawyers (no, this is not a misprint, we really did use all three subs!)
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