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FOREST GREEN ROVERS (home) 12/08/03 Hereford made an excellent start to the new season with a comprehensive 5-1win over Forest Green Rovers. This result, coupled with Saturday's 3-1 victory at Tamworth, means that the Bulls lead the table after just two games. The majority of the names in the squ ad were familiar to the home fans. Of the close-season signings, only right-back Ryan Green started, with Rob Purdie being preferred in attack to youngster Danny Carey-Bertram. Rovers included former United player Neil Grayson, but Gareth Stoker missed outthrough an injury sustained during the opening-day draw with Northwich. Hereford did much of the attacking in the first quarter of the match, but were often frustrated as Colin Addison sent his team out to defend in depth and play long balls up to Grayson. As a result, goalkeeper Steve Perrin was rarely troubled. Steve Guinan had the first two efforts of note, heading over from close range after a cross from Paul Parry, then sending a weak left-foot shot straight into the arms of Perrin. Michael Rose took a free-kick twenty yards out that again went straight at Perrin, but the shot was very well struck and the Rovers' custodian did well to hang onto it. Eventually the home side took the lead with a controversial goal. Paul Parry received the ball, took the ball around a defender and fired a shot towards goal. Perrin got a hand to it, but Steve Guinan, who appeared to be offside, ran through and tapped the ball in from a couple of yards. Perrin was furious at the decision to allow the goal to stand, and it took a while for the game to be restarted. However, Rovers quickly replied with a soft goal. Danny Williams was adjudged to have held Grayson's shirt, even though it appeared that the veteran striker was holding on to the young midfielder's shirt, and a free-kick was conceded. The ball was knocked wide, and Steve Jones crossed the ball into the box. Matt Baker punched it, but not very far at all. The ball was quickly returned to the penalty area, and Grayson turned a player before firing a shot towards goal. Baker got a hand to it, and Andy Tretton could only divert the ball into the top corner. Rovers were not level for long though. In first half injury time, Parry overhit a cross that Steve Jenkins needlessly put out for a corner. Parry'sfirst attempt was blocked at the expense of another corner, and the second flag-kick was initially cleared. Danny Williams was first to the loose ball however, and he released Jamie Pitman. He in turn released Purdie, who from fifteen yards curled a delightful shot over Perrin and into the roof of the net. Purdie had worked hard in the first half and deserved a goal for his efforts. The second half was virtually all one-way traffic, with the home side dominating the rest of the match. Minutes after the restart, a Hereford corner was cleared to new captain Tony James, who from fifty yards powered a blistering shot against the upright with Perrin grasping at thin air. Five minutes later, Purdie had increased the lead with his second goal. Ben Smith won the ball and passed to Williams, who in turn played a brilliant through-ball for Purdie to run on to. He strode forward, fending off a challenge from Denny Ingram, and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. Purdie then turned provider for the fourth Hereford goal. Again Williams was involved, playing another through ball behind the full-back for Purdie to run on to. The former Leicester player easily went around Rovers skipper Jon Richardson, before putting in a waist-high cross. Guinan was first to it, with the ball flying off the outside of his boot and into the top corner. United had several other opportunities to extend the lead. Michael Rose fired in one of his trademark long-range bullets that flew inches wide with Perrin just standing there. Danny Williams somehow missed from six yards out, with Perrin diving to save his shot. It was a disappointing finish from a player who deserved a goal for his efforts. Guinan went close with a short-range header that flew over, before making way for Danny Carey-Bertram. His first action was to receive the ball, beat off a pathetic tackle from Ingram and shoot low into the bottom corner to make it five. The youngster was involved in an unsavoury incident shortly afterwards with Steve Perrin, when both players chased after a long ball. Perrin got there first, but Carey-Bertram couldn't stop in time and ran into the goalkeeper. Perrin finally lost his temper and gave a rollicking to the Hereford player, and the two had to be separated. Only now did Rovers try and play football, but this was probably not a good idea, as many of their team succeeded in trapping the ball further than most people can kick it, and others managing to find touch instead of a colleague. Eventually the final whistle ended their humiliation. It is not often I say this, but Hereford were a joy to watch. Their passing was excellent, and could have scored more than the five clinically taken goals that they did. Tretton and James had an easy time against Rovers' hopeful long balls forward, and Ryan Green also settled in well and contributed much to Hereford's attacking play. Ben Smith and Danny Williams controlled the midfield, and the tireless running of Purdie and Guinan up front pulled the Rovers defence apart. It was a thoroughly enjoyable game and an excellent win, but tougher opposition await in the coming few weeks. Let's hope we have more of the same in the next forty matches of this season. Team and ratings: Baker (6), Green (7), Tretton (7), James (8), Rose (7), Williams (7), Smith (8), Pitman (7), Parry (7), Guinan (9) (sub Carey-Bertram (7)), Purdie (9). Subs not used: Scott, Craven, Teesdale, Sawyers.
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