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FOREST GREEN ROVERS (away) 19/12/03 Hereford fans had an excellent early Christmas present in the form of an impressive 7-1 win away to Forest Green. Winger Paul Parry helped himself to a hat-trick - his first for the club - on what could well be his last appearance in a Hereford shirt. Parry fired the first warning shot just two minutes in when he cut inside and hit a right-footed shot narrowly wide of the post. Eight minutes later, a Danny Williams cross eluded everyone and found Parry totally unmarked inside the box. From eight yards out, he made no mistake, firing to the left of Rovers goalkeeper Steve Perrin, who was destined to have a nightmare between the sticks. Rovers had a few half chances to equalise from set pieces. From one, Martin Foster's free-kick cleared the bar, and from another Alex Meechan ballooned the ball over from five yards. From another free-kick came another terrible miss from Foster, whose shot was so far over the bar it probably landed in Stroud. United punished these mistakes with another goal from Parry. This time, Rob Purdie supplied the right-wing cross and from a similar position, Parry hit the ball between the legs of Perrin and into the net. It got worse for Rovers minutes later, when Ben Smith received the ball twenty yards out. There appeared to be little danger as his shot lacked any real power, but Perrin somehow let it through his grasp and into the net. Rather amusingly, the keeper tried to blame his defence for the goal. From here, United took complete control and had several opportunities. Parry - again - hit a shot that squirmed from Perrin's grasp, but the ball was hoofed clear by Denny Ingram with attackers closing in. Williams then fired in an effort that went straight to the Rovers keeper, and Smith narrowly missed another. It took until the 38th minute before Hereford extended their lead. Tony James played an excellent through-ball out of defence, that the lively Rob Purdie controlled. His touch took it past a defender, leaving him one-on-one with Perrin. Purdie then delicately chipped it over the advancing keeper for an excellent goal, matching his effort against the same opponents back in August. The half-time whistle must have come as a relief to the Rovers players, who had been thoroughly outplayed in the first half. Indeed, they reappeared some five minutes after Hereford's players, prompting a chant of, "Are they too scared to come out?" from the 600 or so travelling supporters. Within fifteen minutes of the restart, United had increased their lead with two quick goals. Firstly, Parry expertly controlled the ball from another Williams free-kick. He then chipped the ball over Perrin and in off the far post for another great goal, which must have impressed the watching Cardiff City manager, Lennie Lawrence. Cue chants of, "Straight swap for Earnshaw". Two minutes later, it was 6-0. This time David Brown was the provider, his low cross being fumbled by Perrin straight to the feet of Ben Smith, who blasted home his 13th goal of the season from close range. Perrin didn't shout at his defence this time - he knew who was to blame for that one. To their credit, Rovers didn't give in and did carve out a few half chances. Alex Meechan glanced a header just wide from close range, but probably should have done better. Damon Searle had an effort parried by Matt Baker, before his follow-up shot was superbly blocked by Anwar Uddin. Sam Bowen also shot wide. United scored their seventh ten minutes from time. Substitute Dean Craven crossed the ball from the left, which took a huge deflection off Ingram and looped up high into the air. Jamie Pitman then beat the lumbering Perrin to the ball and knocked in his second goal of the season. It wouldn't be a true Hereford performance without the concession of a soft goal, and Rovers got one five minutes from the end. In a goalmouth scramble, Searle had an effort beaten away by Baker, but he eventually managed to tuck the ball away - but it was purely a consolation effort. Rovers Ð in particular the lively Sam Bowen - did occasionally look dangerous going forward, but were denied by a hard-working Hereford defence that were in superb form. And United weren't bad going forward either. Parry, Purdie and Brown pulled the Rovers defence apart, and Danny Williams was a constant thorn in the side before he was taken off. Credit also to referee Mr Stroud, who, apart from the puzzling booking of Ryan Green, had a good game, a rarity in the Conference these days. Forest Green must be sick of the Bulls, having conceded twelve goals in two games against them this season. However, after two excellent performances against their Gloucestershire rivals, it was really a question of just how many United would put past them. Merry Christmas everyone! Team and ratings: Baker (6), Green (8), Uddin (8), James (8) (sub Teesdale (6)), Rose (7), Williams (8) (sub Craven (6)), Smith (7) (sub King (5)), Pitman (8), Parry (9), Brown (7), Purdie (8). Subs not used: Carey-Bertram, Scott.
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