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LEIGH RMI (home) 28/12/04 Hereford returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over bottom-of-the-table Leigh RMI. It was key that the Bulls responded well to their 4-0 drubbing by Exeter City on Boxing Day, and in the end they could have scored several more goals than the three they eventually managed. David Brown returned to the starting line-up, replacing Danny Carey-Bertram in attack. There was also a recall for Rob Purdie, who took the place of Ryan Green. Leigh fielded two former Hereford players, full back Chris Lane and midfielder Gareth Stoker, a veteran of United's play-off season in the Third Division. The Bulls had to weather an initial period of pressure from the Railwaymen, although home keeper Craig Mawson was not needed to make any vital saves. He did however have to push a cross-shot onto the bar from Chris Simm. Both sides looked to create chances, but the passing in the final third of the field often went awry. In particular, Mark Robinson's crossing was nowhere near as good as we know it can be, and the visitors' Gary Williams was wasteful with possession on more than one occasion. After fifteen minutes, Jamie Pitman received a clever pass from Craig Stanley, but was denied by an excellent tackle from Ryan Clark. Adam Stansfield should have opened the scoring shortly afterwards, when he firstly saw his shot blocked by a defender. Brown then crossed low from the right, but Stansfield's follow-up effort lacked power and James Mann was able to turn the ball around the post. It was twenty-five minutes before United took a well-deserved lead through Craig Stanley, who was prominent in many of Hereford's attacks throughout the first half in particular. He received a pass from Robinson before turning past a defender and curling the ball around Mann and into the net from twenty-five yards for an excellent goal. Of all the players who have played on the left-hand side of midfield, Stanley seems to have taken to the role the most effectively, and had another good game there today. Both sides continued to attack, but hardly any of Leigh's attempts were on target. All too often one of their players would do well to beat a defender, but then smash the ball into the side netting or the Meadow End, rather than putting in a cross for a colleague. United played the better football, but in the first half didn't create as many chances as their approach play might have suggested. Brown attempted to dummy a Stansfield cross for Purdie to score, but the ball was cut out by Clark. Simon Travis also came close, when Mann made a great save from his twenty-yard shot. Hereford eventually scored a deserved second goal minutes before the half-time break. This time Purdie crossed into the box from the inside-left channel, and Jamie Pitman raced clear of his marker and chipped the ball over Mann, having won the race to reach it first. By contrast to the first half, Hereford dominated the second for long spells and the RMI defence were often left chasing shadows. It did not take long for Hereford to put the game firmly out of the visitors' reach, as they scored a third just five minutes into the second period. Again Purdie was involved, when his pass was flicked into the air by Stansfield. Brown then met the ball on the volley from twenty yards, and his crisp shot found the bottom corner. Hereford went on to create a succession of chances, all of which were spurned. Adam Stansfield, for all his hard work, could not finish off any of the chances that came his way. He sent two efforts wide, had the ball taken off his toes by a defender as he shaped to shoot, and had another two attempts saved by the keeper. The former Yeovil player has now only scored once in his last eight appearances, and his body language suggests that this is affecting his confidence. Other chances came and went: Mann saved well from Brown, and substitute Ryan Green saw his header cleared off the line. Another replacement, Danny Carey-Bertram, also had a shot well saved by Mann. The bulk of the attacking in the final fifteen minutes of the match came from Leigh however, and Mawson had to make a number of good saves in order to keep a clean sheet. He did well to save from Simm and Warren Peyton, but appeared to be beaten when a shot came back off the crossbar and into the path of Peyton. The Leigh striker attempted to pass the ball into the net from five yards, but Mawson somehow got down to flick the ball away. Mawson's handling of crosses was also very good in general, and should improve his confidence after his own goal against Exeter. The result of this match was never in doubt, but as I said in the last report, United really have to start taking more of their chances. Stansfield especially was guilty of some glaring misses, and on another day could have scored a hat-trick. Nevertheless, Hereford did play some good football on a pitch that wasn't best suited to passing football. Almost all of Leigh's attacks were nipped in the bud by Tamika Mkandawire and Graham Hyde, and Craig Stanley was excellent in midfield. Rob Purdie also had his best game for a while. United shouldn't get too carried away by this result however, as Leigh RMI look destined for relegation. To their credit, the Railwaymen did try to play football, unlike some of the cloggers you may find towards the foot of the table, but their players simply aren't good enough for the Conference. Hereford have some crucial games coming up against the likes of Exeter, Carlisle and Aldershot, and it is imperative that they get some good results if they wish to keep their play-off hopes alive. Team and ratings: Mawson (7), Travis (7), Mkandawire (8), James (7) (sub Tretton (5)), Robinson (6), Purdie (7), Hyde (8) (sub Carey-Bertram (5)), Pitman (7) (sub Green (6)), Stanley (8), Stansfield (7), Brown (7). Subs not used: Scott, Smith.
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