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FOREST GREEN (away) 12/04/05 Hereford's place in the Conference play-offs seems more or less assured after another victory, this time over Forest Green Rovers. The win puts the Bulls six points ahead of sixth-placed Halifax Town, who United play on Saturday. Hereford initially struggled to get their passing game going, with Rovers using their normal route one tactics and bypassing the midfield for much of the time. On-loan striker Lewis Haldane looked to cause problems with his considerable pace, which was the only time United ever really looked in serious trouble, with most long balls being dealt with by Mkandawire and in particular Andy Tretton. Neither keeper was seriously troubled until the twentieth minute, with Lee Mills' shot being the most either side could muster. Adam Stansfield forced home keeper Dean Williams into a decent save minutes before the first goal. A corner from Mark Robinson was cleared only as far as the full back, who cut inside and forced Williams to turn the ball around his near post. A second corner from Robinson was more telling, with his dangerous inswinging ball being glanced home by the head of Stansfield. Hereford kept the pressure up, with Williams making a save from the lively Rob Purdie and Craig Stanley's two chances both going wide. The first half was by no means all one-way though, with Craig Mawson dealing with long-range attempts from top scorer Charlie Griffin and Andy Harris. Towards the end of the half Rovers were unlucky not to score, when in a goalmouth scramble no fewer than three attempts on goal were blocked by some desperate Hereford defending. It did not take long for the Bulls to extend their lead shortly after the interval, with another superbly taken goal by Stansfield. Danny Williams' pass was flicked on by Mills, which sent Hereford's leading scorer away from the home defence, with the striker taking the ball forward thirty yards before firing past Dean Williams from just inside the area for his twentieth goal of the season. Stansfield had chances to complete his hat trick, not least when Craig Stanley's excellent fifty-yard ball played him in, but Stansfield was to be denied by a good tackle. Stansfield's pace and willingness to chase lost causes made him the outstanding player of the night, before he was withdrawn with five minutes remaining to a good ovation from the considerable away following. After fifteen minutes of almost constant Hereford pressure, Forest Green pulled a goal back through veteran Paul Warhurst. Haldane went down very easily to the right-hand side of the United penalty area, and a free-kick was awarded; from the resulting set piece Warhurst nodded in the first goal that Craig Mawson has conceded for 516 minutes. Rovers now upped the tempo, with boss Alan Lewer bravely sacrificing a defender, Des Lyttle, and bringing on another attacker in the form of Robert Gill. It almost paid off, with Haldane getting clear of Robinson before thumping a shot wide, although he had Griffin and Gill ready to pounce away to his left. The game started to get scrappy, with Hereford now hoofing aimless balls forward as well. The central midfield pairing of Pitman and Stanley were sometimes nowhere to be seen, backing out of challenges and sending passes astray. Substitute Danny Carey-Bertram, returning from suspension, ensured United fans could relax with a third goal ten minutes from time. Again Stansfield was involved, managing to keep Robinson's forward ball in play, before turning a defender and sending in a low cross that Carey-Bertram knocked in from close range. Another substitute, Leroy Williams, now came on and caused Rovers defenders some moments of worry with his pace, and United felt they should have had a penalty when Carey-Bertram was sent tumbling in the box. By now, Forest Green's heads had dropped and they never looked likely to pull another goal back, and the game petered out in front of a record attendance for a Conference match at The Lawn of 2,142. Hereford never looked in serious danger of dropping any points from this match, with the defence competently being able to deal with most of the long balls pumped forward by the home defence. Andy Tretton in defence and Adam Stansfield in attack were the game's two best players: Tretton for his ability in the air and Stansfield for his pace and mobility up front. However, the centre of midfield is an area of concern, with Pitman and Stanley both having poor games again, which made Rovers look better than they actually were. Graham Hyde, in his brief cameo at the end, probably made more tackles than Pitman did in his time on the field. A play-off place now looks almost assured, although the Bulls' next three opponents š Halifax Town, Woking, and Accrington Stanley š are all chasing play-off positions themselves. Hereford's destiny is in their own hands. Team and ratings: Mawson (7), Green (6), Mkandawire (7), Tretton (8), Robinson (7), D Williams (7), Pitman (5) (sub Hyde (5)), Stanley (5), Purdie (7), Stansfield (8) (sub L Williams (4)), Mills (7) (sub Carey-Bertram (6)). Subs not used: Travis, Scott.
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