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STEVENAGE (home) 27/02/06 Hereford's promotion push continued, with victory over Stevenage extending the Bulls' unbeaten run to twelve matches. The win was a hard-fought one: the first half was relatively dull as Hereford's opponents, having won just thrice away from home, were content to defend and were only stung into action after falling behind in first half injury time. In truth, it was the first clear-cut chance either side managed to carve out, but the validity of the goal had to be called into question. The goal came about after Hereford were awarded a free-kick that arguably should have been given the other way. Either way, Dean Beckwith headed Andy Ferrell's set piece across the face of goal, where Andy Williams was on hand to hook out a telescopic leg and stab the ball past Stevenage keeper Alan Julian. Before the injury-time concession of a goal, the visitors had defended stoutly and chances at either end were severely restricted. The first shot at goal was flashed wide by Ollie Berquez: indeed, the only time home goalkeeper Wayne Brown was seriously extended when he had to turn an effort from Stevenage's key man, George Boyd, around the post. Hereford were not permitted to have shots at goal: the most prominent attack saw Williams crowded out by three defenders as he went to shoot. Aside from that, any shots that Julian faced were simple to gather, apart from a free-kick from the industrious Andy Ferrell that the visiting goalkeeper did well to hold on to. A goal behind, Stevenage were galvanised into action, and minutes after the restart Brown was forced into clutching a swerving drive from Boyd. The visitors were still on the back foot however and, just as the first goal had come about, they struggled throughout to contain Hereford's set pieces. From a corner, Craig Stanley volleyed narrowly over, and a minute later Williams' fierce drive from a narrow angle was superbly pawed away by Julian. With the relentless pressure, a second goal was inevitable, and one duly arrived seven minutes after the restart. Again it came from a set piece and once more Ferrell was involved: this time he passed inside to Craig Stanley after receiving from a throw-in, and the midfielder caused so much confusion that Stuart Fleetwood was able to trundle forward and slot the ball under Julian for what turned out to be the goal that killed the game as a contest. Jefferson Louis, whose tackle had brought an early end to Nicky Nicloau's game, almost pulled Stevenage back into the game but, having gained a yard of space from the otherwise impressive Tamika Mkandawire, he shot against the post. Hereford were in the ascendancy, and minutes after Williams was hauled down in the area by Rob Quinn for what should have been a penalty, Mkandawire headed over the bar from a corner. Hereford's task was made easier on the seventy minute mark with the dismissal of Borough full-back Justin Gregory: having been booked in the first half, he could have few complaints at receiving a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on winger Daryl Taylor. At half time, Stevenage had conceded four times as many fouls as the home side: a clear indication that, unlike the Bulls, they were happy to settle for a point. Despite briefly being threatened in the second half, the match was, in truth, one that Hereford deserved to win. The early departure of Nicolau proved not to be such a burden, as Rob Purdie enjoyed one of his better games this season. The goalscoring front two of Fleetwood and Williams deservedly drew the plaudits, having led the Stevenage back four a merry dance throughout. However, the game's outstanding player, in terms of setting up chances and preventing opportunities at goal for Stevenage, was United midfielder Andy Ferrell. A class act, he, like many of Hereford's team, deserve to play at a higher level. On this evidence, it seems possible that such an occurrence is in the offing. Hereford: Brown (7), Green (7), Mkandawire (7), Beckwith (8), Travis (7), Taylor (5) (sub Carey-Bertram), Ferrell (9), Stanley (7), Nicolau (5) (sub Purdie (7)), Fleetwood (7) (sub Gwynne), Williams (8). Subs not used: Halliday, Mawson. Star man: Andy Ferrell.
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