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CHESTER (home) 12/08/06 Two goals in two second half minutes gave Hereford a first home win of the campaign, as the Bulls continued their encouraging start to Football League life. Chester came to Edgar Street with a 100% record to defend, and looked to reap dividends from their direct approach. This led to a scrappy opening to the encounter with chances at a premium. Big striker Drewe Broughton should have done better than to send a header over the bar from four yards; likewise his strike partner Jon Walters shanked a couple of chances wide. Scott Tynan in the Hereford looked uneasy at dealing with a succession of long balls and crosses, and twice had to rely on Dean Beckwith clearing well under pressure. Dean Bennett outpaced the Hereford defence but was closed down by a fine tackle from Martyn Giles - making his first start - before Bennett was once again denied by good defending, this time from the excellent Richard Rose. Hereford's attack did not break through the Chester back line with such ease as to begin with too many long balls were easily dealt with. It was only when the home side got the ball down and passed it around that they got any joy. Visiting goalkeeper John Danby wasn't, however, seriously troubled in the first half, making a comfortable save from an Andy Williams shot and gathering an effort from Stuart Fleetwood. On the one occasion Danby was caught out, when he was slow to react to Tim Sills' header, Ashley Westwood was on hand to head the ball off the line. The turning point came after an hour when Broughton - who had led the line well and had dominated in the air - had to be substituted after colliding with a team-mate; he left the field with blood pouring down his face. His replacement Gregg Blundell's first act was to shoot well wide from the edge of the area. With no outlet in attack, Chester's long ball approach was less effective and led to more chances coming Hereford's way. Danby made a good save after Fleetwood had burst past a couple of defenders, and Williams just missed the target with a shot. The pressure was mounting on the Chester defence and a goal looked inevitable. One duly arrived on seventy minutes. Rob Purdie played a clever pass in behind Paul Linwood, which the fleet-footed Fleetwood latched onto, leaving the lumbering Linwood behind him before he finished with great aplomb from just inside the box. Two minutes later the Bulls wrapped the game up with a maiden goal for Richard Rose, who, with his all-action display was worthy of a strike. Again Fleetwood was involved, turning Stephen Vaughan before laying the ball off for Rose who lashed the ball across Danby and into the bottom corner. A similar move that came shortly after was missed by Simon Travis, who shot into the side netting. Andy Williams should have been awarded a penalty after being held back by David Artell, and Fleetwood came close to a third, shooting narrowly wide. At the other end, Chester substitute Ricky Ravenhill totally miscued his shot, skying it into the car park, and Giles made another good challenge on Walters as he shaped to shoot. In a frantic goalmouth scramble, two shots were turned away as Hereford defended in numbers, before Blundell had a goal ruled out for offside. Encouragingly, Hereford picked up another clean sheet without the services of goalkeeper Wayne Brown or star defender Tamika Mkandawire. Martyn Giles looks a useful acquisition at left-back: indeed, Hereford have not conceded a goal during the time he has been on the pitch. Star man today however was Richard Rose. Having been wasted at full-back in the first two matches, he showed his class in midfield and thoroughly deserved a goal for his efforts. Hereford: Tynan, Travis, Beckwith, Gulliver, Giles, Williams, Ferrell, Rose, Purdie, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Lewis, Wallis, Osborne, Connell, McLenahan. Star man: Richard Rose
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