WREXHAM (away) 24/09/06
Hereford returned to losing ways in the league
with a narrow Sunday lunchtime defeat to Wrexham.
The Bulls were unfortunate to find
themselves a goal down at the break, having more than matched their Welsh
opponents, yet came away with nothing on the back of a below-par display in the
second half.
A lively opening saw chances at both ends.
Home keeper Mike Ingham had to be alert to punch the ball away from the
onrushing Tim Sills following an excellent right-wing cross from Simon Travis. Stuart
Fleetwood robbed defender Steve Evans, the game’s outstanding player, on the
right side of the penalty area, and the youngster’s cross, having initially
been blocked by Ingham, was acrobatically hooked wide by Alan Connell.
At the other end, Hereford were indebted
to Travis for two successful goal line clearances, one from Evans’ header and
another to repel an effort from debutant John McAliskey. Travis’ luck was out
with a third attempted effort off the line: on this occasion the assistant
referee ruled that Evans had just managed to force the ball over the line from
a Darren Ferguson corner.
Wayne Brown made good saves from Chris
Llewellyn’s fierce drive and a Mark Jones effort, and Hereford’s luck was
similarly out in front of goal as Sills – who worked tremendously hard with
little reward – struck the bar with a header, before the ball bounced down over
the line. This time the officials ruled that the whole of the ball had not
crossed the whole of the line.
Such misfortune clearly riled the United
players, and they pinned Wrexham back in their half for long spells courtesy of
some excellent passing football. A well-drilled back line restricted chances
however, as Fleetwood and Richard Rose both shot wide. Wrexham still
threatened, and Llewellyn’s chip from all of fifty yards only just dropped wide
of goal.
Much of the half time talk amongst the
visiting fans focused on when their side would finally break down a defence
that had conceded fourteen goals in their three previous outings, rather than
if. Football, as the cliché goes, is a game of two halves. Wrexham emerged
after the break and proceeded to boss the midfield, putting pressure on the
Hereford defence. Strangely, the Dragons were equally unable to test Brown in
much the same way as Ingham had been underworked in the first half, with
Llewellyn’s misuced effort being the closest they came to extending their lead.
Matt Crowell was similarly unfortunate to miss the target from close range
Fleetwood wasted two free-kick
opportunities – one straight at Ingham, the other curling narrowly wide –
before Tamika Mkandawire missed a great chance, slicing wide with just the
goalkeeper to beat. Still there was time for Hereford to equalise, but Martyn
Giles, having beaten two players, shot wide and the Bulls were left with
nothing to show for their efforts.
Team: Brown, Travis, Beckwith, Mkandawire,
Giles, Jeannin, Purdie, Connell (sub Ferrell), Rose (sub Webb), Fleetwood,
Sills. Subs not used: Thompson, Wallis, Gulliver.
Star man: Martyn Giles
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