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DARLINGTON (home) 16/10/06 A goal by Tamika Mkandawire meant that this match ended in a rare stalemate, with Darlington being only the second team this term with which Hereford have shared the spoils. A brighter game than some of the dour fare that has been on offer so far this season at Edgar Street saw both sides have their chances to win. Early on Wayne Brown was forced into a smart save from Martin Smith’s shot, whilst Sam Russell’s save from a Stuart Fleetwood free-kick was acrobatic but comfortable. Michael Cummins’ flying header just flashed wide, with the Quakers’ midfielder clashing heads with Hereford defender Martyn Giles as he made contact with the ball. Giles came off worst, leaving to have stitches inserted in a cut head, but was forced to leave the fray for good later on when the wound reopened. Cummins lasted slightly longer before he too had to leave the action. This turn of events did not unduly affect the visitors, who spurned a series of chances. Kalu Ngoma widely miscued a shot into the Merton Meadow car park following a good passage of play, and Alun Armstrong dragged a shot wide. It was Armstrong that eventually opened the scoring shortly before half time, when the former Middlesbrough hitman reacted first to tap in the rebound after Brown had superbly denied Smith. The goal had been coming, despite Hereford occasionally posing problems for the uncompromising Darlington defence. Visiting skipper Clark Keltie misjudged a long pass from debutant John Eustace, and the ball was picked up by Andy Williams. After running thirty yards however, the striker’s final ball was not good enough to either trouble Russell or find its way through to Fleetwood, who had earlier had a shot blocked by a defender from a follow-up to another effort by Eustace. As is so often the case, the Bulls were more impressive after the break. Whilst it would be an exaggeration to say that the introduction of Alan Connell changed the course of the game, Hereford certainly looked more lively in attack when the former Torquay striker joined the action. He was into the thick of things straight away, needing the attention of no fewer than three Darlo defenders to bundle him off the ball after one particularly tenacious run. Hereford thought they had earned a penalty after Richard Rose had been blocked in the box, but the referee’s arm signal was for a goalkick rather than one from the spot. Despite having lots of possession, the Bulls were often unable to have a clear effort on goal, although this was in part due to the team’s apparent reluctance to shoot when given the opportunity. Fleetwood rolled one shot just wide after good play by Eustace. It was Eustace that set up the equalising goal when it eventually came in the last quarter of the game. Simon Travis was hauled down on one of his numerous fruitful forays forward, bringing Hereford a set piece. Eustace took it, and his excellently-flighted ball was met by an equally superb header from Mkandawire, whose header gave Russell no chance. Hereford now went searching for a second goal, with Eustace’s range of intelligent passing now coming to the fore after a quiet first half. The on-loan Stoke midfielder sent Andy Williams free of the Darlington defence with a brilliant pass, but Russell came out on top with a smart save when the young striker went through one-on-one with the keeper. Russell made another acrobatic save from a Fleetwood free-kick, but this time it needed to be to keep out a well-struck effort. Brown had little to do at the other end, but did very well to keep out efforts from Smith and substitute David Rowson. In a frantic finale both Williams and Travis narrowly missed Fleetwood’s low cross, whilst in injury time Darlington perhaps should have been awarded a penalty when a shot from Smith cannoned off Dean Beckwith and onto the arm of Phil Gulliver. Referee Graham Salisbury immediately signalled that the contact had been accidental, although there was just enough time for Salisbury to award Darlington a contentious free-kick. An excellent delivery picked out Brian Close, but the full-back headed over inside the six yard box with the very last touch of the game. A disappointing crowd of 2,838 saw a match that had more entertainment than has been forthcoming from home matches recently. John Eustace initially struggled to make an impact on the game – clearly not match fit having not been involved in first-team action for eighteen months – but his range of passing showed Hereford supporters what their side has been lacking so far this term. The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie with Shrewsbury Town in midweek will undoubtedly give him a fitness boost ahead of the far more pressing encounter against MK Dons next week. This team is starting to come together with a solid defensive display and encouraging performances from wing-backs Trent McClenahan and especially Simon Travis. However, the away form is an area of concern and must improve if the Bulls do not wish to be looking nervously over their shoulders come the season’s end. Team: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Giles (sub Gulliver), Travis, Rose, Eustace, Purdie (sub Connell), Fleetwood, Williams. Subs not used: Thompson, Webb, Sills. Star man: Simon Travis |
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