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PORT VALE (home - FA Cup) 02/12/06 For the first time since 1999, the famous giant-killing name of Hereford United will be included in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup, after a crushing win over a hopeless Port Vale side. The Valiants looked like a pub team that had struggled to wake up in time for the earlier-than-usual start, rather than one from the division above United. Whilst Hereford dominated the game, they barely had to break sweat on their way to a comprehensive 4-0 win. Initially the game was even but Vale caved in completely after the break, barely testing Wayne Brown in the home goal. Leon Constantine, the only Vale player to emerge from this encounter with any credit due to his unwillingness to accept the inevitable, missed the target twice in the first half. His opposite number, Tim Sills, did likewise. Firstly he headed inches wide from six yards, then placed a shot the wrong side of Mark Goodlad’s goal. Hereford’s defence, so impressive in recent weeks, continued to look reliable when called into action. Tamika Mkandawire and Dean Beckwith kept Constantine and Stefan Moore - a late replacement to the Vale side after Akpo Sodje was injured in the warm-up - in check, with Phil Gulliver’s supreme aerial ability dealing with any long balls hoisted forward. United just shaded a scrappy first period and took the lead five minutes from the break. Luke Webb, just as he had against Shrewsbury in the previous round, worked hard but struggled to make much of an impression, only to pop up with a stunning goal. A cross was cleared to Webb and, from fully twenty-five yards, the midfielder lashed a fierce volley into the top corner of the net. Brown was called into action seconds after the restart, turning behind a shot from Jeff Smith after the winger had intercepted Alan Connell’s pass straight from the kick-off. That was about all the Hereford custodian had to do, as his team-mates scored twice in quick succession within the first ten minutes of the second half to wrap the game up and further demoralise a side on a poor run of form. The first came when an excellent through ball from Webb played in Sills. After springing the offside trap, the striker was brought crashing to the ground inside the penalty are by a clumsy challenge from Vale keeper Mark Goodlad, who escaped with just a booking. Rob Purdie stepped up to convert his eighth spot kick of the season. It was Purdie that scored the third goal with his first effort from open play all season; if the first Hereford goal had been sublime, this one was ridiculous. From a set-piece the ball broke to Purdie on the right-hand side of the area, and the former Leicester player attempted to pass the ball into the six-yard box. George Abbey swung his leg but failed miserably to connect with the ball, which trundled past an unsighted Goodlad and into the net. Searching for a hat-trick, Purdie had a shot gathered in by Goodlad, who also had to deal with an effort from Webb. Connell lobbed the ball over the bar as the Bulls dominated and looked for a fourth goal. It duly arrived with ten minutes remaining. Sills was again the provider, being sent clear down the right flank before pulling the ball back into the path of Andy Ferrell. Just as his midfield colleague Webb had done, Ferrell hit a searing drive into the roof of the net from the edge of the box for his first goal of the campaign. Vale skipper Paul Harsley came close to scoring an own goal, putting the ball narrowly over his own crossbar after Mkandawire had been allowed to run fully fifty yards before squaring for Connell. The Port Vale defence had simply given up by this point, much like the travelling supporters who had by now turned on their side, joining in with the “easy, easy” chants from the Hereford supporters when the fourth goal went in. Hereford, then, notch up another FA Cup scalp, and having so outplayed a higher division outfit they will be full of confidence going into Tuesday night’s clash with fellow play-off challengers Peterborough United. Before then, of course, comes the third round draw, where the Bulls will be hoping to paired with one of the Premiership’s big guns. Team: Brown, Purdie, Mkandawire, Gulliver, Beckwith, Jeannin, Webb, Connell (sub Sheldon), Ferrell, Williams (sub Fleetwood), Sills (sub Rose). Subs not used: Travis, Thompson. Star man: Tamika Mkandawire
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