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SHREWSBURY (away) 16/12/06 Hereford fans will be cursing the superb efforts of the Shrewsbury Town ground staff to get this game on after seeing their side turn in a miserable display. The Gay Meadow pitch was under a few inches of water for much of the preceding week and only a mammoth effort ensured that the game could kick off when scheduled. The Bulls however produced their worst display for several weeks and were on the end of a 3-0 beating at the hands of their local rivals. Shrewsbury piled on the pressure right from the start and Dave Edwards had a goal ruled out for offside after just ten minutes. Edwards had previously tested Hereford keeper Wayne Brown with a low twenty-yard shot, and early pressure also resulted in Neil Ashton firing a free-kick over the bar. Those first few warning shots went unheeded and the Shrews carved out a succession of chances thanks in part to a ponderous Hereford back line. Brown was again called into action to gather a low shot and looked on as his defence struggled to deal with the crosses that bombarded his area. From one of these, Andy Cooke headed just wide. Cooke was also guilty of wasting the best chance of the first half after Brown could only parry a shot straight to his feet. From six yards however, Cooke thundered a shot against the prostrate keeper, with the ball spiralling up and over the bar. Hereford produced the better passing football in patches during the first period, but on a boggy, cut-up pitch it was often ineffective. A more direct approach yielded chances for Alan Connell and Tim Sills, but neither striker could produce a header from Rob Purdie crosses that concerned Shrews keeper Scott Shearer. The home side always looked more likely to open the scoring, and the pressure finally told ten minutes before the interval. A cross was only half cleared to Edwards who played the ball back in for the unmarked Cooke to score with an acrobatic overhead kick that gave Brown no chance. The visitors briefly threatened at the start of the second half during the only period of the game they ever looked convincing going forward. Much of the good work came down the left from Simon Travis, a half-time replacement for Alex Jeannin, and it was the full back that wasted Hereford’s first real opening. Shearer and Richard Hope dithered in deciding which of them would deal with a loose ball, only for Travis to nip in and blaze wide. Neil Mackenzie saw his shot clatter off Stuart Drummond and Connell also had an effort blocked, this time from a free-kick. Nevertheless Shearer was untested throughout as the home defence coped more than ably with the few attempts Hereford could muster. From one attack Shrewsbury swiftly broke free, and Travis managed to get back to make a superb tackle as Michael Symes was about to pull the trigger. Still, Hereford could not clear the ball from this attack, and eventually the ball was returned into the penalty area for Cooke to head home his second of the game. Now Shrewsbury produced the better football, and Symes and Cooke were both guilty of heading over the bar from close range. Another header flew into Brown’s arms and, as the Hereford goalkeeper bowled the ball out to start an attack, the linesman spotted an infringement involving Dean Beckwith. The defender was sent off for what presumably was an off-the-ball incident and, as the offence occurred in the area, a penalty was awarded. Cooke passed up the chance to complete his hat-trick and Symes was allowed to take it. However, the striker blasted the ball high and wide of goal. It was only a brief respite, as two minutes later the Shrews added a third. Edwards’ all-action display was rewarded with the goal it deserved when he dived to head in a left-wing cross from Symes. After Beckwith’s dismissal, Hereford fans were further enraged when home skipper Hope received only a yellow card after elbowing Connell in the face. Hereford striker Connell, who with his work rate was the only Bulls player to gain any credit from this match whatsoever, wasted the final opportunity of the match, firing narrowly wide from a free-kick. John Eustace had been recalled from his loan spell with the Bulls the day prior to this game, and his presence was sorely missed in midfield. The game but ineffective Luke Webb and Neil Mackenzie turned in poor displays, but they were far from the only culprits in a shocking display that saw Hereford come away with precisely what they deserved: nothing. Team: Brown, Purdie, Mkandawire, Gulliver, Beckwith, Jeannin (sub Travis), Mackenzie, Connell, Webb, Sills, Fleetwood (sub Ferrell). Subs not used: Thompson, Rose, McClenahan. Star man: Alan Connell
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