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WOKING (home) 14/12/02 Two goals each for Ben Smith and Michael Rose gave Hereford a convincing win over Woking, as they continued where they had left off in their last match against Barnet. After failing to score in four previous games, Hereford have now scored nine goals in their last two matches. With Mick Galloway's loan spell having ended, Danny Williams returned to the Hereford midfield. Woking included former Tottenham player Dean Austin in their line-up, and also fielded on-loan goalkeeper Shwan Jalal. Despite conceding five goals, Jalal in fact had a good game and the score would have been more but for him. In their last match, Hereford passed the ball well and created lots of off-the-ball runs, and this continued against Woking. Woking's defence however was undone continually down the right flank, which is unusual because the main danger of late has come from the opposite channel. Michael Rose's deliveries from set pieces were causing many problems, and one of his corner kicks was cleared off the line by Jalal. It was the shape of things to come. A dangerous cross from Paul Parry was cleared by Ian Simpemba with Steve Guinan closing in, and from another of his centres, John Grant shot tamely at the goalkeeper. It was not long before the first goal arrived. Matt Clarke was fouled on the right-hand side of the penalty area. Rose took the kick, it cleared everyone and ended up in the net. Steve Guinan claimed he had a touch, but it went down as Rose's second goal of the campaign. His third arrived not long after, and was even better than the first. This time Williams was fouled 25 yards out in front of goal. Rose curled the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner of the goal. Other chances came and went, with Guinan hitting the crossbar, although the linesman's flag was already raised. Rose was keen to complete his hat-trick, and hit a thirty-yard shot just over the bar. Grant had another shot straight into the arms of Jalal. Jalal's opposite number Matt Baker had barely touched the ball at all as the players went off for their half-time oranges. Woking left-back Robert Kember was taken off at half-time, having struggled to contain the powerful, surging runs of Clarke and Williams. His replacement Anthony Allman lasted just three minutes, before he was shown the red card for a terrible two-footed lunge at Danny Williams. With that, there was only ever going to be one winner. Williams and Parry took it in turns to torment both full-backs with their pace and skill, and won plenty of corners. Woking to their credit however refused to lie down and forced many flag-kicks of their own. Raphael Nade broke clear of the defence, but was foiled by a sharp stop by Baker. Nade had another chance to score, but shot so far wide it was embarrassing. Michael Rose supported the attack well from left-back, having a couple of shots of his own from distance. One of these was fumbled by the goalkeeper, who gathered the ball with Smith and Grant closing in. It was Rose again who started the move for the third goal. His cross-field pass found substitute Rob Purdie, who strode forward and whipped in a high ball. Steve Guinan's head met it, with the ball hitting the post and then the head of the stranded goalkeeper before ending up in the back of the net. Purdie had been brought on to replace John Grant, who had another poor game. He looks an excellent prospect, but appears to be lacking confidence - he looked pretty demoralised when he was taken off midway through the second half. It was Purdie again who set up the fourth goal, this time for Ben Smith. Hereford broke quickly, with Purdie crossing the ball low into the box for Smith, who unleashed a powerful shot that gave Jalal no chance whatsoever. Purdie had two further chances to add to Hereford's total, both going wide, one of which when he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Jalal stood up well however and forced his shot wide. Hereford were not to be denied a fifth goal however, and it arrived with two minutes left. Smith received the ball and powered a shot towards goal that was superbly saved by the diving Jalal. The ball broke kindly for Smith however, who took the ball around the grounded goalkeeper and popped it into the net for number five. Smith could have become the second Hereford player in two games to have completed a hat-trick, when in injury time he skied the ball well over the bar from fifteen yards. Hereford again played some excellent football, and by the end it was just a question of how many goals they would score. Their passing was superb, and there was plenty of intelligent off-the-ball movement, something that has been lacking in recent seasons. What will also please the Hereford fans was the quality of the goals - two excellent free-kicks from the superb Michael Rose, and two confident finishes from Smith, who appears to be the missing piece in the jigsaw the Bulls have been looking for. On this form, it looks like it will be a very Merry Christmas indeed for the United faithful! Baker, Clarke (sub Teesdale), Rose, Tretton, James, Pitman, Smith, Williams, Parry, Grant (sub Purdie), Guinan. Subs not used: Griffiths, Wright, Sawyers.
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