TELFORD (home) 01/01/03

Hereford moved up to fifth in the table after beating Telford United for the second time in the space of a week. The Bulls are now top of the form guide, with five wins and a draw from their last six matches. Michael Rose returned at left-back after suspension, and Jamie Pitman and Matt Clarke were both included despite both of them carrying slight injuries.

Although it was Hereford that eventually took the lead, Telford started the better of the two sides and created numerous chances. Telford played route-one football for much of the match, but it was effective and Hereford were indebted to their goalkeeper Matt Baker for making several good saves. The first of these came when he did well to hold onto the slippery ball from a Gareth Hanmer free-kick. With defenders backing off, David Smith had a shot which Baker pushed out as far as Gary Fitzpatrick. His follow-up shot was saved superbly by the goalkeeper.

A boggy pitch made good football difficult, but any passing football came from Hereford. Despite conditions being slippery, Paul Parry and Matt Clarke both got forward well and made some good attacking runs. Telford goalkeeper Paul Pettinger, a loan signing from Lincoln making his debut, did well to take the ball under pressure from top scorer Steve Guinan. Pettinger then kicked the ball out to Smith, who was through on goal after Tony James slipped over. Baker stood up well and pushed Smith out wide so that when the shot did eventually come in, Andy Tretton was able to clear off the line.

After half an hour, Hereford were in front. Parry received the ball on the left wing, and flew past Ashley Wooliscroft. He then crossed the ball to the back post, where John Grant was on hand to nod home his second goal in two games. Many of Telford's players, and goalkeeper Pettinger in particular, felt that Parry's cross had arced out of play and back in again before Grant scored. Martin Barlow was booked by the referee immediately afterwards, presumably for something he'd said.

Hereford continued to pass the ball well, and Matt Clarke was caught offside after a promising move. This proved to be Clarke's final act, since he was withdrawn and replaced by Richard Teesdale due to an injury. Telford pushed forward, and Baker made another good save with his feet as the visitors threatened to equalise, but the home side were still in front at half-time.

The pattern of play was similar at the start of the second half, with both sides continuing to look threatening. Telford started to get a little frustrated, and a few poor challenges were made by both sides. The referee was particularly inconsistent, with some challenges being punished with a yellow card whereas he allowed play to continue at other times. At the end of the match however, he booked Danny Williams for not retreating ten yards at a free-kick, despite the fact that he had not blown his whistle to allow the kick to be taken. Michael Rose was also booked for shirt-pulling, even though it appeared that it was he that was having his shirt pulled.

On the hour mark, Hereford made the game safe with a goal from Ben Smith, his fourth of the campaign. Teesdale played the ball towards Grant, and the big striker chested the ball down into the path of the advancing Smith. The former Southend player strode forward and got into the penalty area unchallenged. From fifteen yards he powerfully shot into the top corner of the net to complete the scoring for the day. Jamie Pitman had a similar opportunity soon afterwards, but instead of taking the ball into the box he shot woefully wide from twenty yards.

Telford did not give up, and Mark Foran was allowed a free header from a corner. Danny Williams was there to clear the ball off the line, with Baker having been beaten for the only time all afternoon. The goalkeeper made another fine save from Steve Palmer as Telford searched for a way back into the game. However, it was not to be and Hereford ran out as 2-0 winners.

It is not hard to see why Hereford have been having such good results of late, with the defence tightening up and the front two of Guinan and Grant finally starting to score some goals. The midfield four all played well, with Ben Smith having a good game and Paul Parry skinning Ashley Wooliscroft almost every time he received the ball. At the back, Teesdale had a very good game, and goalkeeper Matt Baker has returned to the superb form he was in last season.

What was also pleasing was that there was another big attendance of 3077, and with just 170 travelling from Telford the vast majority of them were there to cheer on the Bulls. A big crowd for the Trophy match with Yeovil a week on Saturday is anticipated.

Hereford: Baker, Clarke (sub Teesdale), Rose, Tretton, James, Williams, Pitman, Smith, Parry, Guinan, Grant. Subs not used: Griffiths, Wright, Purdie, Husbands.