DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE (home) 05/10/02

Hereford at last picked up three points in a home match, coming from behind to defeat last season's runners-up Dagenham and Redbridge. Despite Dagenham's recent poor run, hopes were not high of a good result, especially after Hereford's abysmal display against Scarborough the previous week.

In the first minute of the Dagenham match, the Bulls managed twice as many shots at goal as they had managed in the previous ninety against Scarborough. Danny Williams had a shot from 25 yards ten seconds into the match, but this went wide. Not long after that Steve Guinan had an effort from similar range, with the same end result.

Dagenham's defence seemed to be able to cope well with most things Hereford threw at them. Former Welsh International goalkeeper Tony Roberts only really had to catch a few crosses before the Bulls fell behind, when he
started to earn his money.

After half an hour or so, Daggers took the lead thanks to a cracking goal from Steve West. He received the ball from the right, cut inside Richard Teesdale and let fly from thirty yards into the top corner of the net, giving Matt Baker no chance whatsoever. Baker hadn't really had anything to do up until this point, save for gathering a few crosses.

Hereford did create one other chance of note right at the end of the half, when Paul Parry connected with a low cross, but the ball went straight to Roberts. Half time came, and Hereford couldn't believe they were 1-0 down.

Graham Turner clearly had a few words with his side at half time, and they were soon level. Matt Clarke did well to get clear down the right before crossing the ball. His cross eluded everyone, including Steve Perkins at the
back post. Michael Rose however was lurking somewhere behind him, and it was he who swiftly crossed the ball low to the other post, where Steve Guinan was on hand to tap it home.

It got worse for Daggers just a few minutes later when they fell behind. Parry robbed the ball from former West Ham legend Steve Potts and fired in a shot, which Roberts did well to block with his legs. The ball ricocheted
back to Parry, and he crossed it for man-of-the-match Danny Williams to head into the bottom corner. Daggers brought on Junior McDougald - who interestingly has just the name 'Junior' printed on the back of his shirt -
at this point to salvage something.

Dagenham had a go, but couldn't really break down a solid Hereford back three. Their best chance came when Baker came for a high ball but fumbled it straight to Steve Perkins who had a shot, but Richard Teesdale did superbly well to block the shot on the line. Another striker, Danny Shipp, came on at this point, as things got desperate for Dagenham.

Hereford held on fairly comfortably in the end, and could have made it three in injury time when a poor clearance from goalkeeper Roberts fell invitingly in Hereford substitute Rob Purdie, but he couldn't get the ball under control.

A deserved three points for the Whites, but Daggers will feel a little aggrieved at not having taken something from the match. Hereford's defence won them the match, with Andy Tretton and Tony James being outstanding.

Hereford: Baker, Clarke, Rose, Tretton, Teesdale, James, Pitman, Williams, Galloway, Guinan, Parry (sub Purdie).

Subs not used: Voice, Griffiths, Fox, Sawyers.