Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Hereford United completed a wretched few days by crashing to their first away defeat in the Nationwide Conference for almost 11 months.

After dropping two home points against Burton on Saturday, the title-chasing Bulls produced a lifeless showing at Victoria Road where the home side gained ample revenge for their 9-0 defeat last season.

Styled by Northwich boss Steve Burr as ''the worst team we've played all season" after his side were held to a draw, the Daggers showed much more fight and desire to win the game as the match exploded into life after a drab first period.

And it could hardly be said the home side did not deserve their win after forcing a remarkable 18 corners, 13 in the second-half, to Hereford's three.

The first-half was pretty much a non-event with few moments of note.

Andy Tretton produced a brilliant headed goal-line clearance to prevent a cross from Mark Janney entering the goal.

A Mark Robinson free-kick forced a low save from Daggers goalkeeper Tony Roberts.

But these were isolated incidents in a half when chances and good football were rare commodities.

Hereford, however, had an ideal start to the second period, taking the lead after just two minutes when David Brown worked some space on the right of the area to cross for Lee Mills to hammer home.

But instead of pressing on, Hereford were themselves pushed back with the home side levelling after a goalmouth melee on 57 minutes ended with Craig Mackail-Smith forcing the ball home.

Seven minutes later, the pacy Chris Moore tricked his way into the penalty area and surprised Jonathan Gould with a shot which went in at the goalkeeper's near post.

Mackail-Smith should have extended the lead when he raced on to Glen Southam's pass only to blaze over when he only had Gould to beat.

Gould then had to dive to hold on to low cross-shot from Paul Bruce as the home side showed little sign of running out of steam.

Their final goal came two minutes into injury-time when Mackail-Smith, a constant problem for the Hereford defence, scorched into the area yet again to hammer a powerful shot past the experienced Gould.

Hereford's reserves fixture with Kidderminster Harriers, scheduled to be played at Edgar Street next Wednesday, will now be at Aggborough (7.30pm).

Mackail-Smith, Uddin, Flynn, Bruce, Moore. Subs not used: Bussey, Blackett, Boot, Hill.

HEREFORD: Gould 5, Travis 6, Tretton 6, James 6, Smith 6, Robinson 4, D Williams 5 (Stansfield 67, 5), Hyde 5, Stanley 4, Mills 6 (Purdie 70, 5), *Brown 7. Subs not used: Scott, A Williams, Carey-Bertram.

GOALS: Mills 47 (0-1), Mackail-Smith 56 (1-1), Moore 64 (2-1), Mackail-Smith 90 (3-1).

STAR PLAYER: David Brown.

YELLOW CARDS: Dagenham -- Southam (foul), Vickers (foul).

ATTENDANCE: 1,417.

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone (Northants).