Tuesday, March 9, 2006

Hereford United kept their Nationwide Conference promotion hopes very much alive after a remarkable 2-1 win at Gravesend last night.

The victory was all the more amazing as they came back from a goal down to score twice with only ten players.

After a scrappy first half-hour from both sides, the Bulls' hopes nose-dived in the 31st minute when Daryl Taylor was shown a straight red card following a tackle on Gravesend's Bradley Johnson.

Hereford were then made to pay an almost immediate double penalty when the home side took the lead just two minutes later. Scott Gooding broke down the wing and Jimmy Jackson headed in his pin-point cross.

The same player almost made it 2-0 soon after as United struggled to get their game together on a poor pitch that was much the worse for wear following recent adverse weather.

But Hereford came out in the second-half with a positive attitude and Tamika Mkandawire twice went close with headers.

It was debutant Robbie King, however, who put his side back in the match when he rifled in a powerful shot from just outside the box in the 75th minute.

Five minutes later United's ten men were on cloud nine when teenage striker Andy Williams nipped in to give the promotion-chasers an unlikely 2-1 lead.

Gravesend threatened to hit back but Hereford held out.