The Hereford Times

Bulls win in Shrewsbury

4:54pm Saturday 23rd February 2008

Shrewsbury Town 1 Hereford United 2

HEREFORD notched their first ever league double over Shrewsbury Town on their first ever visit to the New Meadow.

Simon Johnson fired the Bulls level after Asa Hall's early goal and Gary Hooper wrapped up the points with his fifth goal in successive matches in the second period.

Hereford made two changes with Ben Smith returning to midfield where he line up alongside new loan signing Stephen Gleeson.

Sherjill MacDonald was the first to threaten for Hereford, seizing on a pass from Hooper and firing just over the bar in the sixth minute.

Within 60 seconds, however, Shrewsbury had taken the lead following a neat move.

Guy Madjo's pass sent Asa Hall racing into the area to beat Wayne Brown with a low shot.

Gleeson was lucky to escape without a yellow card for a late challenge on Hall as Hereford struggled to master both their opponents and the blustery conditions.

But the Bulls did gradually start to find their feet and a 60-yard run by the damgerous MacDonald set the Hereford fans cheering before the final pass went astray.

Skipper Smith then sent a 25-yard drive fizzing wide of the Town goal.

Hereford drew level in the 27th minute following a fine move on the left.

Clint Easton sent MacDonald racing to the bye-line to cross for Hooper.

Although the on-loan front-man shot was blocked, Johnson was on hand to rifle in the rebound.

With Hereford now starting to look more like their usual selves, Smith sent another shot from distance flashing wide.

But Shrewsbury, with the wind behind them, were still a threat and forced five corners in the first period, although only the last, with Kelvin Langmead heading Marc Pugh's cross powerfully over, posed anything like a serious danger.

Hereford looked to establish an early influence on the second period and Hooper's low drive was well saved by Glyn Garner in the Town goal.

At the other end, Brown had few problems in gathering a Ben Herd shot.

The windy conditions continued to make things difficult for the players and chances were rare at either end.

But a piece of quality from MacDonald finally unlocked the home defence in the 67th minute.

The Dutch under-21 international broke away before slipping a pass to Hooper who, in turn, fed Johnson.

The winger's deep cross was headed across goal by MacDonald to Hooper who had the easy task of tapping home.

But Town came within inches of hitting back when Steve Leslie's header across goal was crashed inches wide by Kevin McIntyre.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, McCombe, Beckwith, Rose; Johnson, Smith, Gleeson, Easton (Threlfall, 85 min); MacDonald (Robinson, 81 min), Hooper (Bemjamin, 87 min). Subs not used: Ingham, Taylor.

Shrewsbury: Garner, Herd, Langmead, Tierney, Meredith (Cooke, 77 min), Moss (Leslie, 65 min), Hall, McIntyre, Pugh (Humphrey, 70 min), Constable, Madjo. Subs not used: Hunt, Bevan.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

Attendance: 7,402 (1,655 from Hereford) Yellow cards: Hereford - Beckwith, foul, 38 min; Shrewsbury - Constable, foul, 77 min).

Goals: Hall, 6 min, 1-0; Johnson, 27 min, 1-1; Hooper, 67 min, 1-2.