The Hereford Times

Daggers put knife into United’s promotion bid

12:36pm Thursday 28th February 2008

HEREFORD missed out on the chance to move to the top of the League 2 table for the first time this season with a below-par display at Victoria Road on Tuesday night.

The Bulls, who have been scoring goals for fun, had an off-night in front of goal and rarely troubled home keeper Tony Roberts.

Hereford were able to report no injury problems and went into the game with an unchanged line-up.

Hereford threatened only sporadically in the first period, although Gary Hooper's neat overhead kick flashed just wide on 10 minutes.

It was the home side who had the better of possession after that, for a while, and they had a great chance to take the lead on 24 minutes.

Ben Strevens got away on the right and dragged the ball back to Foster whose shot clipped a post on the way behind.

Eight minutes before the break, Hereford almost conceded when goalkeeper Wayne Brown failed to deal with a corner-kick.

The stopper's misjudged punch would have ended in the back of the net but for a goalline clearance by Simon Johnson.

On the stroke of half-time, however, there was no such reprieve for the Bulls.

The visitors' defence made a hash of trying to deal with a Glen Southam free-kick and the ball fell to Foster who flicked a header into the corner of the net.

Hereford sent on Theo Robinson at half-time and piled forward in search of an equaliser.

But serious chances were hard to find and a number of long-range efforts went flashing high and wide.

The best opportunity came on 63 minutes when a swift and incisive move sent Hooper away on the right.

The on-loan striker's drag-back picked out Stephen Gleeson but the midfielder shot badly wide from a great position.

With Hereford on the attack, they almost presented the home side with a second goal.

Brown's dreadful kick went only as far as Nurse who advanced on goal but the keeper redeemed himself with an excellent save.

Hereford continued to attack but it was not to be their night and it was the hosts who enjoyed a fourth straight win to boost their chances of avoiding relegation.

Hereford:Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, McCombe, Rose; Johnson (Benjamin, 78 min), Smith (Taylor, 87 min), Gleeson, Easton (Robinson, 46 min); MacDonald, Hooper. Subs not used: Ingham, Threlfall.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts, Southam, Nurse, Rainford, Griffiths, Uddin, Strevens, Foster, Smith, Gain, Arber. Subs not used: Higan, Sloma, Saunders, Taiwo, Baidoo.

Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex).

Attendance: 1,929 (326 from Hereford).

Yellow cards: Hereford - McCombe, foul, 78 min) Goals: Foster, 45 min, 1-0.