Third-round spot must be United’s goal

11:07am Thursday 29th November 2007

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HEREFORD United will be bidding for a place in the FA Cup third round when they take on Hartlepool United in a second round tie at Edgar Street on Saturday.

But the Bulls will have to do without the goalscoring hero of their first-round replay at Leeds after Lionel Ainsworth departed for Watford.

The 20-year-old winger has joined the Hornets on loan until January when his move will be made permanent.

Assuming that Championship leaders Watford continue to do well and Ainsworth maintains his progress, the deal could be the biggest transfer in United's history.

Part of the deal sees Watford loanees Toumani Diagouraga and Theo Robinson remain at Edgar Street until the end of the season with the Bulls then having an option to sign the French midfielder on a permanent basis.

The Bulls have also acquired Liverpool teenager Ryan Flynn, who can play as a midfielder or striker, on a loan deal.

Flynn missed out on a place in the side against Accrington Stanley last Saturday due to injury when Luke Webb, who had been earmarked as the likely successor to Ainsworth on the right of the Hereford midfield, was also sidelined due to an ankle problem.

Their absences gave Sam Gwynne the chance of a full Football League debut and the Hereford-born teenager will be hopeful of retaining his place against Hartlepool after an assured performance.

Webb is coming back to fitness and skipper Karl Broadhurst is also not far from a return after an ankle problem but the Bulls will be without Richard Rose who also injured an ankle against Accrington.

Trent McLenahan is, however, now back from international duty with Australia under-23 and is ready to take his place.

The full-back warmed up for Saturday with a goal when United beat Cardiff City 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday. Marcus Palmer was the other scorer.

Hartlepool, who were beaten 1-0 at Edgar Street in an FA Cup second-round tie in 1999 thanks to a Rob Elmes goal, will provide attractive opposition.

"They are from the league above so will fancy their chances," said United coach John Trewick.

"They like to pass the ball. Danny Wilson instils that into his teams so that could be to our advantage.

"I hope they do come and play open and attractive football, that would be great. We will take them on at that and hopefully get through to the third round."

Pool, who were promoted from League 2 as runners-up last season, have been clocking up the miles in the past week. Last Saturday they made the long journey to Gillingham where they were beaten 2-1 and followed that with a 1-0 defeat at Swansea's Liberty Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Last season, Hereford won 3-1 in the match with the North-East side at Edgar Street thanks to goals from Tim Sills, Rob Purdie and Andy Williams but went down 3-2 in the return when Steve Guinan and Danny Thomas were on target.

Next Tuesday, United return to League 2 action when they visit Wycombe Wanderers, who are currently on the fringe of the play-off positions.

HEREFORD United's Youth team surrendered a 3-0 interval lead and crashed to a 5-3 defeat against Millwall in the second round of the FA Youth Cup at Edgar Street on Monday.

Adam Bendall, Craig Jones and Sam Harrison gave Hereford a great start but the Bulls ran out of steam and eventually lost after extra-time.