Bulls gain first win

4:50pm Saturday 30th August 2008

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Hereford United 2 Crewe Alexandra 0.

GOALS from Steve O’Leary and Bradley Hudson-Odoi in an eight-minute spell at the start of the second period finally gave Hereford their first League 1 win of the season.

Hereford made five changes after the previous week’s hammering at Bristol Rovers.

Darren Randolph was recalled in place of Craig Samson in goal while Kris Taylor took over from Robbie Threlfall at left-back.

New signing O’Leary was included as part of a three-man central midfield with Matt Done taking over from Clint Easton on the left.

Hudson-Odoi was given his first start in place of Simon Johnson on the right with Steve Guinan deployed as the lone striker.

Hereford made a lively start but Randolph was the first of the goalkeepers to see action, fielding a drive from Tom Pope.

At the other end, a thunderous drive from Taylor flashed across goal and wide.

O’Leary, who had shown some neat touches in the early stages, tried his luck with a 20-yarder but sent the ball high over the goal and out of the ground.

Randolph did well to block a shot from Pope before an excellent end-to-end move allowed Done to force the afternoon’s first corner.

The former Wrexham player took the flag-kick himself but the ball was cleared.

Richard Rose rescued Hereford with an excellent challenge on Joel Grant after some less than decisive defending left the winger in the clear.

And Rose’s influence at the other end should then have brought a goal.

The full-back was sent clear by Guinan and produced an excellent cross which O’Leary headed over when he ought really to have hit the target.

A foul by skipper Ben Smith 25 yards out presented Billy Jones with a shooting chance but Randolph was equal to the effort, parrying the effort before diving on the ball to smother.

A cross by Hudson-Odoi was blocked in the six-yard box as Hereford continued to pose an attacking threat.

But Randolph was quickly back in the action, diving to save a Pope shot after a dangerous cross from Joel Grant.

And the Bulls keeper produced an even better save moments later, flying through the air to tip over a Michael O’Conner free-kick.

Crewe did have the ball in the net four minutes before the break, turning in Anthony Elding’s flick only to be ruled offside.

Hereford pressed forward at the start of the second period and were rewarded with two goals in the first 11 minutes.

After 48 minutes, a Smith cross was half-cleared to O’Leary 25 yards out and the midfielder steadied himself before curling an unstoppable shot in the top corner of the net.

Hudson-Odoi flicked a shot high over from Guinan’s pass before making amends just moments later.

An excellent build-up found Taylor’s cross reaching O’Leary who slipped the ball inside for the former Fulham youngster to shot home from six yards.

Hereford might have added a third on 68 minutes when Dean Beckwith’s firm header from a Done corner was heading for the top corner before keeper Steve Collis pulled off a fine stop to tip over.

Rose had to come to Hereford’s rescue two minutes later, though, clearing a header from Baudet off the line.

Five minutes from time, O’Leary had a good chance to add when he shot a yard wide after Guinan had chested down Taylor’s cross.

Hereford: Randolph; Rose, Oji, Beckwith, Taylor; Hudson-Odoi (Johnson, 70 min), O’Leary, Smith, Diagouraga, Done (Easton, 85 min); Guinan,. Subs not used: Samson, Threlfall, Ashikodi.

Crewe: Collis; Woodards, O’Donnell, Baudet, Jones; Moore, Bailey, O’Conner (Schumacher, 66 min), Grant; Pope (Donaldson, 66 min), Elding (Zola, 85 min). Subs not used: Donaldson, Rix, Miller.

Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire).

Attendance: 2,894 (428 from Crewe).

Goals: O’Leary, 48 min, 1-0; Hudson-Odoi, 56 min, 2-0.