Full-time: Hereford United 0 Rotherham United 1 (From Hereford Times)

Full-time: Hereford United 0 Rotherham United 1

4:59pm Saturday 28th August 2010

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Hereford went down to Paul Warne’s first-half stoppage time goal as they continue to struggle for goals.

The Bulls have found the net just once in five games.

But referee Steve Rushton was one of the villains of the piece, contributing nine yellow cards in what was hardly a dirty game.

Boss Simon Davey was forced into one change for the visit of high-flying Rotherham United.

O’Neil Thompson, fit again after foot and groin injuries, was recalled to the Bulls midfield but Mathieu Manset was ruled out with a hamstring strain.

Manset’s absence, and a knee ligament injury for Sam Malsom, meant that Aidan Thomas was called up to the substitutes’ bench for the first time.

Rotherham included former Bulls triallist Jeremiah Ani among their substitutes.

Rotherham had an early opportunity when Paul Warne was hauled down by Janos Kovacs on the edge of the Bulls area.

Kevin Ellison’s shot hit the wall and went behind for a corner which Dean Holden headed wide.

But Hereford should have taken the lead a couple of minutes later.

James McQuilkin’s free-kick picked out Kovacs but the United skipper’s free header was directed straight at keeper Andy Warrington.

Sean Canham was sent racing away by Michael Townsend but a poor first touch saw him head away from goal and then fail to find McQuilkin with his pass.

Former West Brom midfielder tried his luck with a 35-yarder but the ball flew harmlessly wide.

Rotherham responded with a neat move down the right but Warne’s final pass was over-hit and went out for a goalkick.

But Hereford were swiftly back on the attack and Canham’s flicked header from another McQuilkin free-kick was grabbed by Warrington, under his bar.

And Canham tested Warrington again shortly afterwards with a curling shot from Stuart Fleetwood’s pass.

Rotherham’s main attacking option at this point was Exodus Geoghagon’s long-throw but the Hereford defence was able to deal with some prodigious efforts from the big centre-back.

Geoghagon received a talking-to from referee Steve Rushton for dragging Canham to the floor but Hereford failed to make good use of the free-kick.

Then Fleetwood beat the offside trap but was unable to get the ball out from under his feet to deliver a shot.

A Nicky Law free-kick asked a few questions of the Hereford defence but Ryan Green was well placed to clear.

On the half-hour, Kenny Lunt was booked for a foul on Ellison just outside the area.

Ellison’s fierce drive from the free-kick sailed straight into the arms of Bulls keeper Adam Bartlett.

At the other end, Hereford had shouts for a penalty waved away when Kovacs appeared to be pulled down in the Millers area.

Lunt enjoyed some more positive action when his 20-yard shot was deflected for a corner.

But the visitors had no difficulty in clearing McQuilkin’s flag-kick.

Danny Harrison sliced a shot wide as Rotherham moved back on to the offensive.

Thompson’s shot for Hereford at the other end met a similar fate.

But, on the stroke of half-time, Rotherham grabbed the lead when Warne dived to head in a cross from Le Fondre after a short throw from Jason Taylor.

Within seconds of the re-start, Hereford had two good chances to hit back.

Canham’s fierce shot was pushed away by Warrington.

And, from the resulting corner, Thompson headed a cross from McQuilkin wide from a good position.

Thompson got in another header shortly afterwards but the effort lacked power and was easily caught by Warrington.

Thompson, who was playing in a more advanced position at the start of the second period, was on the end of another McQuilkin free-kick on 55 minutes but, again, Warrington had an easy save.

Hereford had the ball in the net on the hour, but Colbeck’s effort was ruled out for offside.

And Fleetwood should certainly have opened his season’s account on 68 minutes, firing woefully wide when in the clear and with only Warrington to beat.

At the other end, Warne should have done better with a headed opportunity from Tom Newey’s cross which he put wide.

But Thompson missed the best chance of the lot on 77 minutes, firing wide of the goal from just 10 yards.

And veteran keeper Andy Warrington saved the points for his side with a fine late double-save from McQuilkin.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Valentine; Lunt, Thompson, McQuilkin; Colbeck, Canham, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Connor, Rose, Kanoute, Weir, Stratford, Gwynne, Thomas.

Rotherham: Warrington; Holden, Creswell, Geoghagon, Hewey; Law, Harrison, Taylor, Ellison (Bradley 87); Le Fondre, Warne (Marshall 82). Subs not used: Green, Ashworth, Mullins, Ani, Annerson.

Referee: Steve Rushton (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 2,166 (including 224 from Rotherham).

Goals: Warne, 45 min, 0-1.

Yellow cards: Hereford – Lunt, foul, 30 min; Valentine, dissent, 36 min; Fleetwood, retaliation, 70 min; Canham, diving, 80 min; Thompson, dissent, 80 min; Rotherham – Cresswell, foul, 70 min; Warne, foul, 73 min; Warrington, time-wasting, 77 min; Newey, foul, 84 min.