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

Full-time: Aldershot Town 1 Hereford United 0

9:47pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Reports By Richard Prime

NO points, no goals and a sending-off for Michael Townsend made it hard for the intrepid 117 travelling Bulls fans to feel the love on St Valentine’s Day.

Hereford recalled Nathan Elder to their attack with Delroy Facey failing to recover from the chest infection which forced his withdrawal in the previous game with Cheltenham.

Nicky Featherstone and Joe Colbeck were also omitted as, with Lyle Taylor included, Jamie Pitman opted for a 4-4-2 formation.

Yoann Arquin was also recalled to play wide on the left with Rob Purdie and Will Evans occupying the central midfield berths and Simon Clist at left-back.

James McQuilkin, returned from a month on loan at Kidderminster, was given a seat on the substitutes’ bench.

There was a familiar figure among the Aldershot replacements in the form of ex-Hereford favourite Ben Smith.

Hereford forced the first corner in the fourth minute but Clist’s cross came to nothing.

And there was little in the way of quality in the early action until Guy Madjo robbed Clist and cut skilfully into the area before slicing his shot high over.

Hereford responded with a neat build-up which was spoiled by a poor pass from Tom Barkhuizen which went behind for a goal-kick.

With little improvement in the play, Darren Murphy headed over from a free-kick after 15 minutes.

Taylor, whose willingness to run at defenders was one of the few United bright spots in the first 20 minutes, sped through from half-way but saw his shot from the edge of the area blocked.

Hereford should have taken the lead on 29 minutes.

Purdie released Ben Purkiss on the right and his cross was headed down by Taylor to Arquin who sliced his shot over from 10 yards.

Danny Hylton hit a right-foot drive a yard too high from the edge of the area as chances continued to be rare.

Aldershot livened up as half-time approached and forced some hurried defending as the Bulls conceded a corner.

Josh Payne’s flag-kick brought a sliced clearance from Purkiss which was heading into the Hereford net until Clist produced a timely goalline clearance.

Then Adam Mekki fired in a drive which just cleared the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

Hereford forced a corner as stoppage time began but the move was cleared before Barkhuizen surged forward again to fire just wide.

Hereford broke swiftly at the start of the second period with Elder and Taylor working a chance for Evans which was blazed wastefully over.

The first goal arrived seven minutes into the second period when Hereford failed to clear after several opportunities and the ball reached Madjo to side-foot home at the far post.

Hereford introduced Colbeck in place of Elder near the hour-mark.

But Hereford’s evening went further downhill when Hylton went down in a tussle with Townsend as the pair raced toward the Hereford goal and the Bulls defender was shown a straight red card, his second of the season.

Hereford, however, nearly got back on terms on 75 minutes when keeper Ross Worner could only parry a blistering free-kick from Will Evans.

None of the Hereford players was able to react sufficiently quickly to fire in the rebound.

Hereford: 4-4-2: Bartlett; Purkiss, Townsend, Green, Clist; Barkhuizen (Clucas 78), Purdie, Evans, Arquin; Elder (Colbeck 59), Taylor (Featherstone 69). Subs not used: Cornell, McQuilkin.

Aldershot: 4-4-2: Worner; Herd, Jones, Straker, Vincenti (Connolly 69); Bradley, Payne, Murphy (Morris 69), Mekki; Hylton, Madjo (Risser 80). Subs not used: Smith, Brown.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 1871 (including 117 from Hereford).

Goals: Madjo, 53 min, 1-0.

Red card: Hereford – Townsend, 66 minutes, professional foul.