Full-time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Hereford United 1 (From Hereford Times)

Full-time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Hereford United 1

4:55pm Saturday 14th January 2012

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Full-time: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Hereford United 1

YOANN Arquin struck five minutes before the break to give the Bulls their second successive away win of the year.

There were two changes in the Bulls’ line-up for Victoria Road but not the one many expected.

Adam Bartlett, despite a below-par display in goal against Bristol Rovers in the previous game, held off the challenge of Dave Cornell to retain his place in goal.

But leading scorer Tom Barkhuizen was dropped to the bench to accommodate the return of Nicky Featherstone.

With Benoit Dalibard suspended, Simon Clist was moved to left-back to allow for the recall of Harry Pell.

Ex-Bulls favourite Richard Rose was named among the Dagenham substitutes.

After a scrappy start from both sides, Hereford forced the first corner on eight minutes.

Joe Colbeck’s flag-kick was partially cleared and Clist’s attempted return drifted out of play.

As the Daggers broke out, Bartlett was swiftly off his line to gather the ball as Jon Nurse raced through.

Hereford, while trying to pass the ball, were having difficulty in locating each other and the ball was given away with regularlity.

The Bulls were showing plenty of spirit, however, and kept taking the game to Dagenham with Featherstone’s 18th minute effort looping wide.

Dagenham started to threaten and, on 23 minutes a deflected Dominic Green cross-shot was put behind for a corner by Rob Purdie.

A minute later, the dangerous Nurse was brought down 30 yards out by Will Evans but Micky Spillane’s curling drive was easily held by Bartlett.

Hereford continued to put in the effort and some good skill by Yoann Arquin won a corner on 29 minutes.

As earlier, however, Colbeck’s flag-kick was cleared without much alarm.

On 33 minutes, Arquin skied a volley out of the ground.

And, with the attacking momentum still behind the Bulls, a fine cross from Colbeck flashed through the goalmouth and behind.

The break-through came from the Bulls’ third corner of the game on 39 minutes.

Colbeck delivered the ball into the six-yard box and Arquin rose to head home powerfully.

In the post-goal euphoria, however, United almost conceded an equaliser with Bartlett doing well to push out an effort from the lively Cristian Montano.

Hereford suffered a blow just before the interval when Simon Clist was forced off by a shin injury; Sam Clucas deputised. The youngster was almost immediately made to pay for some indecision when he allowed Green inside to deliver a cross which Nurse headed wide from a good position.

Hereford made a lively start to the second period and Evans forced a corner within seconds of the re-start.

Purdie got a boot to Colbeck’s low cross and saw a Dagenham foot clear the ball from near the line.

Facey then did well to win a Clucas cross in the air but his knock-down was too far ahead of Featherstone.

At the other end, good defending from Michael Townsend shepherded the ball out of play with Nurse challenging.

The Daggers forced a corner on the hour but Hereford succeeded in clearing the ball after a few ricochets in the area.

The Hereford defence had a few anxious moments shortly afterwards with a tremendous goalmouth scramble preceding the final clearance.

Hereford had a great chance to extend the lead on 77 minutes when Facey flicked substitute Tom Barkhuizen through but the teenager delayed his shot and the chance was gone.

Then a fierce drive from Arquin was held by the diving Lewington.

And, with Hereford continuing to threaten, a Barkhuizen shot drifted inches wide with the keeper beaten.

Hereford: 4-3-3: Bartlett; Purdie, Townsend, Stam, Clist (Clucas 45); Evans, Featherstone, Pell; Colbeck (Barkhuizen 70), Facey, Arquin. Subs not used: Cornell, Lunt, Elder.

Dagenham & Redbridge: 4-4-2: Lewington; Ogogo, Doe, Spillane, Ilesanmi; Nurse (Reed 70), Bingham (Wearen 80), Abdulla, Green; Montano, Woodall. Subs not used: Hogan, Rose, Arber.

Referee: S Rushton (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 1,732 (including 187 from Hereford).

Goals: Arquin, 39 min, 0-1.