Bizarre own goal helps Bulls lay Stanley ghost

5:17pm Friday 14th March 2008

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Accrington Stanley 0 Hereford United 2 .

HEREFORD United put to bed another depressing sequence when they gained their first ever success at Accrington last Saturday.

Two weeks ago, United won a league encounter in Shrewsbury for the first time since 1935-6.

And their winless sequence in Accrington stretched back even further with no wins at all since a first visit for an FA Cup first-round tie in 1932-3.

The success was United's 12th away from home in the league this season, equalling another long-standing record.

John Sillett's 3rd Division Championship-winning side of 1975-6 also won a dozen games on the road.

While boss Graham Turner would be, no doubt, delighted if his talented team matched the success of Sillett's squad, on Saturday he was simply content to enjoy the three points.

"We desperately needed that win," he said. "It showed a lot of character bouncing back after two successive defeats. I thought we opened up the game very well and was disappointed that we didn't score in the first spell.

"And in some ways, it was similar to Dagenham where we started well and to Stockport where we had chances in the first 20 minutes.

"We have to be pleased with the character shown."

Turner made five changes to his side after the defeat at home to Stockport but it was really a case of reverting to a successful blend rather than making wholesale changes.

The side actually showed only one alteration from the side defeated at Dagenham two matches ago, and that involved the recall of regular midfielder Toumani Diagouraga after injury in place of loanee Stephen Gleeson.

The refurbished outfit quickly clicked into gear and the Bulls caused plenty of problems for the home side in the early stages.

Sherjill MacDonald, restored to the front line, was desperately unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet. The on-loan forward forced a superb save from goalkeeper Kenny Arthur and then had another shot kicked off the goal-line by Philip Edwards.

United's dominance finally found its reward two minutes before the break.

Trent McClenahan powered forward into the Stanley half before providing the pass to send Simon Johnson away on the right.

The former England under-20 international drove in a low cross which was met at the near post by Gary Hooper and crashed into the net.

"It was a very good goal," said Turner. "It was a good build-up and a good execution."

If that was an excellent goal, United's second, seven minutes into the second period was freakish - and, apparently, somewhat fortuitous.

Martin Roberts back pass found Arthur off his line and sent the keeper scrambling back in a desperate bid to clear.

The linesman signalled that he had failed in his effort and the Bulls were two up.

"We could not see from where we were but Accrington did not seem to be too pleased," said Turner.

"There seems to be a chance that the ball did not cross the line."

The Bulls held on and completed their first shut-out since February 16.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, McCombe, Beckwith, Rose; Johnson, Smith, Diagouraga, Easton; Hooper (Benjamin, 88 min), MacDonald (Robinson, 88 min). Subs not used: Ingham, Threlfall, Taylor.

Accrington: Arthur; Edwards, Kempson, Roberts, Thomas; Richardson, Craney, Mannix, Harris (Whalley, 60 min); Mullin, Mangan (Todd, 46 min). Subs not used: Dunbavin, Webb, King.

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands).

Attendance: 1,262.

Yellow card: Hereford - Easton, dissent, 50 min; Johnson, foul, 71 min; Accrington - Thomas, foul, 40 min.

Goals: Hooper, 43 min, 0-1; Roberts og, 52 min, 0-2.