Bulls looking for big crowd to cheer on promotion bid

1:09pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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HEREFORD United will be hoping for one of their biggest gates of the season when they kick off their two-match Easter programme by hosting reviving Bury at Edgar Street on Saturday.

Last Saturday's gate against fellow promotion-hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers was a disappointing 3,126 with the counter-attraction of live international rugby on the television and dismal weather combining to reduce the turn-out.

But now, with just nine games of an already-memorable season to go, the Bulls need plenty of backing to roar them on to one of the automatic promotion places.

Hereford follow up the visit of Bury with a trip to Lincoln City on Easter Monday and six points from opponents whom they have already beaten in earlier matches this season would maintain the Bulls' position in the League 2 top three.

Hereford will, however, be without Liverpool loanee Robbie Threlfall who turned an ankle shortly after coming on as a substitute against Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday.

And another loanee, midfielder Stephen Gleeson, will be missing from the trip to Sincil Bank after being called up by Eire under-21.

Gleeson is available for the Bury match but may miss out after dropping out of Tuesday's friendly with Team Bath through illness.

The goalless draw with the Southern Leaguers did, however, provide some valuable match practice for some of the other members of the United squad.

"It was a useful work-out and there were a few members of the squad who needed the game, people like Steve Guinan, Trevor Benjamin and Lee Collins," said boss Graham Turner.

The United boss confirmed that Guinan, who has been missing since New Year's Day with a calf injury, is "not far off" being ready for a first-team return.

With Michael Ingham ruled out for six weeks after rupturing a finger ligament, Turner has added former Aberdeen and Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Ryan Esson to his squad.

And the Bulls director of football has not ruled out more arrivals before next Thursday's transfer deadline.

"There is always a possibility but it depends on who is made available by clubs," said Turner.

With Bury showing a revival after the appointment of new boss Alan Knill and Lincoln having improved considerably since the early part of the season, Turner knows that the weekend is likely to be tough.

He remained cautiously optimistic, however, saying: "We have to be guarded about it but we are more than capable of taking good points from these two games."

ON Bank Holiday Monday, Edgar Street will be hosting the HFA Senior Challenge Cup final between Westfields and Pegasus Juniors, kick-off 11am.