Bulls could be promoted on Saturday with right results

1:04pm Friday 25th April 2008

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Hereford United 2 Wrexham 0.

HEREFORD United head for Brentford on Saturday in pole position in their bid for promotion from League 2.

Goals from Gary Hooper and Theo Robinson against their North Wales rivals at Edgar Street on Tuesday evening extended the Bulls’ advantage over Rochdale and Stockport to four points.

If the Bulls, who are likely to have a full squad to pick from, can pick up three points from their first ever League visit to Griffin Park, that would take their total to 85.

Rochdale would then be ruled out of the equation for automatic promotion and Stockport, who currently have an inferior goal difference, would have to win all of their remaining three games to overhaul United’s points tally.

A match preview and half-time and full-time reports will be available at herefordtimes.com Against Wrexham, Richard Rose cracked a shot wide before a surging 40-yard run by Matt Done, a United target during the January transfer window, ended with a shot which brought an excellent stop from Wayne Brown.

But the best early opening fell to Hereford after four minutes.

Ben Smith’s flick was played by Hooper into the path of Robinson who raced clear of the defence only to slice his shot horribly wide of the target.

But Brown had to come to Hereford’s rescue with another brilliant stop on 35 minutes, pushing the ball behind from a snap-shot by Neil Roberts.

The Bulls, however, went back down the other end to take the lead two minutes before the interval.

A fine pass out of defence by Sammy Igoe was backheeled neatly by Robinson to Hooper who advanced before netting with an angled drive into the corner of the net.

Early in the second period, Robinson raced on to a Smith pass and his shot beat Ward but hit the base of a post and went behind for a goal-kick.

And Hereford’s need for a second goal was exemplified when Marc Williams got away from Karl Broadhurst and forced a fine save from Brown.

Relief arrived for the Bulls on the hour. Richard Rose’s cross from the left was flicked on by Hooper to Robinson who drove a shot under Ward from close range.

Brown produced another excellent save from Michael Proctor in injury time. But Hereford were content to see the minutes elapse before celebrating the win which sends their old rivals down into the Blue Square Premier.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Rose; Igoe, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton; Hooper, Robinson. Subs not used: Esson, Collins, Taylor, Johnson, Benjamin.

Wrexham: Ward; Pejic, S Evans, Mike Williams, Taylor; Baynes (Garrett, 68 min), Mackin, Murtagh (D Williams, 63 min), Done; Marc Williams (Proctor, 68 min), Roberts. Subs not used: Jones, G Evans.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Attendance: 3,739 (including 478 from Wrexham).

Yellow cards: Wrexham – Murtagh, 44 min, foul; Danny Williams, 82 min, foul.

Goals: Hooper, 43 min, 1-0; Robinson, 60 min, 2-0.