Bulls beaten at Sixfields (From Hereford Times)

Bulls beaten at Sixfields

4:53pm Saturday 25th April 2009

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Northampton Town 2 Hereford United 1.

JOHN Trewick’s reign as Hereford manager got off to losing start despite a battling performance at Sixfields.

New boss Trewick made three changes for his first League 1 match in charge.

Fit-again Toumani Diagouraga took over in midfield from Craig Jones while Josh Gowling was preferred to Dean Beckwith alongside Richard Rose in the centre of defence.

On-loan winger Marc Pugh was also preferred to Matt Done, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

Hereford had a chance to take the lead in the first minute when Jennison Myrie-Williams’ pass set up a shooting opportunity for Pugh who sliced his shot wide of the target.

Andy Williams then rifled a shot wide after a good pass from Steve Guinan.

A fine tackle by Gowling took the ball away from the pacy Ikechi Anya at the expense of a corner.

Mark Hughes’ header from the flag-kick drew an excellent save from Peter Gulacsi.

Cobblers keeper Chris Dunn reciprocated almost immediately at the other end to tip over a good free-kick from Pugh.

The winger was to the fore again when wasted a great chance to take the lead on 24 minutes.

Pugh picked out Guinan with a good cross from the left but, for once, the Bulls leading scorer failed to deliver, blazing high over from eight yards.

Shortly afterwards, Hereford had to replace Gowling with Beckwith and they fell behind four minutes later.

The Bulls defence failed to deal with Hughes’ cross from the right and the ball broke to Andy Holt who fired past Gulacsi.

But the Bulls were far from cowed by the goal and continued to create chances in an open and entertaining game.

A Myrie-Williams corner flashed through the six-yard box to Pugh whose drive drew a fine stop from Dunn.

But the keeper was grasping air moments later when, following another Myrie-Williams flag-kick, Guinan’s shot thumped against the inside of post and was cleared.

Then, from United’s eighth corner of the half, Guinan headed across goal to Rose whose header was brilliantly tipped over for another flag-kick.

A shot from Williams brought United’s 10th flag-kick of the period in stoppage time.

United’s attacking endeavour paid off, however, six minutes into the second half.

Myrie-Williams’ drive was blocked and the rebound fell to Williams who, from 30 yards, launched a superb shot into the top corner.

Pugh almost gave them the lead six minutes later with a 25-yard daisy-cutter which flashed inches wide.

At the other end, Northampton were not making the best use of a strong wind but Holt did have a header saved by Gulacsi before Adebayo Akinfenwa blazed over from a good position.

Akinfenwa was involved, though, when the Cobblers regained the lead on 69 minutes, laying the ball into the path of Jason Crowe who smashed home from 20 yards.

Crowe lashed another long-range effort wide shortly afterwards but the home side were relieved to see another Williams strike ruled out for a foul in the 80th minute.

Hereford: Gulacsi; Gwynne, Rose, Gowling (Beckwith, 25 min), Taylor; Myrie-Williams, Smith, Diagouraga, Pugh (Done, 64 min); Guinan, Williams. Subs not used: Veiga, O’Leary, Brandy.

Northampton: Dunn; Hughes, Watts, Doig (Hodgkiss, 44 min), Jackman; Guttridge (Prijovic, 59 min), Crowe, Osman, Holt; Akinfenwa (Constantine, 79 min), Anya. Subs not used: Walker, Gilligan.

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands).

Attendance: 5,518 (204 from Hereford).

Goals: Holt, 29 min, 1-0; Williams, 51 min, 1-1; Crowe, 69 min, 2-1.

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