Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Hereford United's 10th away win of the season put them in with a great chance of clinching a play-off spot for the second successive season.

The Bulls' seventh double of the season kept them in third place in the Nationwide Conference table and a further three points from their last three games should ensure post-season action.

Two goals from leading scorer Adam Stansfield and one from substitute Danny Carey-Bertram clinched the win but no less crucial was the performance of central defensive duo Andy Tretton and Tamika Mkandawire.

The pair, who have been thrown together since the injury to Tony James, were excellent once again with their only disappointment the goal conceded to Paul Warhurst, the first strike against the Bulls in 515 minutes of football.

And despite the defeat, there was at least some compensation for the home side in the gate of 2,142, their biggest ever in the Conference, bolstered by some 1,400 from Hereford.

On a difficult, bobbly pitch, Hereford's usual passing game was never going to be forthcoming but the Bulls battled hard to ensure the three points.

The opening goal arrived on 18 minutes after a shot from Mark Robinson had been pushed behind for a corner.

The full-back delivered the flag-kick himself and his cross was headed in expertly by Stansfield from inside the six-yard box.

Hereford should have increased their lead 10 minutes later when a fine pass from Jamie Pitman found Lee Mills in the clear but the veteran striker side-footed his shot straight at goalkeeper Dean Williams from a great position.

Mills fired a couple more good openings off target at the end of the first period, but made amends when he played a major role in Hereford's second three minutes into the second period.

His expertly-weighted pass sent Stansfield racing away to blast a shot past Williams.

Hereford might have hoped to have pulled away at that stage but instead Forest Green showed their fighting qualities as they threw everything forward in an attempt to get back into the game.

And the visitors' efforts were rewarded after 61 minutes when a quickly-taken free-kick found former Premiership star Warhurst rising at the far post to head past Craig Mawson.

But Hereford resisted the home side's powerful pressure to hit back to score the decisive goal 10 minutes from time.

Stansfield raced away on the left and his driven cross was nudged in at the near post by Carey-Bertram to clinch the three points.

Hereford: Mawson 7, Green 7, *Mkandawire 9, Tretton 8, Robinson 7, D Williams 6, Pitman 7 (Hyde 82), Stanley 6, Purdie 7, Mills 6 (Carey-Bertram 70, 7), Stansfield 8 (L Williams 90). Subs not used: Scott, Travis.

Attendance: 2,142.