Saturday, September 6, 2003

FREE-SCORING Nationwide Conference leaders Hereford United brushed aside struggling Farnborough with a five-goal rout at Cherrywood Road.

The rampant Bulls outclassed the lowly Hampshire outfit and duly recorded their biggest-ever away victory in the Conference.

Winless Farnborough were forced to play the last 35 minutes of the match with just 10 men following the dismissal of Patrick Sappleton for a second booking, but United had already opened up a 3-0 advantage.

Unbeaten Hereford have now scored 23 goals in just seven Conference outings and collected 19 points from a possible 21.

The result was never in doubt after United showed a lethal touch in front of goal and took a commanding 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

Transfer-listed United star Paul Parry opened the scoring with Hereford's first attack in the fourth minute after an excellent cross-field ball from Michael Rose found Danny Williams on the right flank.

The former Chesterfield midfielder slipped the ball inside to Steve Guinan whose low shot was pushed away by Farnborough goalkeeper Mark Osborn and Parry coolly tucked it into an empty net.

The home side immediately struck back and it needed a brilliant reaction save from Matt Baker to keep United in front, pushing Barrington Belgrave's powerful header on to the top of the crossbar.

But Hereford extended their lead in the 17th minute when a superb five-man move was rounded off by Ben Smith.

Tony James, Guinan and Williams exchanged neat passes before Rob Purdie pulled the ball back for Smith who fired a low shot into the bottom corner.

Hereford were now flying and scored a killer third goal eight minutes later after Parry careered down the left and delivered an inch-perfect cross for the unmarked Guinan who headed in at the back post.

Baker needed to be alert within 17 seconds of the second-half when he raced off his line to block a goal-bound effort from Belgrave.

But Hereford hit back strongly and added a fourth goal from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after Sappleton, who had previously been booked, was dismissed for deliberately handling Parry's cross.

Skipper James made no mistake with the spot-kick, drilling it hard and low for his third goal of the campaign.

The Bulls continued to create chances and completed the drubbing with a fifth goal six minutes from time.

Parry cut the ball back for substitute Brown to drill a low first-time left-footed shot inside the far post.

Hereford manager Graham Turner said: "We killed off Farnborough in the first half-an- hour but Baker made an important save when we were 1-0 up.

"We got a bit sloppy late in the game but it's hard to grumble because we have come away from home and won 5-0."