Thursday, December 26, 2002

Hereford United beat Telford United 1-0 with a Steve Guinan strike to stretch their winning run to four games.

The away victory takes Graham Turner's men to sixth position in the Conference and ended the Bucks' seven match unbeaten run.

The Bulls' mean defence severely restricted Telford's attack and has now kept four clean sheets on the trot.

A magnificent travelling support swelled Telford's best gate of the season to 2,047.

The visiting crowd was not disappointed as the Bulls dominated before being put on the rack for the final 10 minutes when Matt Baker evolved from the role of onlooker to steal the man of the match award.

In a fast and furious start John Grant flashed a shot across the face of the goal, Paul Parry couldn't get enough on a Danny Williams cross and Michael Rose's cross was deflected for a corner all in the opening three minutes.

The stalemate was broken with a 19th minute classic. Jamie Pitman sent a long ball down the left and when Paul Parry won the chase his pin point centre was side footed home from three yards by Guinan.

Gareth Hanmer and Martin Barlow were booked in a four-minute spell which also saw Telford lose their influential skipper Steve Palmer through injury.

Guinan and Rose combined well to test Paul Edwards on the stroke of half time but when the keeper dropped the ball Hanmer was on hand to spare his blushes.

Pitman picked up a 54th minute booking for a late challenge on Mark Foran as the visitors kept up the pressure before Grant headed over from Ben Smith's cross.

Substitute Jordan King and Foran picked up yellow cards as the home side struggled to contain the rampant Bulls and Rob Purdie replaced Smith for the final 10 minutes.

Herefords superiority was reflected in the 14 to two corner tally but a single goal always left the gate open.

Baker held on to a Gary Fitpatrick header seven minutes from the end, saved well from a narrow angle from David Brown two minutes from time and beat out a fierce strike from the same player in the dying seconds.

Hereford: HBaker 9, Clarke 7, Rose 8, Tretton 8, James 7, Pitman 8, Smith 7 (Purdie 80), Grant 8, Parry 8, Williams 8, Guinan 8.

Subs not used: Wright, Griffiths, Sawyers, Teesdale. Attendance: 2,047.