Bulls dump Accrington out of Trophy

Hereford United thrashed Accrington Stanley 4-0 this evening at Edgar Street in the F.A.Trophy third round replay. Two goals in each half were enough to see United cruise through the game, which they dominated for most of the time.

The Bulls made only one change to the starting eleven from the original tie last Saturday; David Brown was missing through injury so Danny Carey-Bertram deputised. Rob Purdie was back on the bench following a hamstring injury, as was Andy Williams. Lee Mills was not named amongst the substitutes.

Hereford were in front after seventeen minutes, but before they had the lead Carey-Bertram had hooked a shot after latching onto a head on by Adam Stansfield, but goalkeeper Paul Crichton managed to back-pedal and tip the ball over his cross bar. Danny Williams was the provider a few minutes later and it was Stansfield who managed to get goal side of his marker, and unleash a powerful shot across goal and into the far top corner from the left of the penalty area.

Ten minutes after United had the lead referee Bob Desmond made a decision that effectively changed the game when he showed centre back Michael Flynn a red card after he fouled Stansfield, who was running clear on goal. Danny Williams took the resulting free kick twenty five yards from goal, and his effort crashed against the cross bar. Simon Travis had a fantastic run down the left over fourty yards and finished it with a thunderous twenty yard strike that was palmed away by Critchon.

Seven minutes before the break though, Hereford did double their advantage. A corner from the right wasn't properly dealt with by Accrington and it fell to Craig Stanley on the edge of the box. He found Stansfield, who touched the ball to his right where Carey-Bertram was on hand to fire a shot across the 'keeper and into the top corner, albeit with a slight deflection. Joe Anyinsah went close after a good run from inside his own half but he shot just wide from thirty five yards when he may have done better to go closer.

The Bulls came out charging in the second half and made the game pretty much safe with just two minutes gone, Tom Smith met the impressive Anyinsah's cross from the right, which was touched on by the Carey-Bertram, with a diving header from close range to make it three nil. Hereford got their fourth and final goal after sixty eight minutes, Travis bombed down the left wing and crossed to the near post where the ball eluded the defender and man of the match Carey-Bertram was on hand to tap in from close range.

United cruised from then on creating plenty of opportunities to make the result even more emphatic, but Lee McEvily did have a good effort from twenty yards that was beaten away by Craig Mawson. Substitute Rob Purdie looked sharp and had a particularly good run down the left but Williams shot wildly over the bar when Purdie picked him out in acres of space on the edge of the box. Stanley had a good drive from the edge of the box that was tipped away as United continued to dominate.

Graham Hyde was introduced for Jamie Pitman midway in the second half and Andy Williams was bought on to replace Danny Williams, who was stretchered off with around ten minutes to go. Purdie was released once again on the left but his cross along the six yard line was forced over the bar by the onrushing Williams.

All in all, the game was a very entertaining one for the home fans in a crowd of 740, which was slightly disappointing. Hereford made the extra man count well and played some very good football that they must hope to bring into some of their league games in upcoming weeks. The eleven loyal fans in the away enclosure deserve a special mention for making the long trip to Edgar Street, only to see a poor performance from their side who were outplayed by the Bulls, who played much better than they have done for sometime.

HUFC: Craig Mawson, Ryan Green, Simon Travis, Tom Smith, Tony James, Joe Anyinsah, Danny Williams, Jamie Pitman, Craig Stanley, Adam Stansfield, Daniel Carey-Bertram. Subs:Andrew Williams, Graham Hyde, Mark Robinson, Ben Scott, Rob Purdie.

Report by Brian

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