Hereford United play at Chesham this evening in a Southern League match.
For a detailed preview see:
www.cheshamunited.co.uk/news/news-2014/15-in/chesham-utd-v-hereford-utd-tuesday-25th-november-ko-1945-match-preview
For a detailed preview see:
www.cheshamunited.co.uk/news/news-2014/15-in/chesham-utd-v-hereford-utd-tuesday-25th-november-ko-1945-match-preview
It's twelve years since the teams last met and that was in the FA Trophy. The first game was drawn but in the replay at Edgar Street the Bulls won 4-0.
Here's a look back:
Bulls cling on
for dear life
Chesham
United 2 - 2 Hereford United
Hereford United were lucky not to be
eliminated from the FA Umbro Trophy at the third round
stage today as Ryman League side Chesham United forced a
2-2 draw at their Meadow ground.
The Bulls had to endure a late period of
Chesham pressure and it was only down to some astute
goalkeeping of Matt Baker that the Conference hopefuls
got away with a draw.
Hereford made two changes to the side
that drew at Forest Green Rovers last weekend. The
suspended Scott Goodwin was replaced in midfield by Ian
Rodgerson, who made his three hundredth competitive
appearance for the club, and Jimmy Quiggin dropped to the
bench as Gavin Williams returned after injury in attack.
Chesham, managed by Bob Dowie, named former Hereford
attacker Paul Fewings in their starting line-up, and he
partnered the highly-rated Wayne Andrews up front.
The cup tie started with the two sides
appearing pretty even over the opening few minutes. Wayne
Andrews tested Matt Baker after five minutes following a
mistake by Tony James in defence, and six minutes later
player/coach Phil Robinson fired an effort wide from the
edge of the box concluding a good team move by the
visitors.
Paul Fewings fired wide on sixteen
minutes as Chesham attempted to find an early goal, and a
minute later Ian Rodgerson lobbed goalkeeper Delroy
Preddie at the other end - but also lobbed the crossbar.
Chesham's Lee Spiller smashed an effort wide before the
deadlock was broken after twenty four minutes.
A pass from Robinson released Gavin
Williams on the left hand side and the Welshman proceeded
to round the goalkeeper before, from an acute angle,
knocking the ball past two defenders on the line to hand
Hereford a slender but vital advantage.
The goal livened up proceedings in a cup
tie that had been entertaining to watch and both Paul
Parry and Phil Robinson tested Preddie in the Chesham
goal before the home side broke free. With ten minutes of
the half left, winger Richard Graham knocked a ball past
Matt Baker, who had had a mix-up with full-back Matt
Clarke, and the advancing Wayne Andrews ran onto it and
had the easy task of knocking it into an unguarded net.
Chesham had an equaliser which, to be fair, was deserved.
Andrews went close two minutes later when
John Shirley allowed him through, but he scraped the
effort wide and the scores appeared to stay level at the
break until Ian Rodgerson popped up in the last minute of
the half. A long ball from captain Ian Wright found
Rodgerson who controlled well and volleyed on the turn to
net from close range. The advantage had swung back in
Hereford's favour.
Bulls attacker Rob Elmes picked up a
knock in the first half and was removed at the break, to
be replaced by Danny Davidson. The second period was much
less exciting for the opening period with Chesham
dominating possession but causing few problems for the
Hereford back line. In fact, it was Hereford who came
closest to scoring on the hour when a corner met Ian
Wright on the back post, and his header was cleared off
the line by Mark Boyce. A minute later, Gavin Williams
shot over but ten minutes later, Chesham fought back.
Paul Fewings' header was caught by Matt Baker on the far
post on seventy minutes, and just two minutes later the
scores were level. Chesham broke on the counter attack
following a Hereford corner and Fewings lobbed the ball
over the advancing Baker to equalise.
The closing eighteen minutes were
extremely tense. Hereford looked lost and will have been
pleased just to get off the pitch. Chesham, on the other
hand, played wave after wave off attacks that tested
Baker and the nerves of everyone in the ground. Paul
Fewings and Wayne Andrews tested Baker's reactions on
seventy eight minutes before sustitute Victor Boyle-Renner
knocked a ball through Paul Parry's legs for Baker palmed
it away. A minute later, Chesham's last real attack saw
the ball drop to Andrews, but he couldn't capitalise on
the opportunity.
The relief on the faces of everyone to do
with Hereford United was evident to see when referee Mr.
F. Graham blew for full time. The Bulls would have had
few complaints had Chesham found a late goal but they
clung on for a replay, which will be held at Edgar Street
on Tuesday night, kick off 7.45pm.
No one player for the Bulls deserved the
man-of-the-match award. There were mistakes from each of
the four members of the defence, as well as goalkeeper
Baker, whilst the midfield and attack didn't perform
sufficiently to eliminate a side supposedly of lower
grading. Had one not known which league Chesham played in,
they could have been excused for thinking the teams were
on a level par.
The tie was superbly entertaining for a
neutral but frustrating in different ways for those
involved in the sides competing. The Hereford support
probably made about half of those in the crowd of 831.