Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Hereford United moved up to third place in the Nationwide Conference with a 2-0 win at Margate last night.

A professional performance from the Bulls was rewarded as they upset the home side at Hartsdown Park.

Margate, who had lost just one of their last eight Conference matches and just two all season at home, were stung by a long-range goal in each half.

After Margate had the better of a lively start, Hereford started moving through the gears.

Paul Parry slammed a curling shot into the crossbar on 11 minutes, but the opening goal arrived on 30 minutes.

The home side failed to clear a free-kick from deep on the left-wing and the ball fell to Michael Rose, who powered a 30-yard blast beyond Phil Smith in the home goal.

From then on Hereford started taking control, their superior passing in the midfield really showing up on an excellent pitch.

The second half saw Margate have most of the possession, but Matt Baker in the Bulls goal was rarely tested.

The home side should have drawn level on the hour when a great run from their man-of-the-match Jay Saunders allowed Simon Beard to beat the offside trap and go one-on-one with Baker.

But the midfielder took the ball to one side and then fired his shot wide of the angle.

Both teams made changes, and Baker was tested again when Saunders fired in a low shot which was held.

The three points were assured of going back to Edgar Street when Parry picked the ball up in the 90th minute, cut inside from the right and buried another shot from outside the area into the bottom corner.

Hereford deserved the victory, and Graham Turner's men can now look forward to making sure of a place in the promotion play-offs.

They were especially strong in defence, making sure Baker was rarely tested by shots on target.

Hereford: Baker 7; Tretton 7, James 8, Wright 7; Rose 8, H Parry 8, Smith 7, Pitman 7, Lovett 7; Grant 7 (Teesdale 76), Purdie 8. Subs not used: O'Kelly, Griffiths, Sawyers, Husbands.

Attendance: 667.

NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE (Top eight)

P W D L F A Pt

Yeovil 30 18 9 3 64 28 63

Chester 29 15 9 5 45 20 54

Hereford 30 16 5 9 46 29 53

Halifax 30 15 7 8 39 35 52

Doncaster 28 14 9 5 47 31 51

Morecambe 29 14 6 9 50 29 48

Scarborough 29 12 10 7 45 35 46

Dag. & Red. 28 13 7 8 47 39 46