Saturday, October 4, 2003

LEADING marksman Steve Guinan grabbed his ninth goal of the campaign as table-topping Hereford ended Woking's unbeaten home record at the Kingfield Stadium on Saturday.

The striker pounced from close-range with just eight minutes remaining to give Hereford their ninth win in 12 Conference matches and put United two points clear at the top.

United struck the woodwork twice and scorned a host of goal-scoring opportunities until Guinan finally delivered the knockout blow.

Substitute Daniel Carey-Bertram played an important role in the crucial goal with an excellent cross which picked out the unmarked Danny Williams inside the area.

The former Chesterfield midfielder's goal-bound shot hit Guinan on the back but the striker turned sharply to knock the loose ball past Woking goalkeeper Ashley Bayes.

Guinan could easily have added a second goal in the final minute when he latched on to a through-ball from Carey-Bertam, only to be foiled by the out-rushing Bayes.

The rebound fell into the path of Ben Smith but his effort was somehow pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Bayes gave a top-class display, including two spectacular double-saves, and he looked like salvaging a point for the battling Cards.

Bayes made the first of his fine saves in the 11th minute when Williams seized on to a Michael Rose through ball but the keeper raced off his line to block the shot.

A minute later Bayes pulled off a tremendous double save, finger-tipping Smith's close-range effort on to the underside of the bar and then pushing Guinan's follow-up effort over. Hereford later struck the woodwork in the 53rd minute with a superb 25-yard free-kick from Williams.

But Woking were a threat in the opening half and almost broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Jonathan Boardman's header was cleared off the line.

The outstanding Paul Parry grew more influential as the game wore on and tormented the Woking defence but both David Brown and Guinan failed to capitalise on several pin-point crosses from the Welshman.

At the other end, central defender Tamika Mkandawire, making his United debut after signing on a month's loan from West Brom, linked up well with skipper Tony James, while Ryan Green also gave another solid display.

Hereford took control 15 minutes into the second half and created chances at will, with Brown, Guinan, Smith and Parry all squandering decent opportunities, before Guinan finally tucked one away.

United manager Graham Turner said: "If we have any aspirations of finishing top at the end of the season, then Woking is the type of place that we must take three points from.

"I was very pleased with our display, we defended much better as a team."