Saturday, November 15, 2003

Hereford United finally brought their dismal run of four Nationwide Conference games without a win to an end with a dramatic victory at Edgar Street.

Reduced to 10 men after Tamika Mkandawire was sent off after 19 minutes, Hereford fell a goal behind seven minutes into the second half before beginning the fightback that brought them their first league success since October 7.

Hereford have now climbed back into second place, two points behind leaders Chester City.

The Bulls were without Jamie Pitman, banned for his sending off against Leigh RMI, for the first time this season and director of football Graham Turner moved full-back Michael Rose into Pitman's midfield slot and introduced Dean Craven at left-back.

Ben Smith, now recovered from a viral infection, was restored to central midfield alongside Rose in place of Jordan King.

After Steve Guinan had flicked a Paul Parry cross narrowly over in the first minute, it was Smith who came closest to scoring in the early stages.

He met a Guinan flick with a sweet volley which, unfortunately for him, met with an equally fine save from his namesake, Phil, who tipped the ball over the bar.

Margate attackers Manny Omoyimni and Che Stadhardt proved a threat throughout the game and it was Stadhardt who was involved in the first of the game's pivotal moments on 19 minutes.

The Margate man went down under a challenge from Mkandawire as both raced towards goal.

It seemed as if the Hereford defender had got a foot to the ball but referee Mike Mullarkey thought differently and sent off the West Bromwich Albion loan player.

Hereford, to their credit, continued to play some good football but were further stunned eight minutes after the interval when Ryan Green, who was outstanding as Mkandawire's deputy at the heart of the defence, was adjudged to have fouled Omoyimni wide on the Margate left.

Visitors' skipper Graham Porter was first to Terry McFlynn's free-kick and headed past Matt Baker.

But Margate had hardly had time to celebrate their success before Hereford were back on level terms.

Craven's cross was only half-cleared by Sam Sodje as far as Parry and the winger drove a firm shot into the corner of the net.

The day then got worse for Sodje, who was sent off for two yellow cards - the second a particularly reckless lunge at Baker as he challenged for a McFlynn corner on 75 minutes.

And within three minutes of Sodje's dismissal, Hereford were in front and their winning goal came courtesy of the Margate defence.

Parry got free on the left of the penalty area and his hard driven cross was unceremoniously booted into the back of his own net by defender Danny Murphy.

After this Hereford held on relatively comfortably for a victory they both deserved and needed.