Wednesday, January 1, 2003

JOHN Grant and Ben Smith scored two superbly crafted goals to steer Hereford United to a Nationwide Conference 'double' over Telford United with a 2-0 win.

On Boxing Day the Bulls beat Telford 1-0 away and the return victory stretched their unbeaten run to six matches.

That sequence has yielded 16 points and hoisted them into the play-off zone.

Last Saturday Grant bagged his first Bulls' goal in a 1-1 draw with Forest Green. The second was not long in coming.

In the 21st minute Danny Williams swept a free kick to Paul Parry. He ran down the left flank before delivering a perfect far post cross for Grant to head into the roof of the net.

Good as his goal was Smith's in the 64th minute surpassed it. Some intricate passing between Grant and Williams created the opening for Smith. He took the ball in his stride to power a 15-yard drive past Paul Pettinger, Telford's on-loan keeper from Lincoln City.

Hereford director of football Graham Turner admitted: "Ben has not played many games of the season through injury. I thought he was tiring and was about to substitute him. Then he produces a tremendous strike."

It was the fifth time in six games that Hereford had not conceded a goal. Andy Tretton was outstanding at the heart of the defence, while Richard Teesdale did well after replacing injured Matt Clarke at right back in the 28th minute. But the Bulls were also indebted to keeper Matt Baker for their clean sheet.

After Tretton had cleared a Peter Smith shot off the line in the third minute Baker excelled. He clutched Gareth Hanmer's free kick and pulled off two crucial saves to keep out shots by Paul Moore and Gary Fitzpatrick. In the second period he foiled Peter Smith and Kevin Davies with another two excellent saves.

Turner said: "Matt's early saves were vital. We didn't play as well as we can but had chan-ces to have scored more. Matt Clarke will need knee surgery and probably be out for two or three weeks."

The other down side was the bookings of Steve Guinan, Williams and Michael Rose by Worcester referee Steve Dorr, who also yellow-carded five Telford players.

Hereford: Baker 9, Clarke 7 (Teesdale 28, 7), Rose 7, James 7, Tretton 8, Pitman 7, Smith 8, Grant 7, Parry 7, Williams 7, Guinan 7. Subs (not used): Purdie, Griffiths, Sawyers, Husbands.

Attendance: 3,077.