Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Hereford United lost their unbeaten home Nationwide Conference record in a comprehensive 2-0 defeat by Yeovil Town last night.

Injury-hit Hereford can have no complaints about the result.

In fact, it was surprising Hereford held out until the 40th minute, by which time their Somerset rivals could have been three goals up.

Yeovil's second strike immediately after the interval killed off the game.

Although United marksman Rob Elmes headed a superb Paul Parry cross against an upright in the 53rd minute, the visitors coasted home.

Hereford director of football Graham Turner said: "Yeovil outclassed us in the first half and we were just hoping to get to half time with the scores level. We battled hard in the second half, but their goal just after the break was crucial."

Yeovil's pace and movement ran a depleted Hereford side ragged in a one-sided opening period.

Man-of-the-match Lee Johnson scuffed a glorious chance wide and within seconds Hereford central defender Mark Williams hacked Carl Alford's effort off the goalline.

Matt Clarke raced back to clear the danger after goalkeeper Matt Baker and Mark Williams collided in an attempt to deal with a speculative long ball, and Paul Webb bundled away a vicious inswinging corner by ex-Bulls player Michael McIndoe.

The breakthrough arrived when Alford rose unchallenged to head home a corner from five yards out.

The goal sparked Hereford into life and Paul Parry left three Yeovil players for dead before unleashing a cross shot which goalkeeper Jon Sheffield parried. The ball fell to Jimmy Quiggin at the far post but the young forward's effort was blocked.

The Glovers deservedly wrapped up the points in the 48th minute, with their first raid of the second half. The lively Johnson broke clear to fire an 18-yard angled drive past Baker, who did well to get his hands to the ball but was powerless to keep it out.

Hereford: Baker 7, Clarke 6, M Williams 5, Webb 6, Quiggin 5 (Piearce 46, 5), T James 6, Sedgemore 6, Snape 5, Elmes 5, G Williams 7, Parry 8. Subs (not used): Goodwin, Evans, K James, Marshall. Attendance: 1,709.