Monday, August 29, 2005

Hereford United bounced back from their desperately poor showing in the previous game with Grays to notch a battling 1-0 win at Tamworth yesterday.

Graham Turner decided to shake up his squad and the much-changed outfit returned with the three points, thanks to Alex Jeannin's 19th-minute header.

The only disappointment was the sending-off of Ryan Green after a midfield flare-up which also resulted in the dismissal of the home side's Graham Ward.

Green, United's most influential player so far this term, will now miss the next three games due to suspension.

Turner omitted Craig Mawson, Stacy Coldicott, Rob Purdie and Guy Ipoua and, with a knee injury ruling out Tamika Mkandawire, there were five different faces on view.

Goalkeeper Wayne Brown was called on for his debut but had a relatively quiet afternoon, something which could not be said for the other debutant, Darren Blewitt, who formed a strong back line with Tony James and the impressive Dean Beckwith.

Hereford's Craig Stanley and Tamworth's Julian Alsop put early efforts wide in a nondescript opening period before Hereford took the lead with an excellently worked goal.

Adam Stansfield got away on the right and held off the attentions of the two big home central defenders to deliver a fine cross which Jeannin powered home.

"I was contemplating going down as I had the two centre-backs chopping at my ankles but I managed to stay on my feet, get the cross in and Alex put it in with a brilliant header," said Stansfield.

"After a really disappointing display on Saturday, we had a big meeting on Sunday to discuss where it went wrong and the biggest thing lacking was communication.

"But that was there yesterday, the work-rate was there and we have come away with the three points we deserved."

Bob Taylor and Ward went close as the first-half petered out but Hereford looked brighter at the start of the second period.

Stansfield might have done better when he slipped a shot wide after good work by Jon Brady and Craig Stanley.

While Hereford were unable to create many openings, the defence did well to protect Brown at the other end as Tamworth piled on pressure in search of an equaliser.

Although Taylor went close in the 75th minute, there were few major alarms as the Bulls performed bravely to carry off their second successive away win.

HEREFORD: Brown; Green, Beckwith, James, Blewitt, Jeannin; Brady (Purdie 76), Ferrell, Stanley; Stansfield, Carey-Bertram (Evans 78). Subs not used: Mawson, Ipoua, Coldicott.

ATTENDANCE: 1,744.