August 1996

August 3rd:

HEREFORD 2 West Brom 2 (PSF)

Hereford United let a two-goal lead slip away against West Bromwich Albion. They looked to have the game all sewn up after Liverpool reject Ian Foster had blasted them into a two-goal lead after West Brom defender Paul Holmes had earlier headed into his own net.

After the break Albion made three substitutions. From then on they called the tune and scored in the 53rd minute when Paul Raven headed home.

Bob Taylor levelled the score in the 64th minute after goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie had dropped a cross from Holmes.

August 10th:

HEREFORD 2 Wrexham 0 (PSF)

Hereford's new strikers Adrian and Ian Foster pulled off a double act to beat Wrexham 2-0.

Adrian, 25, signed on a free transfer as a replacement for top scorer Steve White, who has gone to Cardiff City.

He opened the scoring with a sharp shot from the edge of the penalty area, in the 31st minute.

Teenager Ian, a former Liverpool Reserve, who came on as a second-half sub for Adrian, clinched it with a close-range 62nd-minute shot.

August 15th:

MONEY is so scarce at Hereford that mention of the market usually concerns cattle rather than players. A play-off place confirmed that Graham Turner's coaching and organisational skills were intact after his woes at Wolves, and they should challenge again.

Richard Wilkins has moved to Colchester for £30,000. He joined the Bulls in July 1994 from Cambridge and whilst with the Edgar Street club made 47 League appearances scoring 5 goals.

August 18th:

HEREFORD United have given former Celtic and Hamilton midfielder Raymond McStay a month's trial and are poised to offer him a deal.

August 24th:

HEREFORD 1 Doncaster 0

Hereford did just enough to take the points in a 1-0 win against a Doncaster side who gifted them their winner in the second minute.

Robertson tried to get the ball back to keeper Williams but put it into the path of Hargreaves, who squared it across goal for Stoker to score from close range.

In the second half Hereford continued to press and a Fishlock chip shot looked bound for the top corner, but Williams just managed to fingertip it over.

Hereford went close again when Norton curled in a long ball which beat the keeper and cannoned off the inside of the post

Stoker said: "It was certainly one to savour."

Hereford: DeBont, Norton, Townsend, Smith, Brough, Fishlock, Stoker, Downing, Mahon, Hargreaves, A. Foster. Subs not used: Pitman, I. Foster Cook.

This was referee Tony Bates first league game.

August 28th:

PLYMOUTH will have to pay Hereford £60,000, plus £20,000 after 25 games, for central defender Tony James, a transfer tribunal ruled today.

August 31st:

COLCHESTER 1 Hereford 1

Hereford's man of the match Dean Smith scored with a superb second- half free kick to give them the lead in this low-key match.

But they were denied victory by Colchester substitute Reinelt who headed home a cross from Wilkins after keeper Debont had dropped a shot from Dunne.

The game could have gone either way in a frantic finish.

Hereford striker forced the save of the match from Caldwell then at the other end Debont saved well from Kinsella and then tipped Greene's header onto the woodwork.

What had gone before was tame by comparison. The first half was a shambles with both sides looking pale shadows of the promotion play off outfits of last season.

Neither keeper had a serious shot to save in the first half but the game was transformed after the break when Hereford adopted a more positive attitude.

They went ahead just after the hour when Gregory brought down Downing. He was booked for the challenge and Smith scored from the free kick.

Hereford: Debont, Smith, Brough, Townsend, Norton, Fishlock, Stoker, Downing, Mahon, Foster, Hargreaves.