January 1997

Jan 8th:


GOALKEEPER Trevor Wood has joined Hereford United after losing his place in the current Walsall side.

Although born in Jersey, Wood played for Northern Ireland once, as a sub against Liechtenstein in October 1995.

He's expected to make his debut for the Bulls against Mansfield next Saturday.

Jan 11th:

HEREFORD 0 Mansfield 1 (report from Sports Argus)

Hereford are due to celebrate 25 years in the Football League in June, but are now in danger of losing their status.

The Bulls have gone 12 league games without a win and are only seven points clear of Brighton at the bottom.

Hereford almost went ahead early on when a looping Kottila header crashed against the bar.

Foster looked certain to score from the rebound but his header went straight into the arms of grounded keeper Bowling.

Mansfield's best effort in the first-half was a 20 yard-effort by Doolan which went straight into the arms of Wood.

Then, almost on half- time, Sedgemore found his way through and looked certain to score but was foiled by a decisive Brough tackle.

Mansfield finally saved the day after being frustrated for 80 minutes by a tight Hereford defence.

Walker went down the middle, beat off a challenge from Law and prodded the ball past advancing keeper Wood.

It was Wood, signed in midweek from Walsall, who reduced Mansfield to long-range shots for most of the game.

Hereford: Wood, Norton, Brough, Law (Preedy 82 mins), Matthewson, Fishlock, Hargreaves, Stoker, Smith, Adrian Foster (Ian Foster 78 mins), Kottila. Sub not used: Warner

Afterwards Graham Turner said: "It is very disappointing to see a team work so hard without reward. At crucial stages of the first half Mika Kottila and Adrian Foster had good strikes hit the woodwork but, at present, the breaks are just not going our way."

Jan 18th:

SCUNTHORPE 5 Hereford 1 (report from Sports Argus)

Steve Housham's instant opener started the ball rolling as Scunthorpe battered battling Hereford with a bunch of fives.

Housham scored after just 37 seconds, giving keeper Trevor Wood no chance with a fine volley from the game's first corner.

Adrian Foster equalised after seven minutes, oddly enough from his side's first corner.

But Phil Clarkson restored Scunthorpe's lead within a minute and from then on the Bulls were fighting a losing battle to stem the tide.

On the hour Murray Fishlock brought down Michael Walsh inside the penalty area and John Eyre made no mistake from the spot to increase the home side's advantage.

Hereford's Mika Kottila brought a fine save from Scunthorpe's keeper David Lucas and had another headed off the line by Alan Knill.

But Paul Baker wrapped up the scoring with a stunning drive after 75 minutes and followed up by pouncing on a mistake in the 90th minute to add another.

Jan 25th:

CAMBRIDGE 0 Hereford United 1 (report from Sports Argus)

Hereford ended a demoralising three months without victory with a fine performance against promotion-chasing Cambridge. This was their first win in 14 League matches.

They stunned the home side when Chris Hargreaves hit his 25-yarder inside the far post on 11 minutes.

And it was hard-working Hargreaves who inspired Hereford to play their best football since October.

He almost wrapped the game up soon after the break when he hit the post and was then only inches wide in the 76th minute.

John Taylor wasted chances to equalise when firing wide midway through the first half and heading past the post late in the second.

But new signing Carl Beeston strengthened the Hereford midfield and the visitors deserved to end a run of 14 league games without a win.

Jan 27th:

GATES have dropped 21.7% at Edgar Street this season to an average of 2,328. Last years average was 2,973.

Hereford United's Gareth Stoker has been sold to Cardiff City for £80,000. In 58 appearances for the Bulls he scored six goals.