September 1996

Sept 4th:

THE Derby County defender Wayne Sutton has joined Hereford United on a month's loan. Neal Bartlett has also joined.

Sept 7th:

HEREFORD 0 Hartlepool 1

David Clegg broke the stalemate for Hartlepool with a 15-yard shot five minutes from time in a dour clash.

A minute later Hereford's Adrian Foster netted but was ruled offside.

And in the 89th minute Hereford's Ian Foster was sent off for a foul on Mark Cooper. Hereford made a good start forcing two corners in the first three minutes but were unable to create anything positive from either.

They continued to peg Hartlepool in the own half for a time and their first attempt on goal came in the ninth minute when Quentin Townsend found Dean Smith with a throw-in. But the central defender's header was easily gathered by Stephen Pears.

When Hartlepool broke back Clegg neatly slipped the home defence and fired a rising drive which Andy Debont managed to tip over.

In the 38th minute Hereford almost broke the deadlock. Murray Fishlock floated in a free kick from the right for Adrian Foster to win the ball in the air and head it against the bar.

But the second half developed into a stalemate with both defences preventing positive moves and both sides lacking imagination - until Clegg grabbed the late winner.

Sept 10th:

SWANSEA City 4 Hereford United 0 (report from scfc.co.uk)

HEREFORD United crashed to a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Swansea City in Nationwide Division 3 at the Vetch Field.

The Swans, who came into the game on the back of a run of six consecutive defeats, over-ran a poor Hereford side who contributed to their own downfall by having two players sent off. Adrian Foster and Keith Downing both getting their early bath for two bookable offences.

Hereford have now gained four red cards in the space of eight days, more than they managed in the whole of last season, and Downing's record of four yellow and two red cards in a week is not one which he will cherish. In an attempt to pep up his shot-shy attack, United director of football, Graham Turner made three changes to the starting line-up with Gareth Stoker, Gavin Mahon and Chris Hargreaves giving way to Jamie Pitman, Ian Foster and Wayne Sutton who made his first start in Hereford colours.

However, rather than creating problems in the Swansea area, the new-look Hereford side instead found difficulties to be in their own, with the previously solid looking defence leaking three goals in the first half hour. The first came on the quarter-hour mark when David Thomas fed Jon Coates on te left and was waiting in the middle to head unchallenged past goalkeeper Andy Debont when the midfielder sent in his centre.

Four minutes later, the powerful Steve Torpey rose high above the Hereford defence to head home a cross from Steve Jones. After half-an-hour, another Jones cross was needlessly handled by Quentin Townsend and David Penney punished the misdemeanour with a successful penalty-kick.

Then, two minutes into injury time at the end of the half, a wild challenge by Adrian Foster saw him receive his second yellow card and his marching orders.

The large band of travelling supporters must have felt that things could hardly get worse in the second half. But on 58 minutes, debutant Lee Jenkins waltzed through the middle to blast home goal number four and then, two minutes later was on the receiving end of a late challenge by Downing, whose participation in the game was summarily ended by the appearance of referee John Brandwood's second red card of the evening.

Now as the side sits one place off the bottom of Division 3, it is hard to believe that only 10 competitive games ago the Bulls were in the play-offs challenging for a place in Division 2.

Hereford: Debont, Norton, Fishlock, Smith, Brough, Townsend (sub Stoker, 32 mins), Pitman (sub Hargreaves, 45 mins), Downing, A. Foster, I. Foster (sub Mahon, 71 mins), Sutton.

Sept 14th:

DARLINGTON 1 Hereford 0

Darren Roberts hit his sixth goal of the season to give Darlington the lead right on half-time - but even he would admit there was a touch of luck about it.

The battling striker who arrived on a free transfer got his boot to a cross from Oliver and the ball somehow bobbled slowly past the bewildered Hereford keeper Debont.

But after a forceful display in which a lot of skill was shown, Hereford could well feel badly done-by as they made the long journey back home.

Until the goal came they gave every bit as good as they got and it seemed destined to be one of those days when Darlington might not be able to find the net.

They put together a lot of sweet moves with Roberts linking up well with Blake, but they could not force their way right through the rugged Hereford defence.

Graham Turner's men could well have taken the lead as Foster led some dangerous raids in the first half.

They did look almost certain to get level right after the break as Stoker and Hargreaves both raced through to cause danger before keeper Newell raced out to make two brilliant saves.

Foster did beat the keeper with a low drive but goalscorer Roberts was back helping his defence and cleared it right off the line.

Sutton also caused panic in the Darlington defence with a raging shot that flashed across the goalmouth but scraped wide.

Blake and Roberts had fine chances to put Darlington further ahead but one effort slid over the bar and the other came off a post before being well saved by Debont.

Sept 18th:

THE Third Division's bottom club, Hereford, head for the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough reports the Independent.

Graham Turner, who pits his team of free transfers against Bryan Robson's multi-million pound outfit, admits his side faces a daunting task - "we know the way they play but containing them is another matter" - but has ordered his players not to let themselves be intimidated. "The players must not be overawed by the occasion, or the quality of their stars," he said. The former Wolves midfielder Keith Downing is suspended and a youngster, Mark Hibbard, has been drafted into the Hereford squad. Branco, still awaiting for his first appearance this season, is included in Middlesbrough's squad.

Robson said: "I have warned my players against underestimating Hereford. People are going to expect an avalanche of goals but it does not work like that. Hereford will be determined not to give anything away

MIDDLEBOROUGH 7 Hereford 0

Before this cup game at Middlesborough Graham Turner remarked: "We know the way they play but containing them is another matter" - but has ordered his players not to let themselves be intimidated.

"The players must not be overawed by the occasion, or the quality of their stars."

Fabrizio Ravanelli scored four times as Middlesbrough overwhelmed Hereford United 7-0 in the first leg of their second-round Coca-Cola Cup tie at the Riverside Stadium.

Hereford's manager, Graham Turner, said: "I was hoping the referee would blow the whistle 15 minutes after half-time. It was a tidal wave at times."

Middlebrough were the first British team to field three Brazilians when Juninho, Emerson and Branco all played in the game against Hereford.

Highlights:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa4oe1mgmmU

Sept 21st:

Neal Bartlett made his first appearance, as a sub, for the Bulls this afternoon. He came on in place of Gareth Stoker.

ROCHDALE 0 Hereford United 3 (report from the Sunday Mirror)

Hereford United's dismal run of 428 minutes without a goal ended when teenager Gavin Mahon headed home their first strike against Rochdale.

Mahon, a free transfer from Wolves, opened his Football League account from close range when he met a cross from Dean Smith in the 28th minute.

He said: "It feels great. I have had several chances, but fluffed them. Now I hope to score many more."

Once Hereford had broken their barren run they took control of the game with further strikes from Chris Hargreaves (53) and Adrian Foster (84) to lift them off the bottom of the Third Division to the relief of boss Graham Turner.

Turner said: "It was embarrassing to be at the bottom but the team played well together today."

Sept 24th:

Hereford United 0 Middlesborough 3 (Coca-Cola Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg)

Hereford lost 10-0 on aggregate

Sept 27th:

THE Middlesbrough manager, Bryan Robson, has dismissed claims that he played a weakened team in his side's Coca-Cola Cup tie at Hereford this week (which Middlesborough won 3-0) Robson, reacting to the prospect of a Football League inquiry, said he would explain that some of his players were unavailable and he was not prepared to risk long-term injuries

Sept 29th:

MANSFIELD 3 Hereford 1

Hereford substitute Phil Preedy gave the injury-hit visitors hope with a close-range strike 20 minutes from time.

But it wasn't enough to dent Mansfield's celebrations at a belated home success.

Earlier, a 20-yard cracker by Ben Sedgemore had ended Mansfield's 459 minute goal drought at Field Mill.

And Mansfield could have had more goals. John Doolan slotted a 54th- minute penalty after Stewart Hadley was felled by John Brough.

Although Preedy then struck, Mansfield sealed victory two minutes into injury time.

John Walker burst into space and his 25-yard drive was deflected by the unlucky Brough past stranded keeper Andy Debont.