Bulls banish memories of Saltergate horror show

12:45pm Thursday 21st February 2008

Hereford United 2 Chesterfield 0 HEREFORD banished all memories of their beating at Chesterfield less than a month ago as they produced an assured performance to move into second place in League 2.

The 4-0 battering handed out at Saltergate on live TV seems, ultimately, to have had a much better effect on the Bulls than the Spireites, who have failed to win a single match since that impressive display.

United, on the other hand, have now won four games in succession and re-established their position as serious contenders for one of the automatic promotion slots.

"It was a very professional performance," said Bulls coach John Trewick. "I suppose that some people might argue that we sat off them too much in the second half but that that was all part of the plan.

"We have to look at what we do at home with the way that teams come to us.

"Now we feel that, with the pace we have up front, we can afford to sit a little deeper and keep a better shape and play on the counter-attack a little more.

"It seems to suit us away from home so we just tried to tinker with it a little bit for the home games. Fortunately, we have had a great result today, scored two, kept a clean sheet which always pleases me, and it is a great result for us."

Hereford, with their regular central midfield pairing of Ben Smith and Toumani Diagouraga both sidelined due to injury and replaced by Kris Taylor and Sam Gwynne, took the lead from their first real attack.

Taylor's cross was flicked on by Clint Easton and Sherjill MacDonald worked the ball past goalkeeper Michael Jordan from close range.

"Getting an early goal always helps to settle things down," said Trewick. "The trouble is that, after the last couple of games, people then expect you to go on and win by four or five and that is not always going to happen.

"I had a word with Sherjill before the game and told him not to be disappointed if he didn't score. It is impossible to score two or three every match but fortunately he came up with another goal for us - six in three games is fantastic - but he needs to keep his feet on the ground, keep working hard and hopefully he will get one or two more in the coming week or two."

There might have been a penalty at each end - Dean Beckwith appeared to bring down Jamie Ward while Gary Hooper was impeded by Phil Picken - before Hooper extended the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Simon Johnson was fouled on the right and Easton's free-kick fell conveniently for Hooper to smash the ball home.

"Funnily enough we had worked on some set-pieces yesterday. We re-visit them every now and again," said Trewick. "The delivery was very good, right into the area we want it; the runs were very good as well.

"After that you need an element of luck for the ball to bounce down to the right person and fortunately Gary finished it very, very well.

"He has scored again and that is wonderful for him," said Trewick. "That is four in four games for him but we must not forget Trevor Benjamin and Theo Robinson have a big part to play, too."

Chesterfield had the better of play in the second half, but rarely looked like breaking through.

Only on one occasion did Wayne Brown have to pull off a real save, diving to parry Lloyd Kerry's 78th minute volley away for a corner.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, McCombe, Rose; Johnson, Taylor, Gwynne (Threlfall, 46 min), Easton; MacDonald (Robinson, 74 min), Hooper (Benjamin, 80 min). Subs not used: Ingham, Broadhurst.

Chesterfield: Jordan; Moloney, Kovacs, Downes, Picken; Cooper (Allison, 80 min), Winter, Lowry (Kerry, 12 min), O'Hare; Fletcher, Ward. Subs not used: Roche, Gray, Williams.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 3,503 (267 from Chesterfield).

Yellow cards: Darlington - Winter, dissent, 68 min.

Goals: MacDonald, 8 mins, 1-0; Hooper, 45 min, 2-0.