Disastrous first-half at Memorial Stadium

3:47pm Saturday 23rd August 2008

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HEREFORD were given a first-half pounding at the Memorial Stadium as they trailed 3-0 to Bristol Rovers at the interval.

Hereford made a disastrous start when, with just two minutes played, Dean Beckwith fell over in the penalty area to allow Darryl Duffy an opening which he did not waste.

Three minutes later, the Bulls were two goals adrift when Ricky Lambert found some space 25 yards out, turned and unleashed an unstoppable shot which flashed over Craig Samson and into the net.

A further two minutes on and it could have been even worse.

Duffy sped clear of the defence and, although his shot beat Samson, the woodwork came to Hereford’s rescue.

Ironically, in the midst of all this defensive carnage, the Bulls were playing some good football, and, after Steve Guinan had a header saved, Toumanui Diagouraga saw a 25-yarder excellently clawed away by goalkeeper Steve Phillips.

But the Bulls were punished again on 22 minutes.

Sam Oji failed to get close enough to Duffy and the striker cracked his second of the game past the helpless Samson.

Hereford tried hard to get a foothold and both full-backs tried their luck.

Robbie Threlfall blazed high over from 25 yards before Richard Rose prodded a shot past a post after good work on the right by Simon Johnson.

Ben Smith was the next to try his luck, seeing a 25-yard drive parried away by the flying Phillips.