Tuesday, September 6, 2000

HEREFORD United kept up their superb unbeaten start to their Nationwide Conference season with a convincing 2-0 win against fellow top four side Telford United at Edgar Street last night.

The Bulls' midfield provided the goals with strikes from Phil Robinson and John Snape either side of half-time, while at the other end the home defence were rarely troubled.

Indeed it took the visitors until three minutes from time to force a save of any kind from keeper Scott Cooksey, their only shot on target as the Bulls back four extended their run of clean sheets to six league matches -- nine hours without a goal.

Gavin Williams, a livewire up front for Hereford, drove the first real chance of the game straight at the Bucks' keeper Ryan Price from 25-yards on nine minutes, three minutes before Telford captain Lee Fowler limped out of the action.

Ian Rodgerson warmed the hands of Price with a fierce 20-yard volley after 15 minutes but the former Macclesfield Town stopper flew into action to tip the ball over the bar.

Bulls player-coach Robinson broke the deadlock with his first strike for the club. With the clock ticking towards first half stoppage time, the ex-Wolves man showed a touch of class as he shimmied through the Telford back line, sat Price down and coolly stroked home from 10 yards.

And if the visitors were mentally in the dressing room when Robinson pounced, then they were still enjoying their half time cuppa when Snape doubled the lead two minutes after the break.

There was a degree of luck about the rugged central midfielder's goal, but after Kerry Giddings laid off a ball from Ian Rodgerson, Snape's slightly mis-timed shot crept inside Price's right-hand post.

Steve Palmer almost responded for the Bucks eight minutes afterwards when he stretched and slid his way to direct a Kevin Jobling free kick wide of Cooksey's back post before former Shrewsbury Town midfielder Roger Preece was lucky to escape with just a booking when he scythed down Michael McIndoe on 64 minutes.

Right-back Chris Lane, perhaps inspired by his tally of two goals this season, tried his luck with a 30-yard pile driver 11 minutes from time and Price only just managed to bundle the ball over the bar.

And Snape also went close with two long-range efforts inside the final five minutes, the first flying over and the second straight at Price.

HEREFORD: Cooksey 7, Lane 8, Clarke 7, Robinson 8, Wright 7, James 7, Rodgerson 6, Snape 7, Giddings 7 (Elmes 66, 6), Williams 9, McIndoe 7. Subs (not used): Parry, Baker, Gardiner, Moran.