Break Dancing Dragon Broken

Super-sub Benjamin

Over the border today, in better conditions for football than last Saturday, Hereford took all the points in an efficient rather than glamorous style.

With Taylor and Guinan in for Smith and Benjamin, Graham Turner, as predicted by some, kept faith with the side that finished so impressively at St Andrews.

Initially Wrexham started well with Matty Done beating Trent on 2 occasions, although the latter was due to a slip, but both came to nought. After eight minutes a foul from behind on Steve Guinan ended a few minutes later with Steve Evans being substituted because of the injury he sustained. Guinan got up immediately and walked away unscathed and seemingly unimpressed.

The subsequent free-kick did not test the Welshmen's defence, nor did our 2 corners over the following four minutes.

Thereafter, although both sides at times passed the ball nicely around the midfield, the lack of a penetrative pass meant that neither goalkeeper was tested. The match settled in a midfield chess-like battle that promised at times to be dour but never was.

Around the half-hour mark Hereford conceded 3 fouls but Wrexham lacked the poise and initiative to profit from them.

A few minutes later Dean Beckwith bravely dived in an attempt to clear the ball near our goal at knee height but Proctor was adjudged to have got his head to it first. Wayne Jones was on quickly to administer treatment but fortunately Beckwith was able to walk off the pitch and rejoin play when waved on by Phil Dowd.

One notable improvement on last Saturday was the officials, especially the referee, who was decisive and kept up with play.

Almost on the stroke of half-time Karl Broadhurst collected the first yellow card of the day.

Taylor: opened scoring

A minute after half-time Richard Rose conceded a foul near Hereford's box. This time the ball fizzed in but no Wrexham player was able to get a touch as it bisected our defence and Beckwith eventually cleared.

Two minutes later Clint Easton took a short corner but this too came to nothing. After 52 minutes a Wrexham corner was cleared. Diagouraga'™s pass out of defence cut through the midfield to the ever alert Theo Robinson who, after controlling it, advanced and shot. Anthony Williams saved but the rebound fell to Robinson whose reflex shot was deflected by a defender, the ball falling to Kris Taylor who put it safely in the net.

Wrexham now had to up the pace but the Hereford defence was able to snuff out their attacks. A feature of the game was the strength of the back four who yet again were rarely flustered and nearly always able to play the ball neatly out of defence.

On 61 minutes came a highlight of the day as Lionel Ainsworth's speed and control allowed him to leave four Wrexham players floundering in his wake. Sadly for the massed ranks of approx 400 Bull'™s fans, rising to their feet with expectation, Robinson was adjudged to be offside as he ran on to Ainsworth's pass.

Shortly afterwards Guinan and Taylor left the field to be replaced by Benjamin and Smith.

Guinan Started

Then an unusual defensive error allowed Wrexham to shoot but Wayne Brown bought off a superb low save to confirm his reputation as a shot-stopper extraordinaire.

After 68 minutes Wrexham used their last two substitutes to reinvigorate their team as Eifion Williams and Mike Carvill came on for Proctor and Llewellyn. It didn'™t work as five minutes later Big Trev received the ball on the goal-line, shielded it with one leg from a desperate lunge by Anthony Williams and then smacked it into the roof of the net.

Wrexham huffed and puffed but the magic dragon wasn'™t to be seen and a bad week for the Welshmen turned worse as The Bulls worked hard to keep their 100% away record in the League.