Bulls All At Sea In First Away Failure

Grimsby Town 2-1 Hereford United

Hereford United's 100% away record came to an abrupt end at Blundell Park. Gregg Davies reports....

League 2

29 Sep 2007 - 15:00

Grimsby Town

Danny Boshell (20m) Tom Newey (51m)

Hereford United

Trevor Benjamin (55m)

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Match timeline

Benjamin: 5th goal

By Gregg Davies

Hereford United's 100% away record came to an abrupt end at Blundell Park, as Grimsby Town maintained their own perfect form against The Bulls since their promotion back into the Football League.

Trevor Benjamin's fifth goal of the campaign was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat for United, whose chances of salvaging a draw late on were foiled by an impressive display by Mariners goalkeeper, Phil Barnes.

Graham Turner's starting line-up remained unchanged from the victory over Bradford City, with Trent McClenahan named amongst the substitutes following his appearances for the Australian U23 side at the expense of Sam Gwynne.

The Bulls began purposefully and could have edged ahead in the early stages of the contest. Toumani Diagouraga's flicked header from a Lionel Ainsworth corner flashed inches wide of the far post after just five minutes.

And Clint Easton went close shortly after, his left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area catching a deflection on its way through to Barnes, who palmed it wide of the target.

Ainsworth: denied late on

The hosts then steadily bossed proceedings, but failed to seriously test Wayne Brown in the visitors' goal until the 18^th minute.

Tom Newey cut inside from the left-flank before sending a stinging drive straight into the arms of Brown, and it proved to be a sign of things to come.

Just two minutes later, a low centre was driven across the Hereford six-yard box into the path of Danny Boshell, who slid in to finish at the far post.

The Bulls upped the ante thereafter. A surging run and cross from Ainsworth deserved better after no other United player had made their way forward, before an inviting centre from Easton found Benjamin, unmarked, but he could only direct his header over the crossbar.

Graham Turner's words would still have been ringing in his players' ears as they emerged for the second period, but they still contrived to make the worst possible start.

Easton: Shot deflected

Easton was penalised for a challenge on the right-corner outside the penalty-area and Newey converted the set-piece, left-footed, deceiving Wayne Brown and his wall at the near post.

Hereford's response was immediate, largely thanks to some slapstick defending from the home side.

Both centre-back and goalkeeper left the ball for each other, presenting Ainsworth and Guinan with the chance to slide the ball into an empty net. Unfortunately, the latter's effort deflected onto a post.

Moments later, more defensive hesitancy from The Mariners gifted The Bulls another opportunity to reduce arrears, and this time Trevor Benjamin made no mistake.

Kris Taylor's cross from the left-flank found its way right across the six-yard box to the powerful front-man, who smashed the ball home from close range.

Hereford's increased urgency to get forward often left them exposed to counter-attacks from the hosts, and they went close to extending their lead shortly after the hour mark.

Substitute, Andy Taylor found himself one-on-one with Wayne Brown, but The Bulls' stopper pulled off a crucial save to keep the contest alive.

Theo Robinson entered the fray and caused plenty of anxiety in the home back-line with his pace, but it was Grimsby who continued to threaten on the break, with Gary Jones firing wide when well placed.

As the contest entered its final 10 minutes, Hereford attacked with increasing levels of desperation, and created two glorious chances to salvage a point.

First, Ainsworth's dart in from the right-flank ended with him sending a rasping left-footed strike goal-bound, only for Barnes to save well at full stretch.

Benjamin then saw his strike deflected over the crossbar before, deep into the four minutes of added-time, Ben Smith released Robinson, whose effort was thwarted, yet again, by the Mariners' goalkeeper.

The Bulls suffer their first defeat on the road after an impressive run of three successive triumphs away from home. Attention now focuses on Tuesday's trip to Notts County, where United will attempt to reignite their away form with victory at Meadow Lane.

Grimsby Town: Barnes, Mulligan, Fenton, Whittle, Newey, Till, Bolland (Taylor 58), Boshell (Bennett 82), Clarke, Toner, Rankin (Jones 69)

Subs not used: Montgomery, Bore

Booked: Bennett

Hereford United: Brown, Rose, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Taylor, Ainsworth, Smith, Diagouraga (Webb 79), Easton, Benjamin, Guinan (Robinson 65)

Subs not used: Ingham, McCombe, McClenahan

Booked: Diagouraga

Attendance: 3,699 - 138 away

Attendance:	3699
Added Time:	4
Referee:	Mr R Lee

20min - Boshell hands the hosts the lead

Grimsby Town 1 - 0 Hereford United

Boshell fires home from close range to leave the Bulls chasing the game after just 20minutes.

45min - Unsporting behavior

Grimsby Town 1 - 0 Hereford United

Toumani collects the first booking of the game for unsporting behavior.