United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Wanless, Craddock, Raynor, Hayes, Hyde, McGleish, Barnwell, Beall.
Subs not used: Hay, Kyd, Palmer.
Booked: Barnwell 18 (dissent), Hyde 90 (dissent)

Neither of our regular reporters made the trip but Mark Slater has kindly provided the following match report and ratings:

Tommy Taylor seems to have taken on board the comments made following Friday's "performance" and although the starting line-up was almost identical (except for Wanless replacing Vowden and moving into a more midfield/defensive role) he sensibly put Paul Raynor back into midfield and restored Jamie Barnwell-Edinboro to the striking position alongside Scott McGleish. The U's started brightly with several chances being created in the first 20 minutes. Paul Wanless got the ball in the net via a wicked deflection from a shot outside the box, which was subsequently disallowed for off-side. As we were at the far end it was difficult to see the reasoning behind it, the shot was outside the area and no United player could be deemed as interfering with play (new directive and all that). It seemed to me that the deflection was off a Hereford player so the goal should have stood. After this Hereford gradually got more into the game but their main (sorry ONLY) tactic resulted in winning throw-ins which were then launched into the area. Now where have I seen that before ?? These were mostly dealt with by a surprisingly strong looking defense.

The only real chance that Hereford had was when they hit the bar with Scotty rooted to his line, this was following another throw-in with the ball falling to a player on the edge of the box.

The second half wasn't too exciting (until the 77th minute anyway) with the U's being bombarded with long-throw after long-throw. Micah Hyde did absolutely nothing (again) in the second half, I couldn't remember a pass or a telling contribution from the enigma (again, until the 77th minute). The goal itself was a pretty scrambled affair with Barnwell, Beall and others involved in the area - some refs would have penalised Billy for his challenge on the keeper - the ball finally fell to Hyde who blasted the ball in. Beall should have sealed things several minutes later when he tried to control the ball just outside the 6 yard box instead of volleying or even heading the ball and was easily closed down. The game continued with more long-throws from Hereford well into injury time (even though there were no injuries), the only dodgy moment coming in the 94th minute when they were "awarded" a free-kick on the edge of the box. All in all a very satisfactory performance with the defence outstanding.

Ratings:-

Barratt    7    Good performance, except for no reaction when they hit the
bar but then again the good defending gave him little to do.

Joseph     7.5  Gets better game by game ... very good defensively and 
even managed the odd foray forwards.  Whoops just remembered one mare of a
back-pass so his mark is down from 8 to 7.5 !

Granville  8    My MOM for a very steady performance

Craddock   8    Like Granville very good and snuffed out everything 
Hereford threw at them.  My brother's MOM.

Wanless    7.5  Looks far stronger than Vowden and Thompson defensively, 
let down slightly by his distribution when going forward.  Unlucky with the
disallowed goal.

Raynor     7    Looks more at home in midfield and didn't even get booked !!

Hyde       5.5  OK in the first half .... the second he was totally
anonymous except for the goal.

Hayes      6    Not bad, he seems to get stick from certain quarters but
after all is only a youngster ... we've had plenty worse.

McGleish   6    Quiet game .... looked sharp during the first 20 minutes
but little service later.

Barnwell   5    Still not convinced ... better up front than in midfield
where his pace gets him into good positions, shame his distribution and
shooting aren't as good.

Beall      6.5  As usual ... a little terrier but when breaking out from
defence stops and waits for the opposition to get back behind the ball.

Subs: Hay, Kyd & Palmer --- not used

Mark

With grateful thanks to Mark Slater for his views.

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