Hereford United completed their first double of the season by over-coming Bradford City 3-1 at Valley Parade this afternoon. Set-pieces held the key to the victory, with Theo Robinson opening the scoring from a Simon Johnson free-kick. Dean Beckwith then doubled the advantage with a header, before David Wetherall scored to reduce the deficit. However, Trevor Benjamin's superb control and volley just before half-time finished the scoring.
The Bulls were unchanged from Boxing Day's victory over Macclesfield, with Benjamin preferred up front to Steve Guinan. There was one change on the bench however, Marcus Palmer was included as Luke Webb was out with an injury. Bradford included much travelled striker Peter Thorne in their starting eleven alongside the tricky winger/striker Omar Daley.
Robinson showed his intent up front in the early periods when he controlled a goal-kick from Wayne Brown, and fired from a distance past the post. After the game had settled down, and the players had adjusted to the tricky conditions, Robinson opened the scoring. The goal came after Ben Smith had been felled on the left-wing, and Johnson swung a dangerous ball into the box. Robinson had time to control, before poking the ball past Donovan Ricketts in the Bantams goal. The response was quick from the home side, with Daley's low shot being pushed behind by Brown. Former West Ham winger Kyle Nix linked-up with Thorne before shooting wide with his weaker right foot.
The home side continued to press, and Nix missed a golden opportunity to level the scores. He collected the ball on the edge of the area, and bypassed two sliding tackles from Hereford defenders before shooting goalwards; Brown was beaten but luckily Trent McClenahan blocked the goalbound effort. A header wide from Wetherall signalled the first of many chances for the veteran defender whilst Robinson's long range effort was well held by Ricketts despite picking up pace on the greasy surface. Bradford made a first-half subsitute, as they looked for more attacking options, bringing on pacey winger Alex Rhodes in place of midfield Tom Penford. Yet, it had little effect as United doubled their advantage with six minutes remaining of the half. Johnson again was the provider, this time from a corner with Beckwith beating the challenging defender to the ball to power his header past Ricketts.
Bradford were shocked, they were creating plenty of chances, but United were clinical and looked good on the counter-attack with Robinson and Johnson creating problems. However, the home side managed to pull a goal back minutes before half-time through Wetherall. Moments earlier, Wetherall had a glided a header into the arms of Brown, but the defender made no mistake when presented with the chance after Daley's effort could only be pushed out by Brown. Wetherhall followed up and got to the ball before Lee Collins to place his shot in the corner. Yet, Bradford were undone once again by Hereford in first half-stoppage time. Clint Easton's corner wasn't fully cleared, and Johnson hooked the ball back into the penalty area where Beckwith rose to beat two defenders to the ball and found Benjamin. The striker showed his class with a chest and volley into the corner, with Ricketts helpless. The goal was the last of the action in the first half, and meant The Bulls went in 3-1 up.
The home side started the second half quickly, as they looked for an early boost, but Thorne's stooping header from a Rhodes cross failed to test Brown. Scott Phelan also tried his luck, this time from long range but to no avail. It was United who were more dangerous, with firstly Robinson playing a square pass to Toumani Diagouraga, who took the ball in his stride to turn but saw his effort blocked by the out-rushing Ricketts. Then, Johnson fed a fine through ball to Benjamin, who beat the offside trap but failed to beat Ricketts from a tight angle as the 'keeper again denied United. From the resulting corner, Beckwith scrambled an effort wide. At the other end, the aerial prescence of Thorne was giving Collins and Beckwith some concern, and he met a deep cross but Brown denied him with a good diving catch.
Like the first half, Wetherall, along with Thorne, was the main threat, especially from set-pieces and a long-free kick touched of Wetherall's head and narrowly went past the post. Still though, Hereford looked more threatening and Johnson met a Robinson pass and crossed delightfully towards the backpost, where Benjamin was making ground. The striker struck powerfully with his left-foot but Ricketts moved to his front-post to strongly push the ball around the post. Bradford needed something special, and the fans had been longing for Willy Topp to make an appearence, and they were rewarded when he replaced Joe Colbeck, but it still had little effect.
United continued to press, and Easton's vision allowed Robinson to get a good sight at goal, but his left foot shot was dragged past the post, despite being in a good goalscoring position. Barry Conlon replaced Nix, as the home side bought more aerial threat to proceedings, and a Rhodes corner should have seen them pull a goal back. Paul Heckingbottom rose to meet the ball with a free-header, but it went over. Minutes after, Matthew Clarke also put a header over the bar after connecting with a Daley cross. Hereford saw out the game with ease, and made two substitutes late on. Firstly, Guinan replaced Easton who had picked up a knock, and then fellow winger Johnson was replaced, again nursing a slight injury, with Sam Gwynne making a cameo appearence.
13,640 were present at Valley Parade to see United gain all three points, and keep their promotion push going. Despite the tricky conditions, Hereford were very impressive and always looked as though they could add to their goal-tally. In particular, the midfield pairing of Diagouraga and Smith blossomed, whilst Benjamin showed good strength and some sublime touches up front. Next up for the Bulls is Notts County at Edgar Street on New Years Day, when United will try to complete their second double of the season.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Collins, Taylor, Johnson, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Benjamin, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, McCombe, Gwynne, Palmer, Guinan.
Bradford: Ricketts, Williams, Wetherall, Clarke, Heckingbottom, Colbeck, Penford, Phelan, Nix, Daley, Thorne.
Subs: Bower, Bentham, Rhodes, Conlon, Topp.