Twelve years ago this evening Hereford United met Halifax in a Conference League fixture and Rob Purdie was one of the scorers.
Seventh
heaven for resurgent Hereford
Hereford
United 7 - 1 Halifax Town (23rd November 2003)
The turn-around
following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town could not have
been more convincing, as Hereford United came from behind to
sweep aside mid-table Halifax Town at Edgar Street tonight.
A staggering statistic of seven goals from ten on-target shots reveal how Graham Turner's men found their form in front of the lowest league crowd at Edgar Street this season, and a result like this will have the fans flocking back for Saturday's match against Farnborough.
A staggering statistic of seven goals from ten on-target shots reveal how Graham Turner's men found their form in front of the lowest league crowd at Edgar Street this season, and a result like this will have the fans flocking back for Saturday's match against Farnborough.
The 7-1 scoreline
is United's biggest league win since World War II, and their
biggest win in any competitive game since 25th October 1989, when
they beat Connah's Quay Nomads 9-0 in the Welsh Cup third round
at Edgar Street.
Halifax took an early lead, scoring after just two minutes. Craig Midgley crossed from the right, and Lewis Killeen found the United defence sleeping as he volley home into the bottom corner. But it will be a long trip home for the forty-seven away supporters after they collapsed under the pressure of a revived Hereford.
Within eight minutes, though, Hereford had levelled. Rob Purdie picked up the ball in midfield, feeding the lively looking Paul Parry on the left channel, and his cross found Ben Smith in space, who equalised with ease.
The Bulls continued to create chances, with a Danny Williams' throw-in finding Parry just before the half-hour, but the United winger couldn't beat goalkeeper Mark Cartwright, while Adam Yates' attempted shot at Matt Baker at the other end went well over the crossbar.
United continued to dominate and deservedly went into the lead on thirty-three minutes. Ben Smith struck after a Danny Williams corner to net his tenth league goal of the season. The corner was brought outside the box, and Parry crossed for Williams to strike. His first shot was blocked, but Smith capitalised to fire home from the edge of the box.
After the break, Halifax came out brightly and Christian Lee fired at Matt Baker after just three minutes. Soon afterwards, though, Graham Turner's men extended their advantage. Steve Guinan netted his first on fifty-two minutes, and within three minutes he had scored again, taking his league total for the season to thirteen. The first goal for the ex-Shrewsbury striker saw him link onto a cut-back ball from Smith to smash home. Then, Smith played the ball off his heel for Guinan to hit it into the bottom corner to double his personal tally.
Halifax still battled on. Steve Bushell fired wide on the hour mark as Chris Wilder made a couple of changes in the hope of reviving his side. However, Danny Williams' shot twenty minutes from time forced Mark Cartwright into saving with his legs. A minute later, though, Cartwright could do nothing as Guinan netted his hatrick, making it 5-1 to the Bulls. A move from a dead-ball saw Williams dance around a defender, and Guinan beat a man from a yard out at the back post.
Within another sixty seconds, Rob Purdie had made it 6-1 with his first goal since August. Steve Guinan's header found Purdie midway through the half, and he charged forward to add the low drive from just outside the box.
It wasn't all over, though, as United made it seven through substitute David Brown. The former Telford man spotted the goalkeeper off his line from the right channel, and he chipped Cartwright and the ball bounced in off the underside of the crossbar.
Baker, though, had to do well in added time to stop a thirty-yard Ryan Mallon drive, but United won convincingly. They played splendid passing football, which has been sadly lacking in their last few matches, and look a resurgent side after the setbacks of recent weeks.
Halifax took an early lead, scoring after just two minutes. Craig Midgley crossed from the right, and Lewis Killeen found the United defence sleeping as he volley home into the bottom corner. But it will be a long trip home for the forty-seven away supporters after they collapsed under the pressure of a revived Hereford.
Within eight minutes, though, Hereford had levelled. Rob Purdie picked up the ball in midfield, feeding the lively looking Paul Parry on the left channel, and his cross found Ben Smith in space, who equalised with ease.
The Bulls continued to create chances, with a Danny Williams' throw-in finding Parry just before the half-hour, but the United winger couldn't beat goalkeeper Mark Cartwright, while Adam Yates' attempted shot at Matt Baker at the other end went well over the crossbar.
United continued to dominate and deservedly went into the lead on thirty-three minutes. Ben Smith struck after a Danny Williams corner to net his tenth league goal of the season. The corner was brought outside the box, and Parry crossed for Williams to strike. His first shot was blocked, but Smith capitalised to fire home from the edge of the box.
After the break, Halifax came out brightly and Christian Lee fired at Matt Baker after just three minutes. Soon afterwards, though, Graham Turner's men extended their advantage. Steve Guinan netted his first on fifty-two minutes, and within three minutes he had scored again, taking his league total for the season to thirteen. The first goal for the ex-Shrewsbury striker saw him link onto a cut-back ball from Smith to smash home. Then, Smith played the ball off his heel for Guinan to hit it into the bottom corner to double his personal tally.
Halifax still battled on. Steve Bushell fired wide on the hour mark as Chris Wilder made a couple of changes in the hope of reviving his side. However, Danny Williams' shot twenty minutes from time forced Mark Cartwright into saving with his legs. A minute later, though, Cartwright could do nothing as Guinan netted his hatrick, making it 5-1 to the Bulls. A move from a dead-ball saw Williams dance around a defender, and Guinan beat a man from a yard out at the back post.
Within another sixty seconds, Rob Purdie had made it 6-1 with his first goal since August. Steve Guinan's header found Purdie midway through the half, and he charged forward to add the low drive from just outside the box.
It wasn't all over, though, as United made it seven through substitute David Brown. The former Telford man spotted the goalkeeper off his line from the right channel, and he chipped Cartwright and the ball bounced in off the underside of the crossbar.
Baker, though, had to do well in added time to stop a thirty-yard Ryan Mallon drive, but United won convincingly. They played splendid passing football, which has been sadly lacking in their last few matches, and look a resurgent side after the setbacks of recent weeks.
Written by Brian
Goodwin - 25th November 2003.
| Hereford United | Halifax Town |
| Matt Baker | Mark Cartwright |
| Ryan Green | Adam Yates |
| Michael Rose | James Dudgeon (off, 58 minutes) |
| Jamie Pitman | Jamie McCombe |
| Tamika Mkandawire (off, 82 minutes) | Kevin Sandwith |
| Tony James (captain) | Ryan Mallon |
| Danny Williams (off, 76 minutes) | Danny Hudson |
| Ben Smith | Steve Bushell |
| Steve Guinan | Craig Midgley |
| Rob Purdie | Christian Lee (off, 58 minutes) |
| Paul Parry (off, 76 minutes) | Lewis Killeen (off, 66 minutes) |
| Subs | Subs |
| David Brown (on, 76 minutes) | Darren Hockenhull |
| Ben Scott | Mark Monington (on, 58 minutes) |
| Daniel Carey-Bertram | Michael Senior |
| Richard Teesdale (on, 82 minutes) | Jake Sagare (on, 66 minutes) |
| Dean Craven (on, 76 minutes) | Andy Farrell (on, 58 minutes) |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Michael Rose (unsporting behaviour, 84 minutes) | Danny Hudson (unsporting behaviour, 70 minutes) |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Ben Smith (10, 33 minutes) | Lewis Killeen (2 minutes) |
| Steve Guinan (52, 55, 70 minutes) | - |
| Rob Purdie (71 minutes) | - |
| David Brown (80 minutes) | - |
| - | - |
| Man of the Match | Ben Smith |
| Attendance | 1,875 |
| Referee | Mr. R. East (Wilton, Wiltshire) |