Hereford United vs Luton Town FC (28th Sep 2013)

REPORT: HEREFORD 0-0 TOWN

Stalemate at Edgar Street

The Hatters kept their eighth clean sheet in 12 games as they ground out a goalless draw at Hereford to make it four games unbeaten.

After a drab first half both sides have chances to take all three points in the second half with Luke Guttridge having the best of the Hatters’ with a well-hit volley saved.

Hereford huffed and puffed for a late winner themselves and last-ditch defending from the Town secured a point and yet another clean sheet.

The Town began showing two changes to the side that beat Woking 4-0 on Tuesday with Paul Benson replacing Andre Gray but, unlike the first half at Kingfield, the first 45 minutes at Edgar Street was a scrappy affair and low on chances.

Good defending from the Hatters on seven minutes denied Hereford an early goal when Steve McNulty’s defensive header denied former team-mate Richard Brodie a chance to test Mark Tyler in following a whipped in right-wing cross.

The first 10 minutes was turgid stuff but it was the Bulls who were the team marginally on top and Tyler needed to be brave on 12 minutes when pouncing on a low right-wing cross from Jon Brown with Sam Smith and Brodie waiting for a tap-in.

Brodie stretched the Hatters defence on 16 minutes but the home striker saw a goal-bound shot blocked well by Ronnie Henry.

The Town woke up on 25 minutes and came close to going in front when Jake Howells’ deep cross from the left was nodded back across goal by Benson and Guttridge couldn’t quite guide an effort beyond home goalkeeper Rhys Evans from inside the six yard box.

A minute later Guttridge was almost the provider. He did well to chase a pass out to the right flank to keep the ball in play and hoist a cross into Mark Cullen’s path but the striker couldn’t turn his header on target from 12 yards.

Hereford ended the first half on top but failed to call Tyler into any meaningful action. There was big danger for the Town on 43 minutes but a fine header under pressure from Scott Griffiths cleared Brodie’s curling cross with Jon Brown lurking for a tap-in.

Having played a 4-4-2 formation in the first 45 minutes, John Still changed things around at the start of the second half, moving Guttridge from his place on the right flank to behind Benson in a more central role.

That tweak almost had the desired effect just five minutes after the restart when Guttridge spotted Howells’ run into the box but the midfielder’s shot lacked the power and Evans was able to make a comfortable save.

Former Town striker Dan Walker was introduced seven minutes into the second half and he shot wide with his first sight of goal, dragging a low shot well wide of the post.

However, the Hatters were much improved following the change in strategy and Guttridge came mighty close to give his side the lead on 55 minutes. Henry’s ball into the box was intelligently nodded into the path of Guttridge by Benson and the midfielder’s stinging first-time volley was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Evans.

Still introduced Gray for Cullen with 20 minutes left and within a minute of his arrival his ball in from the left was hacked clear by Chris Bush with Benson ideally positioned in the six yard box.

Guttridge tested Evans again with a low snap-shot on the turn from just inside the box as the Town went in search of a winner.

But Hereford came within a whisker of taking the lead with 12 minutes to go when Brodie and captain Luke Graham missed from close range following a right-wing corner, much to the Town’s relief.

With eight minutes left Benson glanced wide a good opportunity following Howells’ left-wing centre but a minute later the Town survived another close call when a left-wing corner eluded everyone in the six yard box including substitute Eric Odhiambo from a yard out.

After that near miss the Town almost won it at the death when Gray broke into box. He stayed on his feet when challenged by Bush but was forced wide and in the end his shot was tame and easy for Evans.

Three minutes of stoppage time was shown but despite a number of long throws launched into the Town penalty area by the hosts it ended in stalemate.

TOWN: Tyler; Smith, Griffiths, McNulty, Lacey; Parry, Smith, Guttridge; Howells (sub Whalley 88), Cullen (Sub Gray 70), Benson.

SUBS NOT USED: Charles, Taiwo, Justham.

ATTENDANCE: 2,386, including 580 shouting for the Hatters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=dr8zD-73f58#t=16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnflyfY5Yw4

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/hereford-gallery-2809-1082941.aspx

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157636024421896/

Battling Hatters grind out goalless draw at Hereford United

Skrill Premier: Hereford United 0 (0) Luton Town 0 (0)

Battling Hatters ground out a hard-fought goalless draw against Hereford United at Edgar Street this afternoon, writes Mark Wood.

It was a game low on quality, creativity and chances, but Town dug deep as they kept their eighth clean sheet in 12 matches to earn a share of the spoils.

Luton made one change from the team that triumphed 4-0 at Woking during the week, bringing in fit-again striker Paul Benson in place of the unfortunate Andre Gray as they lined up 4-4-2 for the game.

The hosts, meanwhile, named ex-Town defender Luke Graham as their skipper and former Hatters striker Dan Walker on the bench, while loathed by the Luton fans, striker Richard Brodie led the line for the Bulls.

It was Hereford who started the brighter, Chris Bush having a shot well blocked and Steve McNulty getting an important header away with Brodie lurking.

It was a scrappy opening from both sides although Mark Cullen and Jake Howells linked well on 17 minutes with the young striker just unable to get on the return pass.

Hereford broke well at the other end with Ronnie Henry getting in a good block to deny Brodie, who was barracked at every turn by the visiting fans.

The visitors finally started to threaten and created their first chance on 25 minutes with a fine quick counter. Howells’ teasing cross was cleared with Cullen lurking but Benson headed the ball back into the box and, with Cullen just unable to connect, Luke Guttridge’s effort lacked any power as Rhys Evans easily claimed.

Cullen was just unable to direct another headed chance, but it was a half low on entertainment, incident and quality.

It was not until two minutes before the break that either team threatened again. Brodie robbed Henry and Scott Griffiths did excellently to head away under pressure from Jon Brown as Michael West curled harmlessly wide.

Shortly after the Luton full-back was booked for a cynical trip on the edge of his own area, but the free-kick came to nothing as Paul Green drove well over.

Town changed their formation at the break as they went 4-3-3 for the second half and got an early sight of goal when the linesman failed to flag the retreating Benson offisde. Town worked the ball well as Howells burst on to Guttridge’s pass in the box but his tame effort was easy for Evans.

Ex-Hatter Walker was introduced for Sam Smith on 52 minutes and he was straight into the action as he dragged harmlessly wide of Mark Tyler’s near post.

Town though were desperately unlucky not to take the lead on the hour when Henry’s dinked ball forward was superbly cushioned into Guttridge’s path by Benson and the dynamic midfielder’s powerful half-volley was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Evans.

The Hatters gradually started to play with more cohesion and creativity, but the Bulls still threatened on the break.

Gray replaced Cullen with 20 minutes to go and almost had an immediate impact as he beat his man and crossed for Benson, but the target man’s near-post flick was repelled by a combination of Bush and Graham close to the line.

Town went close again on 75 minutes when Howells’ clever quick free-kick released Guttridge in the area, but the diminutive midfielder’s turn and snapshot was well saved.

But the Bulls were far from done as they twice went close from a 78th-minute corner. First Brodie’s towering header was somehow cleared away from the line as Graham’s follow-up ran just wide of the post.

Benson could only glance a good Howells cross wide at the other end, before the Bulls missed another gilt-edged opportunity from a corner which was whipped into the far post, but with the goal gaping sub Eric Odhiambo was unable to force home as Gray cleared away from the line.

Walker was booked retrospectively for a foul on Howells with five minutes to go as Hereford bombarded the Luton goal with a series of long throws.

But it was the Hatters who almost grabbed victory in the second minute of stoppage time when Gray turned on the afterburners to latch on to Guttridge’s pass. The pacy striker did well to keep his feet as he could have gone down under the close attentions of Bush but, having wriggled his way through, he could only roll his effort from an acute angle into the side netting as both sides had to settle for a point each.

Bulls (4-4-2): Rhys Evans, Danny Leadbitter, Chris Bush, Kingsley James, Rod McDonald, Luke Graham (C), Sam Smith (Dan Walker 52), Jon Brown, Michael West Danny Pilkington 64), Paul Green, Richard Brodie (Eric Odhiambo 80). Substitutes not used: Dominic Collins, Sam Gwynne.

Hatters (4-4-2): Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith, Steve McNulty, Jake Howells (Shaun Whalley 88), Scott Griffiths, Mark Cullen, Andrew Parry, Luke Guttridge, Ronnie Henry (C), Paul Benson, Alex Lacey. Substitutes not used: Anthony Charles, Solomon Taiwo, Elliot Justham.

Booked: Griffiths 45; Walker 85.

Referee: B Huxtable. Assistant Referees: L Sheridan and D Croft. Fourth Official: J Dowd.

Attendance: 2,386 (Luton 580).

Star Hatter: Alex Lacey. Young defender continues to impress with every game he plays.