Positive Signings for Hereford Utd
I just thought I’d mention two former fans favourites have re-signed for Hereford.
G.Turner talking about
Ben Smith to
http://www.herefordunited.co.uk
Ben Smith is someone we were sad to lose a couple of years ago but I’ve kept an eye on ever since. We have tried and failed to get him before but I’m delighted that this time we have been successful in our efforts. There was plenty of interest in him so it’s nice recognition for us that he’s decided to come back here.
“We’ve been lacking goals since our return to the Football League and Ben has the potential to both score and create them. He has been in excellent form for Weymouth and though he is stepping up a level, there is no doubt he has the ability to succeed with us. He is that little bit different to the midfielders we already have here and hopefully he’ll compliment them by being more productive in the final third. He’s excited to have returned to League football and cannot wait to get started after a difficult few weeks at Weymouth.
Great news as far as I’m concerned
he turned down 2 lge 1 teams and 2 other lge 2 teams to rejoin us.
On
Steve Guinan
“In Steve Guinan we have brought back a player we again know a lot about but someone who enjoyed the best spell of his career here. He is an intelligent player who is very good at linking up the play and has the experience that our current forwards lack. He will take a little bit of pressure off the younger lads and, knowing the game as he does, will provide someone for them to learn from.
“Initially he comes here on a month’s loan but he is available for transfer and has the chance to prove himself and earn a longer deal. Ideally he will make it very hard for us to let him go again.
Superb Steve scored 38 goals in 72 games for us in the Conference, helping us to reach the runners up spot on two occasions and is still young enough for more at 31yrs
Both Players played against Notts County in Saturdays home win which was a great result after 3 straight losses.
Match report
Hereford United 3 - 2 Notts County
Trent McClenahan 9m - Jason Lee 6m
Steve Guinnan 27m - Jason Lee 64m
Steve Guinnan 68m
The Bulls notched up a much needed win against Notts County with three out of the four recent signings making a big contribution. Only left sided player Danny Thomas didn't get a start in the new look line up.
After a bright start United gave away an early goal when Jason Lee got the slightest of touches on a deep cross, it was enough to elude Wayne Brown in goal.
United fans didn't have to wait long for an equaliser though and two minutes later Hereford broke quickly and a well timed ball from Steve Jennings put through his fellow 'new boy' Ben Smith. Smith's rasping left footed shot beat the 'keeper only hit the near post and cannon back out to the incoming Trent McClenahan who coolly slotted the ball in difficult circumstances.
It was like a blast from the past on 26 minutes as Ben Smith picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch, then played a perfectly weighted ball to beat the offside trap and send Steve Guinan through on goal. Guinan sent the keeper the wrong way with a little jink and rounded him to slot the ball home to give the Bulls the lead.
United then well and truly took over the match, some neat passing and creativity from both Smith and Steve Jennings saw United dominate for long periods.
Simon Travis was released down the left wing on a great number of occasions and if only his finals balls had been a little more accurate United could easily have gone in at the break four or five goals to the good.
It was Travis that had probably the closest effort to scoring when he cut into the box after a nice pass from Alan Connell and chose to shoot with his left foot when he had time to take the ball onto his right, he saw his attempt squirt wide when it looked like a goal was on the cards.
Ben Smith finished his first half début well when he latched on to a through pass only to see his placed effort hit the woodwork. The over zealous linesman had however already raised his flag when it was obvious to all the 3,000 Hereford fans that he was plainly onside. This was not the first time that the assistant had infuriated the home crowd.
The second half was always going to struggle to rival the first and so it turned out. County certainly worked harder and won a lot more ball than they had in the first half, United on the other hand didn't quite get the ball down as well and struggled to find the passing game that had impressed so much.
County's possession didn't really look like breaking down the solid Hereford back line but on 64 minutes, as often happens in football, County found an equaliser against the run of play. A near post cross from right in the corner found that man Jason Lee again as he beat Wayne Brown to the ball and his powerful header nestled neatly into the top corner of the net.
This was the signal Hereford needed and they suddenly upped their game a gear. On the 68th minute Trent McClenahan found himself in a bit of space and found Steve Guinan with room in the 18 yard area, Guinan took his chance well and powered the ball into the net to give United the lead once more.
As expected Notts County then pushed hard to look for another equaliser and United had to hang on at times while enduring continuous bombardments into their penalty area. Andy Williams was brought on for the hard working Alan Connell, and then Luke Webb took over form man of the match Steve Jennings to see the last few minutes out.
United will be pleased with the three points and will look to emulate their first half performance in future games. Graham Turner's mid-week signings have certainly freshened up the United squad and added a little more class to an already good footballing team.
Hereford travel to Bury on Tuesday night and are widely available @ 9/4, I’m not saying they are going to win but those odds are a little value imo, I’ll stick my free bet with
skybet on.