Hereford United 2 Stevenage Borough 0

Last updated : 27 February 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Goals either side of half-time brought Hereford their fifth successive home win and moved the Bulls back into second place in the Conference table.

Andy Williams struck in first-half injury-time and Stuart Fleetwood, Williams' fellow 19-year-old strike partner, notched the second five minutes after the break.

It was a disappointing night for Stevenage whose wretched evening was rounded off by the 70th-minute dismissal of Justin Gregory for a second yellow card.

The first half gave ample evidence of why Stevenage have the worst disciplinary record in the division with the visitors conceding a stream of free-kicks and having two players, Adam Miller and Jefferson Louis, booked for fouls.

The stop-start nature of the play prevented much in the way of flowing football with chances at a premium at both ends.

Ollie Berquez put a snap shot just wide of a post and Wayne Brown saved comfortably from Miller as Stevenage had a couple of early openings.

Brown also saved well from a George Boyd effort on 32 minutes.

Hereford, while creating few real openings, started to get the better of play as the interval approached and the goal, which came more than three minutes into injury-time at the end of the first period, was just about deserved.

Dean Beckwith headed on an Andy Ferrell free-kick and Williams pounced to volley in from close range.

After Brown produced an early save from Boyd's 20-yarder, Fleetwood seized on a ricochet following on from Craig Stanley's perseverance and drove a low shot under Alan Julian.

Gregory was dismissed following a foul on Daryl Taylor and from there on, only one side was going to win the game.

Hereford almost iced the cake late on with a superb volley from Stanley which screamed narrowly over the bar after a good Fleetwood cross.