A Great Win

But not the best performance this season.

Who cares?! Three points away from home will do me any day.

When the fourth official put the board up at the end and showed six minutes I just wanted the game to hurry up and be over, we really had been poor in so many areas all afternoon. Six minutes later I'd lost my voice and was smiling like a Cheshire Cat!

First half we just didn't seem to get the rub of the green and every loose ball and ricochet seemed to end up at the feet of a player in a white shirt. Atkins seemed to be constantly getting in the way of his defenders, twice Burton players collided and the referee, not content with turning a blind eye to Calvin getting pulled around left, right and centre in the box, decided to break up an attack by getting in the way of Macca as he went for the ball. True to form the ball ended up with a Hereford player.

We didn't help ourselves in the first 45 either though and seemed intent on helping Hereford continue their good home form of late. The penalty was unfortunately so obvious, although the comment in the seats was that Elder (their 25) seemed to fall down very easily for a big strong lad, which he repeated regularly all afternoon. We got it back to 1-1 five minutes later with what was a classy move, a pinpoint cross by Jacques out on the left and Calvin was there to out jump the home defence and guide the ball home.

I think we were level for something like ten minutes before the home side broke through and their impressive 21 took the ball into the area and from almost on the line the wrong side of the goalpost, guided it into the net. 2-1 and Webster rightly held his head in shame, having accompanied Barkhuizen on his jinking run to score the goal. Not once did it seem to enter our left back's mind to actually make some sort of challenge.

That really summed up the first half for us and again the manager seemed to have decided on safety first as Bolder and McGrath laboured away in the centre, creating nothing and rarely passing forwards.

The much discussed change happened at half-time with Palmer replacing Bolder who, to be fair, had achieved nothing all afternoon other than blocking a stinging half volley from Corbett. Immediately we seemed to start playing a free attacking game and Palmer showed good use of both feet, playing in both Zola and Kee for chances.

We seemed to have much more possession and created many chances, but Hereford defended en-masse and were happy to put the ball out for corners or throw-ins to break up our play. When we did break through our players strangely seemed hesitant to shoot, instead both Maghoma and Zola clear on goal decided to pass with both going astray.

Hereford are a big old side that hustle and bustle the opposition out of playing and it was inevitable there were going to be bookings and midway through the half Purdie saw yellow for a cynical challenge that left Maghoma in a heap after catching him in full flight. Not long afterwards the ill feeling between Macca and Pell that was still simmering after the game at Edgar Street last season erupted again. Macca caught Pell's heel as he broke away and took a yellow for the team. Pell, as he is well known for, acted as if a sniper had opened fire on him from a floodlight pylon, making a meal of it. There was a little bit of afters as Macca went straight to Pell after being booked, but the game from there seemed to stagnate, with even the introduction of Guerrieri being muted.

And so it continued with Hereford repelling our attacks and seemingly happy to rely on counter attacking, which it has to be said they did well. Then the board was raised showing six minutes and the game turned on its head. First Webbo strode to the edge of the box and let fly with a beautifully placed shot that evaded their keeper down to his right. As if that wasn't enough, another attack saw Kee hit a shot that seemed to squirm out of the keepers' hands and agonisingly roll over the line. 3-2 and the comeback was there.

For the final moments it was largely backs to the wall stuff and the referee didn't buy a theatrical dive by a Hereford player in the Burton area, the ball was played upfield and the final whistle was blown. Three points were coming back to the Pirelli.

An afternoon of rollercoaster-like emotions and as someone sat in front of me commented, even Ronnie Biggs did time for a lesser robbery! Not too sure I agree as we had the second half in the bag for effort and creativity and against a limited Hereford side managed to get the win.

We went 3-4-3 for the last fifteen minutes and I'm not too sure whether that was inspired coaching by our manager, or luck of the draw. Either way it doesn't matter now.