WE ARE GOING UP, SING WE ARE GOING UP!

A perfect finish to what has been a perfect season.

Hereford’s away form again came through to win promotion to League 1 with a well earned 3-0 win away at Brentford.

It was Gary Hooper’s last game for the Bulls and as a final swansong, he managed to get his name on the score sheet again to help push the Bulls over the line.

We must of course congratulate Barnet for beating Stockport, but all the same, it was definatly Turner’s men who deserved promotion.

Hooper starting the romping by rounding the Bees keepe before his impressive strike partner Theo Robinson made it two 10 minutes before half time. Then Johnson finished off the scoring in the last minute after only just coming on as a sub.

So congratulations to all the Bulls, Turner, and all fans that made the trip to Griffin Park. Now lets enjoy the party next week at home to Grimsby. WE ARE GOING UP SING WE ARE GOING UP!

Brentford: Hamer, Pead (Heywood 78), Bennett, Osborne, Dickson, Wayne Brown, O’Connor, Smith (Mousinho 55), Poole, Connell, Shakes.

Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Broadhurst, Beckwith, Rose, Igoe, Smith, Diagouraga, Easton, Robinson (Johnson 89), Hooper (Guinan 79).

Att: 6,246

Brentford V Hereford United

Results permitting, by 4:45 tomorrow evening, Hereford could be promoted to league 1.

Hereford travel to Griffin Park for the first time in a league fixture knowing that a win here would be enough to seal promotion, if Stockport lose at Barnet.

On loan striker Gary Hooper who has been in startling form will play his last game for the Bulls because his loan deal will expire and he will return to Soutend.

Graham Turner looks set to keep faith in the team that won against Wrexham, meaning no room in the starting 11 for Trevor Benjamin or Steve Guinan because duo Hooper and Theo Robinson will lead the attack.

Wayne Brown has a slight injury concern sustained playing against Darlington but should be fit to play, Mark Ingham is still out though.

For the home side they will have to make do without forwards Nathan Elder and Ross Montague who remain sidelined but former Bull Alan Connell will lead the attack for Brentford, who has notched 12 goals this season.

The Bulls loyal fans will once again take an impressive 1,500 vocal fans to Griffin Park hoping that results will go our way and to give Hooper the send off he deserves.

Mad4Bulls: 1-2 Hereford. Although i hate to be pesimist, but I just can’t see Stockport losing to Barnet.

Hereford United 2-0 Wrexham

Hereford edged one step closer to automatic promotion tonight with a win against Brian Little’s Wrexham side, who now unfortunately have to deal with the harsh reality of dropping out of the football league.

Goals either side of half time from Gary Hooper and Theo Robinson mean Turner’s men have now opened the gap now between themselves and the chasing two; Rochdale and Stockport to four points.

Victory away at Brentford on Saturday and with the help of other results, the Bulls could almost secure a place in the third tier of English football next season.

the goals came after Hooper broke the deadlock just before half time. Although the visitors had been enjoying a spell of possession, a neat back heal from Robinson allowed Hooper to strike home finally handing the home side the lead.

Robinson then put the game beyond any doubt after finding himself unmarked in the six yard box. A composed finish inside the hour all but made sure of Wrexham’s relegation.

Two games left now, we are almost there. Roll on saturday and Brentford away.

Before I finish this post I must add – For the first time since Mad4Bulls was created, I got my prediction right! Just a little bit of bragging.

Att: 3739

Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Rose, Igoe, Smith, Diagouraga, Easton, Hooper, Robinson. 

Wrexham: Ward, Pejic, Steve Evans, Mike Williams, Taylor, Baynes (Garrett 70), Murtagh (Danny Williams 63), Mackin, Done, Marc Williams (Proctor 69), Roberts.
 

Match day betting

FOR all you gamblers, at a quick glance at the bookies you can get Hereford to win 2-1 at 7/1 which isnt a bad bet or for all you pesimists a 2-2 draw at 14/1 looks interesting. Also first goalscorer Gary Hooper at 5/1 or Ben Smith at 10′s which may be worth a small dabble.

The bookies dont seem to be able to cal this one themselves with a home win the slight favourite at 6/5, an away triumph priced at 7/4 or a draw at 9/4.

One bet which I personally am drawn towards is the half time/full time prediction. Peterborough at Half time and Hereford at Full time is a nice looking 22/1 and knowing Hereford, especially at home, they wont make it easy for themselves.

Well there’s the Mad4Bulls guide to betting on the Hereford – remember folks, bet responsibly and I certainly take no responsibility for loss of money after all, I’m probably the worst gambler in the world!

MK Dons V Hereford United

So its game two of the tree gamed ‘week of death’ and it is probably the hardest of the three.

After going away to Darlington and picking up a valuable and desevered three points Turners men most now tonight travel to Paul Ince’s top of the league MK Dons.

MK Dons were supposed to have secured promotion by now, possibly making it easier for the Bulls but their little slip up against Wycombe on saturday means it is all still to play for.

this game represents one of Hereford’s games in hand over second place Peterborough (who we play saturday) and fourth place Stockport, so a result is a must tonight.

As far as team news goes, Sammy Igoe remains on the sidelines, but Trevor Benjamin does finally make the squad after not being fit enough to make the team on Saturday. One slight concern for the Bulls is that in form striker gary Hooper is struggling for fitness after a robust challenge caused him to be subbed against Darlington at the weekend.

Paul Ince has no new injury worries for tonights game after full back Carl Regan has come through a fitness test on a sore muscle suffered against Wycombe.

Mad4Bulls prediction: I think we can get a win there, we are generally better away from home: 1-2 Bulls. Come On!!!

Hereford 2-2 Chester City

Hereford missed the chance to keep the heat on the top two after losing a 2-0 lead at home to struggling Chester City.

Kevin Ellison calmly slotted home a last minute penalty after John McCombe handled in the area.

The result comes as a massive blow to the Bulls especially after leading with goals from skipper Ben Smith and later Gary Hooper.

Line Ups:
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, McCombe, Rose, Igoe (Johnson 67), Smith, Diagouraga, Easton, Hooper, Guinan.
Subs Not Used: Esson, Robinson, Taylor, Collins.
Chester: Danby, Roberts, Butler (Kelly 46), Linwood, Wilson, Partridge (McManus 41), Sandwith, Hughes, Rutherford, Murphy, Ellison.
Subs Not Used: Palethorpe, Rule, Stephen Vaughan.

Attendance: 3210

Turner blames poor finishing

BULLS boss Graham Turner has said he was left frustrated after his side’s 2-1 defeat against Lincoln City at the weekend.

Gary Hooper atoned for an earlier miss to level the game but after missing countless chances to win the game, hereford then paid the price when Dany N’Guessian converted a penalty for his second of the game – and the winner.

Turner felt his side did enough to win the game but lady luck just wasn’t on thier side.

As we all know Hereford are now eight points behind the top two, albeit with a game in hand, but only remain third after Darlington suffered an equally poor festive period with just one point from their two games over Easter.

Next up for the Bulls is a must win home tie against struggling Chester City, and then three season deciders on the spin. They face Darlington away; who remain tight on Hereford’s heels in fourth, table toppers MK Dons shortly follwed by second place Peterborough United.

Its going to a nervous end to the season, but to be the best – you have to beat the best. Bring them on!