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.

Bulls Bring in Back up Keeper

Former Shrewsbury Town shot stopper Ryan Esson has joined the Bulls on a full time contract until the end of the season.

Esson will provide much needed back-up to ‘Superman’ Wayne Brown after second choice keeper Mike Ingham picked up a hand injury which will keep him out for up to six weeks. Esson will be available to play in any playoff games, should Hereford finish outside the top three.

The 27 year old Scot, made 89 appearances for Aberdeen in the nine years he was there debuting in a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock.

After playing in the majority of Aberdeen’s games in the 2004-2005 season Esson was called up to the national squad and was an unused substitute for Scotland against USA.

Esson had an unsuccessful loan period at Rotherham United before moving on to Hereford’s rivals Shrewsbury Town where he spent the best part of two years from 2006.

Injuries disrupted his stay at The Shrews and he only managed six first team starts which included a League Cup penalty shoot out victory against Championship side Colchester United.

Shrewsbury released the Scot in January 2008 and after spending two months in footballing wilderness, Ryan Esson is now on the pay roll of the famous Hereford United.

Hereford United 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers

A bizarre own goal allowed Hereford to pick up all three points yesterday against fellow promotion hopefuls Wycombe in a tight game which saw the Bulls edge closer to automatic promotion.

Hereford survived an onslaught of pressure from the visitors in the closing stages of the game as they pushed for an equaliser. In-form Bulls keeper Wayne Brown saved well from a vicious Stefen Oakes drive and Wycombe defender Leon Johnson hit the upright late on.

The first half saw both sides have chaces to take the lead with Theo Robinson twice going close for the home side. The deadlock was finally brokes though in the 70th minute when Hereford were awarded a free kick. Clint Easton’s delivery was met by Wycombe’s Russell Martin just inside his own penalty box. The right back was under no real pressure and had time and space to clear any danger but somehow directed it instead high over Wanderers keeper Fielding and into the roof of the net.

Anyone who saw the game would openly admit that the Bulls rode thier luck, but to get promoted you need a little luck. Wycombe contributed to a fascinating game of attacking football and look good for a playoff place.

Ultimately though Hereford came out on top and closed the gap on Peterborough who could only draw at home to struggling Notts County

Final score Hereford 1-0 Wycombe.

Attendance: 3126

Mansfield Town 0-1 The Bulls

MANSFIELD TOWN 0-1 HEREFORD UNITED

Man of the match Wayne Brown saved a last minute penalty to keep Hereford’s promotion push on track with a win away at struggling Mansfield Town on tuesday night.

The bulls struck the winner in the seventh minute when Clint Easton hit home a curling free kick. The home side had numerous efforts saved by the outstanding Wayne Brown, but when skipper Ben Smith fouled Town striker Michael Boulding the Bulls had looked to have wasted two points.

Brown saved low to his left and the win means that Hereford move into the automatic promotion places ahead of Darlington as they were held by Bulls’ rivals Shrewsbury Town.

Attendance: 1606