U's set club record thanks to Appiah goal
Kwesi Appiah’s first half blockbuster was enough to see Cambridge United claim another three points against Hereford and make it 13 games unbeaten.
Appiah turn and smashed the ball home from 20 yards in the seventh minute, but the U’s couldn’t add a second, and had to withstand heavy pressure in the closing stages to secure the win. They’ve now gone 13 games unbeaten since the start of the season, a new club record.
Adam Cunnington returned to the U’s starting line-up as Richard Money, celebrating a year in charge at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, made one change to the side that drew at Wrexham. Delano Sam-Yorke was the man to make way.
But it was United’s other striker, Appiah, who notched the only goal with a powerful shot after turning well 20 yards from goal. It was the Crystal Palace loanee’s third goal in three matches.
Hereford almost hit back immediately through Sam Smith, but his long-range effort was turned onto the post by Chris Maxwell, and the rest of the half belonged to United. Liam Hughes had an effort come back off the cross-bar, while Richard Tait also went close with a low shot.
The second half was more low-key from the U’s, though Hughes had a shot blocked and Ian Miller saw a header cleared off the line after a spell of four corners in quick succession.
But it was the Bulls who finished the stronger, throwing on an extra striker and piling bodies into the United area at every opportunity. Josh Coulson made one cracking headed clearance to foil Richard Brodie, who was inches away from scoring with a header from Dan Walker’s cross.
However, they couldn’t find a way past Chris Maxwell, and United claimed the points and will now go on to Tuesday’s match at fellow promotion-chasers Grimsby looking to making it 14 without defeat.
MayIClaim Man of the Match: Tom Champion.
Cambridge United: Maxwell, Tait, Taylor, Coulson, Miller, Hughes (Spillane 82), Dunk, Champion, Berry, Appiah, Cunnington (Sam-Yorke 55). Subs not used: Norris, Austin, Arnold.
Hereford United: Evans, Leadbitter, Bush, McDonald, Graham, James (Purdie 51), Pilkington (Walker 65), Gwynne (Sharp 73), Brodie, Smith, Brown. Subs not used: Collins, Odhiambo.
Referee: Justin Amey
Attendance: 3,381 (away 178)
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 HEREFORD
16.51: There it is, full time. United made hard work of it in the second half but Kwesi Appiah's cracking first half goal was enough to secure another three points.
16.49: Well into four minutes added time, TOM CHAMPION is the MAYICLAIM MAN OF THE MATCH.
16.45: United struggling to get out of their own half, Hereford throwing all their big men into the box at every opportunity.
16.39: Hereford enjoying some pressure in and around the United box, with Walker delivering a series of probing crosses. One such finds Brodie but the striker's downward header flies just wide of the post. Richard Money responds by sending on Michael Spillane in place of Liam Hughes.
16.29: Great defending from Josh Coulson takes the ball off the head of Brodie as he's about to pounce six yards out. Hereford have a corner but United clear and break with Appiah, who spots Berry on the far side. His pass is into the path of Dunk but Leadbitter gets across well to deny the winger.
16.28: And another substitution, Sharp replacing Gwynne.
16.21: The Bulls are plotting another change, and it sees ex-United loanee Dan Walker on for Pilkington.
16.18: United pressing for a second goal, three corners in quick succession after good work from Hughes and Sam-Yorke. The third comes in from Tait, the ball bobbles off a couple of heads and reaches Hughes, who sees his shot deflected wide. Another corner, this time it reaches Miller, whose header looks goal-bound until Gwynne arrives to clear off the line. Close.
16.12: First United substitution coming up now, and it's Delano Sam-Yorke coming on in place of Adam Cunnington. A hard-working display from Cunnington, albeit one that didn't yield any chances to add to his goal total.
16.07: YELLOW CARD. Brodie, back on defensive duty, loses the ball to Tait, then fouls the United right-back. That'll be a free kick and a booking for the striker, much to the amusement of the home crowd. Before the free kick is taken Purdie will replace the injured James for the Bulls. In comes the free kick from Tait and it's headed over by the late-arriving Champion.
16.03: YELLOW CARD. Bush caught out by Berry there, and slides in late on the midfielder. That's a yellow card, but the U's can't profit from the free kick on half way.
16.02: Kick off in the second half, no changes for either side that I can see.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 HEREFORD UNITED
15.45: That's half-time, United can feel happy with their 45 minutes' work, though they might be disappointed to only have one goal to show for their efforts.
15.44: Enterprising Bulls right-back Leadbitter goes down on the touchline under pressure from Dunk. That'll be a free kick, which Pilkington swings in but it flicks off a Hereford head and wide. One minute to be added at the end of the half.
15.39: YELLOW CARD. Brown goes down theatrically under pressure from Hughes. The ref isn't impressed with that and books the Bulls man for diving.
15.38: Nice interchange between Hughes and Berry on the right, Hughes races forward and delivers a low cross which Cunnington can't quite connect with in the centre.
15.30: Ooft, United close in succession, first through Richard Tait's low trundling shot which goes just the wrong side of the post via a deflection. Corner, which reaches Liam Hughes', whose shot crashes back off the bar and back into play.
15.23: United have a free kick on half way after a late tackle from Brodie on Champion. Brodie could easily have seen yellow there, but gets away with a talking to from referee Amey. Free kick goes short to Coulson, who brings the ball forward and, with no challenge forthcoming, wallops a shot in from 30 yards which Evans tips round the post. Corner United, which flicks off the head of a defender and Hereford clear.
15.19: Hereford with a couple of corners, but the second is thwacked away at the near post to Berry, who plays a beautiful long pass into the path of Appiah. He cuts in from the right and finds Dunk, but his right footed shot lacks power and direction and trickles wide. United's speed on the break is frightening.
15.16: Little break in play now while Hereford keeper Evans gets some treatment, not sure what his problem is. Richard Brodie is getting his usual, er, warm reception from the United faithful as the players line up to wait for a goal kick to be taken.
15.09: Wow, all happening here. Almost straight from kick off Hereford break, Sam Smith controls well and takes aim from outside the box, but sees his shot strike the foot of the post. Think Maxwell might have got a glove to that. Then United surge forward, Appiah laying the ball off to Berry, who goes for goal but sees Evans turn his goal-bound effort over the bar. Hereford repel the resulting corner. Phew.
15.06: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 HEREFORD UNITED. United's early pressing pays off. Patient build up through the middle sees Champion and Berry move the ball on to KWESI APPIAH, who turns away from a defender and rockets a shot into the net from 20 yards, lovely strike from the loanee who now has three goals in three games.
15.04: Hughes does well down the right and works the ball into Berry. His flick finds Appiah, who turns and curls a shot over the bar.
15.03: Fast start from the U's, Dunk winning a corner which is headed clear, and Greg Taylor striding forward and hitting a shot that deflects away off a defender.
14.59: Richard Money receives warm applause from the crowd as he's presented with the September Manager of the Month award before kick off. Hopefully there won't be any curse this afternoon. Here we go, United get us underway attacking the South Stand.
14.54: Last season Hereford were 3-1 winners in the corresponding fixture, the goals all coming from players no longer at their respective clubs. Ryan Bowman netted a brace of penalties for the Bulls, with Sam Clucas scoring the other goal. Tom Shaw hit the U's reply.
Cambridge United: Maxwell, Tait, Taylor, Coulson, Miller, Hughes, Dunk, Champion, Berry, Appiah, Cunnington. Subs: Norris, Austin, Sam-Yorke, Spillane, Arnold.
Hereford United: Evans, Leadbitter, Bush, McDonald, Graham, James, Pilkington, Gwynne, Brodie, Smith, Brown. Subs: Purdie, Walker, Sharp, Collins, Odhiambo.
14.30: TEAM NEWS. United make one change from the team that drew 1-1 at Hereford last week, with Adam Cunnington restored to the front line at the expense of Delano Sam-Yorke, who is on the bench. No sign of Toms Elliott and Bonner, who are back in training after their injuries.
Hereford have Sam Smith, who is on loan from United, in their starting line-up and he'll form a three-pronged attack with Jon Brown and our old friend Richard Brodie.