Difficult to know what to say really. We absolutely mullered them - we could have had 8 - Beckford could have had about 5 - as well as Beckford, Robinson, Becchio, Douglas, Delph, Howson, White could all have scored the main reason they didn't being their keeper who had one of those stunning "once a season" games when it looks like he is going to single-handedly keep the score sheet blank - and yet they could have sneaked a point at the death when they had a couple of gilt chances. The team was more or less as expected, with the only 2 "first-teamers" to keep their place on Tuesday being rested today, so White and Robinson stepped in for Hughes and Kilkenny. The XI was - Lucas, Richardson, White, Telfer, Marques, Robinson, Howson, Delph, Douglas, Beckford and Becchio. For most of the match the defence was solid - White in particular doing a good job against their right winger who seemed to be the fellow they fancied would get through. There were a few moments of concern but you'll get that in any game. The last 10 minutes was more backs to wall stuff as we suddenly forgot our good habits and Hereford went for an equaliser. The midfield ran the show - Douglas sitting deep and mopping up, got through some good work; Robinson and Selph were the main springs of countless attacks with a range and variety of passing and movement that will destroy most teams in this league. The 2 front guys worked hard for space, got lots of it and in reality should have had a hatrick apiece to show for it - Becchio had 3 good efforts on goal thwarted by the goalie - one of which rebounded for the goal. Beckford had 2 or 3 one on ones, and hit the post with another effort. The goal came as folk were beginning to get twitchy (Beckford and Robinson cerainly were beginning to show the strain) - a long ball down the Lwing from Howson found Beckford, who cut into the box got to the by-line and hit a deep cross to the back post where Becchio powered a header back across goal - looked certain to score - the keeper twisted back on himself, threw out a strong right hand which punched the ball up and away, only for the on-rushing Robinson to head the ball home - the effect was somewhat like a bullock in a china shop. All-in-all a lovely way for 25, 000 people to spend a sunny afternoon in Yorkshire. LUCAS - what little he had to do he did well enough - good distribution RICHARDSON - a quiet game until he let them get in ahead of him to almost score at the end WHITE - 16 years old! - another storming game - good in defence, strong in the challenge, supports/overlaps well - looks like he wants a goal MARQUES - really getting back into the groove - seems to like playing alongside... TELFER - calm and composed as always - scarcely a foot wrong again ROBINSON - probably our MOTM - he's not involved for 90 minutes like Delph or Kilkenny - but his interventions tend to be match winning - really up for it today DELPH - everything comes through this young lad - a star in the making - watching him shield the ball from an opponent twice his size who is trying to muscle him off the ball is almost cruel HOWSON - a good solid supporting role in midfield DOUGLAS - did all the ugly stuff, the hard stuff and makes it possible for the others to shine BECKFORD - his dog will probably get a right kicking tonight - nobody knows how he didn't score today - sometimes unlucky sometimes not composed enough - showed the rough edges - but played a good part in the goal and is becoming a better team player BECCHIO - the old battering-ram type centre forward - got amongst them, made them work and very unlucky to come up against a keeper in inspired form. ------------- subs Hughes - for a tiring White - did OK Snodgrass - struggled to get involved (came on for the goalscorer ) and the team lost its momentum somewhat thereafter. ---------------- 3 more points - well earned.
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