10th Match 1973
Football League
Hereford 1-0 Exeter City

HEREFORD MISCUE UNDER TV GLARE by JOHN WRAGG

HEREFORD
Icke: Griffiths. Mallender. Jones. Tucker Tavener. Rudge. Owen. Redrobe, Gregory McLaughlin. Sub. Jenkins.

EXETER: Wilson; Stacey, Benson. Parker, Giles, Balson. Wingate, Binney, Plumb, Morrin, Gibson. Sub: Clapham.

Referee: Mr. (Barnsley). Hackney

HEREFORD seemed to suffer a touch of stage fright in their Fourth Division promotion battle with Exeter. The TV cameras were at Edgar Street for the first time since Hereford election to the League, but United found it difficult to live up to the star billing. Exeter effectively stifled, by playing four men in mid-field but Uniteddhad one clear-cut chance when Redrobe shot wide in the 48th minute as Exeter appealed for offside.

Rudge also missed a chance as the 9,500 crowd urged their favourites on. Ron Redrobe broke the deadlock at last with a goal for Hereford after 84 minutes. Hereford, returning home after three successive away League games, were welcomed by a huge crowd. They got off to a busy start and Rudge fired wide after three minutes. Two minutes later he did no better with a left wing corner but this did not deter Hereford and. led by captain Gregory, who was already getting through a pile of work in midfield, they kept up the pressure. They had a let off after a quarter of an hour. however. when a cross from Gibson was deflected by a Hereford defender to Plumb who failed to connect from only a few yards out. Exeter were finding their feet and in the 22nd minute, Plumb headed wide from a Gibson co.ner. A minute later. Binney charged down an Icke clearance but the ball broke away before he had chance to take advantage of the open net. Exeter were pushing forward much more effectively. Gregory had lost his fire in midfield, partly be cause Exeter were offering four men in the centre of the field to Hereford's three. One of these Gibson started Exeter's next attack in the 37th minute. His long pass found Plumb out on the right wing and his cross was touched by Wingate, although he could not get enough direction behind his header. Hereford forced two corners around the 40th minute, neither of which caused Wilson much trouble and and a minute later. Exeter's Benson was booked for a foul on Gregory. From the free kick. Griffiths came up to meet Rudge's pass but fired well wide.
Half-time
Hereford 0 Exeter 0

Hereford should have been ahead after three minutes of the second half. Rudge picked up a clearance and took the ball forward before flicking a pass square to Gregory. The Hereford captain saw Redrobe moving through the Exeter defence, and as they appealed for offside. Redrobe controlled and then only half-hit his shot wide. A few minutes later Redrobe did better with a much harder chance. although the result was the same, the hall going wide. Redrobe was now livening up the Hereford attack and caused Wilson to stretch again in the 61st minute with a back-header from a long McLaughlin throw. Redrobe launched another attack in the 67th minute with a ball to Mclaughlin. He kept the move going left and Rudge swept in only to balloon his shot wide A minute later. player-manager Colin Addison reshuffled his side with the introduction of Jenkins. signed on a tenth's loan from Bradford and making his first appearance. Central defender Jones came off. McLaughlin dropped back from midfield and Rudge took his place in the middle three with Jenkins going up front. At least Hereford were keeping Exeter under pressure but they were still finding it difficult to break a confident defence. Hereford almost paid for putting too much emphasis on attack in the 78th minute Exeter darted away and Wingate played the ball back for Gibson to try a shot that deflected off Tucker to Binney whose overhead kick cleared the bar.