Saturday, February 19, 2000

HEREFORD United's leading marksman Paul Fewings raised his goal tally this season to 14 when he bagged both goals in their 2-0 home Nationwide Conference victory over Dover Athletic at Edgar Street.

The Bulls extended their unbeaten league run to seven as they climbed to ninth place in the table.

They also avenged a defeat at Dover earlier in the season and registered only their second victory over the Kent club in seven fixtures.

Fewings opened his account in the 45th minute. He latched onto a throw from Chris Lane, ploughed through the middle and planted a 12-yard drive out of goalkeeper Paul Hyde's reach.

Nine minutes after the interval he struck again. Hyde could only push away Leroy May's header for Fewings to dash in and knock it over the line.

The striking combination of Fewings and May troubled Dover throughout. May distributed the ball with some clever flicks and headers and United's Director of Football Graham Turner said: "May has trained hard in the last six weeks and has looked a different player. He deserved a goal himself."

Hereford completely dominated high-riding Dover in the first-half and should have built up a decisive lead. The opening minutes soon saw Hyde in action and a slick United move ended with midfielder Mark Taylor shooting straight into the goalkeeper's hands.

Fewings also tested Hyde, while May headed just wide of the far post. Paul Parry also had a couple of attempts which flew across the face of the goal before Fewings broke the deadlock just before the interval.

Rodgerson and John Snape went close to extending the home side's lead, but in the last 25 minutes they eased off and Dover came back into the game.

Scott Cooksey, United's on-loan goalkeeper from Shrewsbury Town, was called into action, making three excellent saves from Matt Carruthers, substitute Dave Morrison and Neil Le Bihan. Skipper Ian Wright also came to the rescue with a goal-line clearance from Jimmy Strouts.

Hereford's other loan signing, Tom White from Bristol Rovers, formed an effective defensive barrier with Wright and was always looking to make a constructive clearance.

Turner said: "We played particularly well in the first-half and made lots of openings. But after we were two up we thought it was too easy and allowed Dover to show why they are so high in the table."