Saturday, April 30, 2000

HEREFORD United slipped to their third consecutive Nationwide Conference defeat in lacklustre fashion at Edgar Street on Saturday against relegation-haunted Welling.

United have never recorded a league victory over the Wings and that record was never seriously in doubt.

The showing did not please boss Graham Turner, who labelled his team ''currently the worst side in the league'' -- no doubt stronger words were handed out post-match in the United dressing room.

Such criticism was not unfounded as United self-destructed against their lowly visitors.

Robin Elmes shot narrowly wide within the first 40 seconds when sent through by Ian Rodgerson but Welling went ahead on seven minutes after they took advantage of marking branded ''criminal'' by Turner.

Anthony Riviere centred for striker Leon Braithwaite and though 'keeper Scott Cooksey turned his header away, skipper Mike Rutherford tapped in from two yards.

The Bulls did rally in response to going behind and Paul Parry had two opportunities to pull United level after 23 minutes.

The youngster rose to head a Rodgerson free-kick goalwards but was denied by goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson, who pushed Parry's effort away at full stretch. Paul Sturgess crossed again and Parry's effort hit the bar.

Parry then had another header, this time a powerful 18-yard effort from a Rodgerson corner, fisted away by Wilkerson before the Bulls equalised on 27 minutes.

Rodgerson placed a free kick from the right onto Elmes' head and the big front man crashed in his 13th Conference goal of the season off the underside of the bar.

But within three minutes Cooksey gifted the lead back to Welling with a calamitous piece of goalkeeping. Danny Chapman sent in an innocuous cross to the back post and Cook-sey, once a loan player with the Wings, fumbled a straightforward catch over the line.

The visitors could have made it 3-1 two minutes before the interval, after Cooksey beat away a 25-yard effort from Chapman, were it not for a wild finish from Zeke Rowe.

The second-half was largely a non-event and, despite forcing five corners, the Bulls could not find a way through - mainly through their own lack of ingenuity.

Elmes could only head straight at Wilkerson on the hour and Ian Wright hit the side netting two minutes later.

United had the ball in the net again seven minutes from time when Clarke finished from a Mark Taylor cross, but it was no surprise when the strike was ruled out for a push.