Crewe Alexandra lost their opening game of the season here this afternoon but in truth the Railwaymen created enough chances to have got something from this game.
Crewe were undone from a set-play after just 16 minutes with the Hereford captain Janos Kovacs heading home from close range at a corner.
The Alex played some good possession football, especially in the first period but we lacked that real cutting edge to transfer that into goals and points. That was Dario Gradi's concern going into the new season, despite a bright pre-season campaign, and we will have to find our shooting boots if we are going to be challenging at the right end of the table this season. Hopefully that one is out of the system.
Dario Gradi was understandably pleased to name the same starting XI that he started the pre-season with. Shaun Miller survived a late scare over a twisted ankle to start the first game of the season in a front three. Miller suffered the injury late in training yesterday but came through a fitness test with no concerns.
As expected young midfielder Nick Powell was named on the substitutes bench for the first time in his career after some impressive pre-season matches for the club's Under-18s.Another of the club's promising youngsters Ben Garrett was also named on the substitutes bench for the first time as the substitute goalkeeper. Garrett, from Market Drayton, was called up as the club await international clearance for Polish goalkeeper Ben Fogler.
Crewe made a tentative start to the new season but both sides struggled to create too many chances in the opening 10 minutes or so. Hereford's James McQuilken dragged a shot well wide before Crewe finally settled into their stride and started to pass the ball with purpose.
There was encouraging moves from the home side and after Ashley Westwood had drilled a free-kick into the arms of the Hereford goalkeeper Adam Bartlett, the Railwaymen should have opened the scoring after 14 minutes.
Luke Murphy pinched possession superbly in the centre of the pitch and his inch perfect pass sent the lively Clayton Donaldson clean through on goal. They were not going to catch him but he placed his shot a yard wide of the left hand post. It was a golden opportunity and the Alex would pay the ultimate price just a couple of minutes later.
Captain on the day, David Artell did exceptionally well to clear a McQuilken cross at the far post but had to concede a corner from which Hereford United would take the lead. It was so simple. McQuilken's cross in a crowded penalty area was powerfully headed home by the Bulls captain Janos Kovacs.
After the early set-back, Crewe began to take control of the proceedings and create numerous chances. Donaldson was unfortunate not to turn home a chance after Artell had put Bartlett under considerable pressure in the air. Miller kept the ball alive and he created a chance for Bell, whose drilled shot was deflected behind for another corner.
Crewe were more threatening from set-plays, with Ada heading one just wide and another looped onto the top of the netting. Artell has also added a considerable aerial presence in both boxes.
On the half an hour mark, some good possession play on the edge on the Hereford box created a half chance from Ashley Westwood, but his shot from 20 yards whistled past Bartlett's right hand post.
Miller then tried his luck from 20 yards, as Crewe began to look a threat every time we ventured forward. That is not to say Hereford didn't have their chances too. Sean Cantlam nearly reached a Ryan Valentine cross with his head at the far post and winger Joe Golbeck forced Crewe debutant Rhys Taylor into a save.
The impressive McQuilken also had a drilled shot deflected behind by Artell and the same player forced Taylor into a fine tip over.
Crewe did have the ball in the net on 44 minutes but Calvin Zola had just strayed offside after collecting a pass from Westwood. It was close. The Alex finished the half camped in the opposition box but both Murphy and Miller had chances to turn the ball home but failed to hit the target. It summed up our first 45 minutes in a nutshell.
After finishing the first half strongly, there was a real lull at both ends with chances few and between. Zola tried to get on the end of a couple of deep crosses but Bartlett was never troubled.
Hereford tried to inject some life into their performance by putting on our former captain Kenny Lunt for Catlam.
Crewe never hit the heights of the first half but Bartlett was called into action to palm a Matt Tootle cross away for a corner, from which Miller volleyed against Valentine at the near post.
Just after the hour mark, Zola was in again following a pass from Westwood, but he couldn't quite collect the ball in his stride and Miller lashed over as the ball broke loose from the edge of the Hereford box.
At the other end of the pitch, Miller lost a tussle with Golbeck on the edge of the Crewe penalty box and was fortunate that the winger couldn't keep his shot down.
Zola made way for Joel Grant with Donaldson moving into a move central role but Hereford were defending purposefully and their manager Simon Davery has them well drilled and organised. They are a big, strong team and could be a surprise package this season.
Rhys Taylor was then fortunate that the assistant referee gave Hereford a corner after he had sloppily dropped a cross. The on-loan goalkeeper from Chelsea would have lost possession to the alert Stuart Fleetwood after he scrambled around on the floor.
Crewe got in behind on 80 minutes with full-back Tootle forcing a good save from Bartlett after he had been found by Grant. It was our best chance of the entire second half.
In the closing stages, Dario threw on AJ Leitch-Smith for Miller but that clear-cut chance never materialised.
Crewe were left to rue missed chances on a frustrating afternoon at Gresty Road.
Alex: Taylor, Tootle, Blanchett, Westwood, Artell, Ada, Donaldson, Murphy, Zola (Grant), Miller (Leitch-Smith), Bell
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Valentine, Kovacs, Townsend, Fleetwood, Manset, Cantlam, McQuilken, Colbeck, Thompson
