National North League Saturday Review

A look at the results in the National North League with NL's Sam Elliott.

Chester were held to a 1-1 draw at Hereford, Billy Waters levelled after Billy Phillips put the Bulls in front.

Hebburn Town take over at the top of the Enterprise National League North after a stunning second half ripped King’s Lynn Town apart 4-2.

Macclesfield are also on 13 points as things really closed up. Daniel Elliott’s two goals proved the difference at Darlington.

Like the Quakers, Spennymoor Town are slow starts and went down 3-1 at Bedford Town. George Newell got both goals as Marine defeated managerless Radcliffe.

Bartosz Cybulski hit a sublime hat-trick as Spalding United got the better of Worksop Town 3-1.

Scarborough Athletic’s Rio Allen also scored a double, an so did Mo Fadera as the Seadogs hit Southport for five.

On Friday night, Buxton wrecked Oxford City’s hope of going top.

Sisa Tuntulwana‘s double earned the away side a morale boosting victory despite Tyrone Marsh’s best efforts.

Morecambe are up and running after Teddy Collis’ double downed AFC Telford United, securing the club’s first win of the new campaign.

Hednesford also have lift off, Dave Abimbola five minutes from time halted Harborough Town. Britt Assombalonga was again on target and it looked like three points were coming before George Langston’s 82 minute goal flipped the encounter between the two promoted clubs.

 

News Round Up

Former Hereford goalkeeper Curtis Pond played his 400th game for Chasetown this afternoon.

Sam Clucas is on trial with Bradford City, the former Hereford United winger was recently released by Shrewsbury. 

Southport captain Luke Burgess was red carded in the 95th minute at Scarborough who won the game 5-1. Hereford travel to Southport on Monday.

King’s Lynn manager Paul Caddis said he accepted full responsibility after watching his side surrender a half-time lead for the second successive game. They were 2-1 ahead at Hebburn but lost 4-2. "I pick the team, I pick the players, I decide the tactics and the substitutions. That’s two weeks in a row where we’ve thrown away six points."

Sammy Lee At Edgar Street

Second Half Pictures From Hereford v Chester

A selection of pictures from this afternoon at a packed Edgar Street.

First Half Pictures From Edgar Street

A fairly level first half with both Hereford and Chester scoring.

Before Kick-Off At Edgar Street

Pictures from before kick-off at Edgar Street this afternoon including a packed-out Meadow End. Chester were the visitors whilst Hereford manager Aaron Downes sized up a possible recruit.

Downes hails aggressive Bulls as they stand up to challenge

Aaron Downes

Aaron Downes said he was “nearly as tired as the players” after Hereford battled their way to a deserved point against league‑leaders Chester at Edgar Street.

The Bulls extended their unbeaten run to four games and became the first side to take points off the Seals this season. Downes felt the 1–1 draw was a fair reflection of a fiercely competitive contest.

“It was a good game. Really good game,” he said. “Good game from two good teams in my opinion. It was a tough game for us. You can see they move the ball well, they've got good patterns, they get the ball forward quickly as well and they're an athletic side. They’re energetic.

"It was a tough challenge for us today and I think we stood up to it.”

Downes praised his side’s ability to impose themselves at key moments.

“There were patches of play in both halves where we moved the ball really well and we were aggressive out of possession, good in possession at moments," he said.

"Overall, that was a good game of football."

Hereford took the lead through Billy Phillips after excellent work from Keziah Martin and Aaron Skinner. Downes called it “a good goal, great work from Kez… Skins does great down the side and Bill finds himself free in the box and it’s a great finish.”

Chester equalised through Billy Waters shortly before half‑time, with some supporters feeling the goal may have been offside. Downes wasn’t ready to judge it.

"I haven't seen it back yet so I will review it, but a few of the boys are saying it is," he said.

"The linesman's in a good position from where I've seen it, so I don't know. No quibbles at the minute, but I might tell you differently tomorrow when I've viewed it."

The visitors enjoyed a strong spell early in the second half, forcing Theo Richardson to several saves.

While Chester found some momentum, Hereford’s best second‑half chance fell to Harrison Iwunze, who headed wide from a good cross.

But Downes said his side got into some good areas in the second half but didn’t come up with an end product, which was disappointing, but the manager was satisfied overall.

“A draw’s probably a fair result,” he said. “It’s probably a good point for both teams.”

Match report: Bulls hold high-flying Chester in gritty Edgar Street battle

Aaron Skinner with the assist for Phillips' goal

Hereford extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a hard‑earned point against early league leaders Chester, drawing 1–1 in front of a bumper Edgar Street crowd.

The Bulls went into the game on the back of three straight wins and clean sheets and became the first side to take points from the Seals this season.

While Hereford took the lead thanks to Billy Phillips, turning home a ball from Aaron Skinner, it was cancelled out before the break by Billy Waters in controversial circumstances.

With the Bulls attacking down the slope towards the Meadow End in the first half, their current favourite, Keziah Martin's cross was deflected behind for an early corner which disappointingly ended with visiting keeper Luke Hewitson on the floor, which the referee deemed a foul.

But Chester also went close when Billy Waters fired wide after Sam Reed forced a corner, before the high-tempo game saw the hard-working Cawley Cox go close, but his right-footed effort was deflected behind.

With the game being played at high intensity, the Bulls were pinning Chester back in their own half and got their rewards in the 23rd minute. Some great work from Keziah Martin on a surging run towards the box saw him opt to play the ball out to Aaron Skinner on the right. The fans' favourite, and Saturday's captain, took on his man and played a low ball towards Phillips to slot home.

But Chester, eager not to drop their first points of the season, look to hit back as Connor Woods floated a dangerous cross that drifted just wide of Theo Richardson’s far post, and their pressure told five minutes before the break. A moment of hesitation at the back for a suspected offside allowed Waters to pounce and level the match.

Richardson was called into action again shortly before half‑time, holding a strike from Sam Reed to ensure the sides went in level.

Half time: Hereford 1 - Chester 1

Chester started the second half brightly, forcing Richardson into two saves in quick succession — first from Jake Griffin, then from Tom Peers. Peers later shot well over after claiming to be caught as he struck the ball, with Sam Reed causing problems down the right.

A floated free‑kick caused problems for Hereford on 58 minutes, leading to a goalmouth scramble and a finish from Chester, but the effort was ruled out for a foul in the build‑up. Luke Spokes was booked for the challenge that led to the set piece, as the referee seemed intent to halt play for questionable fouls and, on at least two occasions, blew for fouls from Chester when playing on would have been the more sensible option.

Hereford’s best chance of the half came when Harrison Iwunze, who has been on fire in recent matches, met a cross with a header, but he couldn’t generate enough power and the effort drifted wide.

As both sides rang the changes, the game looked certain to be heading for a draw. In the final stages, Kyle Howkins produced an important block to deny Chester, while Jacob Hazel fired over moments later.

Full time: Hereford 1 - Chester 1

Attendance: 4,307 (574 away)

Sponsors' man of the match: Will Merrett

A draw felt about right. Hereford showed good organisation and resilience against a strong Chester side who arrived in excellent form. The Bulls move up to fourth in the table with 10 points from a possible 15 and now turn their attention to Monday’s trip to Southport - who were hammered 5-1 by Spennymoor today.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Merrett, Martin (Roberts 56'), Tustin (Bitemo 65'), Cox (Waldron 73'), Spokes (Williamson 90+1'), James, Iwunze, Phillips, Howkins

Subs not used: Lewis, Tolley, Jones

Chester: Hewitson, Burroughs, Woodthorpe, Weeks, Griffin, Peers (Hazel 69'), Waters (Abreu 79') Ward (Foley 84'), Murphy (Campbell 79'), Woods (Moore 80'), Reed

Subs not used: Mackin, Kenny

RON PARROTT’S HEREFORD UNITED PROGRAMMES – EBAY SALES

RON PARROTT’S HEREFORD UNITED PROGRAMMES – EBAY SALES

Due to his family’s logistical time constraints at that time, Ron’s family passed Ron’s programme collection to a reputable dealer.

David Allen Football Programmes has now advised HUST that they will be releasing some small batches.

Mr Allen says “I will start listing programmes from Ron Parrott’s collection on Ebay starting this Sunday evening. It has taken me a lot longer than I anticipated to sort them in batches offering weekly auctions of a cross section of ancient first team home and aways plus reserves through the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The auctions will run weekly with around 20 items per week and will continue for at least the next 18 months.”

Richard Tomkins, HUST Chair, advises “HUST was honoured to be asked by Ron’s family to be custodians of his Hereford United/Hereford FC electronic statistical records and memorabilia. The sale of the programmes is now an opportunity, for Hereford fans everywhere, to bring some further items back ‘into our extended family’ should they so choose. Meantime we continue to consider the practicalities of a physical or ‘virtual museum’ alongside other ways to best remember Ron.”

Downes opens up as Bulls claim point against Chester

Aaron Downes has said a draw against Chester was a fair result and a good point for two good sides.

Press play to listen in full.

Will Merrett gives verdict on tough Chester match - listen in full

Man of the match Will Merrett has spoken to the media after Hereford’s hard-fought 1-1 draw against Chester at Edgar Street.

Press play to listen to the interview in full.  

Enterprise National League North results and updated table

This afternoon’s results from the National League North.

Bedford Town 3 - 1 Spennymoor Town
Brackley Town A - A South Shields (abandoned)
Darlington 1 - 2 Macclesfield
Hebburn Town 4 - 2 King’s Lynn Town
Hereford 1 - 1 Chester
Marine 2 - 0 Radcliffe
Merthyr Town 1 - 1 Chorley
Scarborough Athletic 5 - 1 Southport
Spalding United 3 - 1 Worksop Town

The updated table can be found here: https://bullsnews.blogspot.com/p/league-table.html

National League North match abandoned in first half

This afternoon’s game Enterprise National League North between Brackley Town and South Shields was abandoned with just 36 minutes played. 

Brackley said the referee called a halt after 20 minutes when heavy rain affected the playing surface at St James’s Park.

The goalless game was then abandoned on 36 minutes after the match got underway for two minutes.  

After the decision, South Shields said to supporters who made the 472-mile round trip: “To all our supporters who made the journey today, we can only apologise for the late disappointment. We know many of you have travelled a long way to be here, and your support never goes unnoticed. Thank you for sticking with us.”

Bedford Town’s home game against Spennymoor was also delayed for 15 minutes due to the weather. 

Bulls earn point in tense Chester clash

Hereford have secured a point in a tense 1-1 draw against Chester. 

With Hereford on top for large parts of the first half, they took the lead through Billy Philips, finding the back of the net after being teed up by Aaron Skinner who combined well with Keziah Martin in the buildup.

But his opener was cancelled out by Billy Waters’ goal before the break, appearing offside as he turned a wayward Tom Peers ball home.

After an energetic first half from Aaron Downes’s side, Chester upped the tempo in the second half. With the referee giving fouls left, right and centre the Bulls were let off when an almighty scramble in the Hereford box from a corner saw the ball in the back of the net, but ruled out for an earlier foul.

Having made five subs, Chester couldn’t find a way to win the game and the Bulls did enough to secure a point and end the visitors’ tenure as the only side in the league with maximum points. 

Full report, pictures and reaction to follow.

High-tempo Bulls pegged back before half-time

It’s 1-1 at half time between Hereford and Chester at Edgar Street.

The energetic Bulls side had the majority of possession and pinned the Seals in their own half for large swathes of the first half.

Aaron Downes’s side went a goal up thanks to Billy Philips, with great work from Keziah Martin and Aaron Skinner in the build up.

But five minutes from half time, Billy Waters converted Tom Peers’ wayward ball and despite offside protests, seeing Kyle Howkins hooked, Chester pulled themselves back level.