Second Half Pictures Kidderminster v Hereford

A selection from the second half at Kidderminster yesterday.

Lane Brought Down? He Couldn't Convince The Referee

Over 600 Merthyr Supporters Expected At Hereford On Monday

Merthyr manager Paul Michael has said that it will be 'fantastic' to have over 600 Merthyr supporters at Edgar Street on Monday.

Yesterday Merthyr drew 1-1 at home against Oxford.

"I thought the support was good today as well," said Michael.

Oxford took the lead and supporters had to be patient.

"The supporters stayed behind us and carried on giving us support right to the end.

"We expect it now, the supporters are so fantastic.

"We are going away on Monday and taking a huge following.

"It's a big game, it's a huge game for both teams.

"It's one we can look forward to, we're disappointed at the moment, we've got to quickly get over that and look to Monday with excitement and roll into Hereford and see what we can do." 

First Half Pictures Kidderminster v Hereford

A selection of pictures from the first half of yesterday's game at Kidderminster.

Latest injury update from Downes after D'Ath 'tweaks groin'

Lawson D'Ath captained Hereford, scored the equaliser... and picked up a knock

Hereford could have captain Lewis Hudson back for Easter Monday's home game against Merthyr Town - though Lawson D'Ath is a doubt.

That's according to manager Aaron Downes who spoke to Bulls News after Good Friday's 2-1 defeat at Kidderminster.

The gaffer said he hoped Hudson would return, having missed the last two games after picking up a knock - though that would leave him "nice and fresh".

Also back Monday will be Harrison Sohna, having served his three-match suspension for appearing to kick out at Luke Duffy in the 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield.

One new doubt is Lawson D'Ath, who was taken off midway through the second half at Aggborough. Downes said the midfielder, who wore the captain's armband in the derby, "tweaked his groin" celebrating his 43rd-minute goal from a free-kick.

While the Aussie said "it was ridiculous", he hoped he brought D'Ath off in time and would be available for Monday.

Midfielder Gus Mafuta is also set to miss out on the Easter Monday match, having been sidelined with a calf injury since 17th February - Downes's first game in charge.

While forward Harley Hamilton could return sooner, Downes didn't put a timeframe on it when speaking to the Bulls News on Tuesday.

"Harley's running," he said. "He's doing a lot of work. He's not far off."

He added: "Need a welcome boost for having Harley back in the squad for sure."

'We don't have time': Downes gives verdict on cruel and unfair derby defeat

David Davis' strike condemned Hereford to their seventh straight defeat

Aaron Downes said his side needed a point to stop the rot, but a cruel late goal condemned them to defeat at Kidderminster Harriers – insisting his side did not deserve to lose.

The Bulls looked set to claim a valuable point before conceding deep into stoppage time as David Davis' shot took two deflections before finding the back of the net, extending their losing run to seven matches despite a performance full of effort at Aggborough.

“We're not getting a lot of what we deserve at the minute,” Downes told the press post-match. “Unfortunately, it's a cruel game at times, and the boys didn't deserve that.

“They did everything we asked of them. They worked ever so hard, had a good shape about us. We’ve done everything we needed to do to get something out of the game.

“Whether we deserved to win it, I’m not sure, but we definitely didn’t deserve to lose.

"I'm proud of our players but we need to turn it around. That needs to be a draw and we can stop the rot and we can go into something else."

Hereford had battled back into the contest after falling behind, with Lawson D’Ath’s superb free-kick levelling the scores before the break.

And while Downes was full of praise for his side’s application, he made it clear that failing to see the game out is becoming a costly issue with his side not eight points from safety.

“Seeing those last couple of minutes out is the frustrating thing. Some people will learn from the game which is great that we're learning on the job, but we don't have the time for that.

"We've got to make sure we're clear, the boys are clear but we've got to make sure we're picking up points as soon as we can because that's unfair - but you don't always get what you deserve."

The defeat means Hereford are now on their worst run since 1997, but Downes insisted the focus must remain on turning performances into points.

He said: "The boys were excellent and they're doing everything they can, but we need to make sure that we're a little more stronger. We have to be because we need to see these games out now. Whether that's me, the players, the detail, we need something to change for us.

"I've just got to keep the players going. I said to them, don't let this define us because it's still in our hands and still got a chance for us to be a National League North team next season. 

"While there is, we've got to make sure we keep fighting so don't let this define us."

While the players are defiant and determined to turn things around, Downes said he won't accept players feeling sorry for themselves, or being negative - or he won't play them.

"I have to keep them bright, keep them vibrant," he added. "We've had a long and tough run, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"We've got to make sure that after this we dust ourselves down, show the same energy that we showed in that game and I promise you things will turn around.

"That's what I'm telling them because it will, you can't keep playing like that and lose football matches, you can't."

Match report: Bulls' hopes shattered by injury time winner at Aggborough

Hereford failed to ease pressure on themselves at the bottom of Enterprise National League North as they fell to their seventh straight defeat - the first time since the dreadful 1997/98 season when they dropped out of the Football League after 25 years.

Now eight points adrift with eight games to play, including three in hand, Hereford looked destined to seal a much-needed point at Abborough on Good Friday as a curling free kick from D’Ath two minutes from half-time cancelled out Ryley Reynolds’ opener after 22 minutes. But right at the death, Hereford suffered a killer blow as a rasping David Davis strike took two deflections into the top right-hand corner.

Rejecting fatigue as any sort of excuse, Aaron Downes made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 at home to Macclesfield on Tuesday, starting Mikey Lane and Harry Tustin ahead of Andy Williams and Keziah Martin.

With large spells of the game devoid of any sustained periods of quality, the Bulls did start positively as an early free-kick from captain Lawson D’Ath being nodded down by Matt Preston at the back post, only for his centre-back partner Kyle Howkins to see his low drive blocked.

In front of the vocal travelling fans in the South Stand, Harriers thought they had taken the lead when Seb Thompson’s thundering strike from a Reece Devine cross from the right cannoned down off the crossbar before being scrambled away.

While the Bulls did try to create meaningful chances, it was Harriers who looked more like scoring as in the 14th minute, Devine caused more issues for left-back Aaron Skinner, with his Kyle Howkins just beating Kieren Donnelly to the cross. 

Eight minutes later, the hosts broke the deadlock. Once again down the right wing, Josh Robinson drove a cross into the box to be met by the surging Ryley Reynolds to poke home.

Refusing to let their heads drop, Lane - often looking completely lost and unenthused out-of-position on the right wing - forced Reece Lovett into tipping a shot over the bar from the restart, only for the linesman to raise his flag for offside. 

After a break in play after Davis clattered into Howkins in the Hereford box, the game settled - though Hereford’s effort and desire matched their opponents, lacking a cutting edge in the final third looked like it could prove costly.

However, before the break, Tustin’s cross-cum-shot from a long Skinner throw was tipped onto the crossbar by Lovett, 

before a sublime curling 25-yard free-kick from D’Ath saw the Bulls pull themselves back level in the 43rd minute.

Half time: Kidderminster Harriers 1 - Hereford 1

Into the second half and the encounter still lacked quality from both sides, with fourth-placed Kidderminster not doing much to prove themselves superior. With the referee brandishing yellow cards for Easter - Preston for a foul and  Howkins for dissent, adding to Skinner’s and D’Ath’s in the first half - it was 10 minutes until the first clear-cut chance. This time, ex-Bull Charlie Cooper had an effort fly wide of the upright, before Donnelly also blazed an effort over the bar from a half-cleared corner seven minutes later.

While Hereford had a fruitless corner, neither keeper had a save to make for the majority of the second 45. While Skinner was given his final warning for consistent fouls and D’Ath was struggling with a knock, Downes introduced Martin and Keenan Quansah, and Harriers also shuffled their pack. A cross from the hosts narrowly evaded the onrushing red and white shirts, before Theo Richardson was called into action to tip a speculative free-kick over the bar.

But as the game had a draw written all over it, one that would have been a fair result, Harriers found the winner in the seven minutes of injury time. Four minutes after the board went up, the decisive moment was Robinson doing well to hold onto possession in the danger area before laying off to Davis - while Freddy Wilcox charged to close him down, the shot took a deflection off him, then a wicked one off Tustin, before flying into the top corner to shatter the Bulls’ hopes.

Full time: Kidderminster Harriers 2 - Hereford 1

Attendance: 4,213 (801 away)

While Hereford deserved a point for their efforts at Aggborough on Good Friday, it's clear a lack of confidence and fatigue are affecting the side. Despite Kidderminster not proving themselves as anything special and being matched by the Bulls for most of the afternoon, the visitors were guilty of not creating - or taking - enough chances. As the threat of relegation seems to keep growing, the final month is going to be a very long one unless things can click - and fast.

Kidderminster Harriers: Lovett, Devine (Johnson 83’), Obi, Thompson (Morgan-Smith 83’), Donnelly (Love 90+3’), Faakye, Evans, Davis, Cooper, Reynolds (Walker 90+7’), Robinson.

Subs not used: Arthur, Hall, Bird

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner (Quansah 80’), Preston, D'Ath (Martin 70’), Lane (Donawa 90’), Munday, Daly, James, Willcox, Tustin, Howkins.

Subs not used: Lewis, Williams, Oppong

Before Kick-Off At Kidderminster

A few pictures from the minutes before kick-off at Kidderminster this afternoon.