Following the postponement of
Tuesday evening’s match against Brackley, a presumably refreshed Hereford FC
travel to Alfreton tomorrow, kick off 3pm, for a National League North match
that gives the visitors a good opportunity to edge further towards safety this
season. Given that the hosts look to have little to play for other than pride,
it could be argued that it's a good time for the Bulls to make the trip. The trouble is, the reason Alfreton have little to play for is that they've won their last four matches, easing into a comfortable mid-table position.
With both sides
boasting solid defensive records but having in common a pretty shabby record of
finding the net this season, it may not be one that will stay long in the
memory. However, given that I suggested 1-0 as the most likely outcome last week it could well be a goalfest.
Alfreton find themselves in 11th
position, seven points above Hereford and safe as houses as a result of that winning run, but not looking in any danger of making a late rush
towards the play-offs. They will however surpass last season’s finishing
position of 17th and points tally of 49, but other than that it’s been a pretty humdrum season for the Reds.
The Bulls go into this one
unbeaten since the home loss to Curzon Ashton in early February, and in beating Darlington last time out have added a win to a
run of draws to make that unbeaten record look a little more impressive then it
did when it was mostly made up of poor results against clubs who have been
seriously struggling all season.
Tuesday’s postponement may not
have been a bad thing for Mike Symons, who looked tired last Saturday, but if
fit will presumably lead the Hereford attack again, possibly in partnership
with returning Cardiff loanee James Waite, available for selection again after
serving a three-match suspension for waving his arms about against Leamington. Waite,
in his brief time on the pitch to date, has shown a happy knack of producing
goals from unpromising situations, and looks like a real threat at this level.
With
Lance Smith back fit, and capping a lively cameo appearance against the Quakers
with a late poacher’s goal (the sort of instinctive finish that’s been sorely
missing for months), there are a few more options up front than usual for Marc
Richards to mull over. Cameron Ebbutt could come into consideration too, no
doubt keen to make his debut.
There are also a few selection decisions to make in midfield. With Eliot Richards, Tommy
O’Sullivan, Kieran Thomas and Tom Owen Evans contributing significantly to much
of what the team has done well recently, James Wesolowski may again have to start
on the bench as he bids to complete his comeback from long-term injury.
However, with Jimmy Oates being recalled by an injury-hit Exeter City, a
logical reshuffle would be for Thomas to revert to right back, and Oates' fellow
Australian to come in alongside the aforementioned three amigos in midfield. However, Kyle Finn's performance on Saturday surely warrants a starting place for the ex-Coventry youngster. If Finn is preferred to Wesolowski, there wouldn't be a great deal of bite in that four-man midfield and it could leave the defence exposed, but it would offer a front six with plenty of potential going forward.
It would have been interesting
to see how the Hereford defence coped with a strong Brackley team on Tuesday,
but with the rain intervening to suspend that prospect for now, things should
be a good deal more comfortable against an Alfreton attack that has been
something of a sheep in sheep’s clothing this term, scoring just six goals more than the Bulls.
With the boost of a
high-scoring win behind them, confidence has surely taken a leap in the HFC
camp, and this looks to be a good opportunity to lengthen still further that
unbeaten away record to seven matches, preferably with a win. It's also an opportunity to record a double, something of a rarity this season, after an injury-time winner sealed the points for the home side at Edgar Street in the reverse fixture in December.
Time to make an impact at the Impact Arena.
COYW
