At school in the Sixties, I was once punished by an over zealous prefect by being made to write a 500 word essay on the subject “The Inside of a Ping Pong Ball”. It was only this afternoon that any skills I had developed in completing the task could be put to use; finding much to say about the drab, scoreless encounter with Burton Albion presents a similar challenge. The names on the team sheet were identical to those who featured in the thrilling, positive victory at Cheltenham last week, but today’s inept, negative display bore no resemblance.
A disjointed first half saw Stuart Fleetwood and Joe Colbeck having shots comfortably saved by Adam Legzdins in the Brewers goal. Joe Heath tried to assist the strangely isolated home strike force and also had an effort easily stopped. Fleetwood set up Rob Purdie, who mis-controlled when well placed, and neither keeper had a save to make. For the visitors, on loan Calvin “Gorgon” Zola got into good positions, but was woefully off target with a couple of half chances.
Bulls fans must have been wondering how the crisp passing and dangerous breaks seen throughout the Cheltenham game had once more deserted them at Edgar Street. Russell Penn then conspired to give them what turned out to be false hope. Incurring the wrath of the referee on two occasions for clumsy, mis-timed challenges, the official deemed both worthy of a yellow card, and Mr Penn was promptly dispatched to the dressing room.
Eager to press home their advantage in personnel, Waide Fairhurst, Colbeck, Purdie and the enthusiastic Pell did threaten for a while, though Fleetwood was having a quieter game than normal. Fairhurst’s neat turn and shot crashed against the bar in what proved to be the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock. Half time came as a relief, further enhanced when rumours that the beef and onion pies had run out proved unfounded.
Purdie tries to keep possession - pictures taken by Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal
HT: HUFC 0 BURTON ALBION 0
Adam Bolder added his name to the ref’s notebook for more clumsiness as the second half continued in the same vein. Matters then descended into farce as United skipper Janos Kovacs was dismissed.
Already booked for a first half tackle, Kovacs tripped Zola just outside the area and the award of a free kick was instant and justified. At this level, match officials who have made one rather harsh decision look for opportunities to even things up. Zola and McGrath, aware of this, then indulged in the depressing spectacle of trying to get Kovacs sent off. On two occasions, the referee ignored the protests and waved the pair away, but then inexplicably altered tack, called the popular Hungarian over, and sent him off. Surely this is the first instance of an important decision being made by a kangaroo court comprising one official and two opponents.
Fairhurst demonstrated a perfect chest-trap and had his shot beaten away. Ryan Green played Fleetwood in and his shot deflected for a corner. Richard Rose got his head to the flag kick, but the chance was saved.
Zola under pressure from Rose
At the other end, Zola, now a fully paid-up member of the Pantomime Villains Union, missed two good chances, firing wildly over and then directing a header wide, much to the delight of the Meadow End. Shortly after, Zola then glanced another header against Adam Bartlett’s post.
Little passion was shown, and some more inconsistent refereeing did not enhance a dull finale. The lack of ambition continued with some curious substitutions, presumably intended to hold on to a point and with one eye on Tuesday night’s game with Northampton. Jimmy McQuilkin had one last chance, but was off target. As the ref mercifully brought proceedings to a halt, one couldn’t help the thought that both sides were fortunate to get nil.
FT: HUFC 0 BURTON ALBION 0
Attendance: 2773, with 308 Brewers
HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Kovacs, Rose, Heath, Purdie, Lunt, Pell (Featherstone 68), Colbeck (Townsend 56), Fleetwood (McQuilkin 76), Fairhurst.
BURTON ALBION: Legzdins, Corbett, Boertien, Stanton, James, McGrath, Bolder, Webster (Malone 29), Maghoma (Young 67), Zola (Pearson 82), Penn.