The Hereford United team were far from disgraced as they put in a great shift before going down to two late goals at Villa Park on Tuesday evening.
At least 28 coaches and a fleet of cars and minibuses carried the masses of Bulls’ fans that near-filled the upper tier of the North Stand.
Jamie Pitman’s squad, ravaged by injury, left him short of choices but still had probably the best two players on the pitch in Harry Pell and the imperious Ryan Green who made light work of marking his second England International striker of the season. Joe Heath returned at left back while Danny Williams carried on where he left off at Wimbledon in the right back slot and Michael Townsend partnered Green in the centre. Colbeck, Pell, McQuilkin and Featherstone patrolled the midfield while Fleetwood and Facey started up top. For their part, Villa fielded a string of “name” players including Darren Bent, Charles N’Zogbia, Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland.
The game started with The Bulls attacking the Holte End and Albrighton was quick to whip in an early cross from the right, which Townsend met with a firm clearance header. Bent got free in the box but Cornell was quickly out to gather. Then from a free kick on the right, Herd headed wide when he really should have done better. Ireland tried to feed a through ball to Bent but Ryan Green’s perfect interception snuffed out the threat before N’Zogbia was beaten to the ball when Cornell was smartly off his line.
A long Cornell kick was flicked on by Facey who seemed to be relishing the challenge and Fleetwood was only just short of getting a shot away. The home side, as expected, played some neat possession football but The Bulls were clearly intent on showing their own ability as well. A neat passing move finished with Pell striking a thirty-yarder into the arms of ‘keeper Guzan. Bent was caught offside for the fourth time in the opening fifteen minutes before Pell lifted a clever ball over the home defence only for Facey to come up short with his attempt. Bent made a dash for goal but was thwarted by a Ryan Green challenge that shook the North Stand into song.
Colbeck went on a trademark charging run down the right only to run the ball out of play at the far end before Green was again on hand to clear a driven cross from Albrighton. Then another Albrighton cross was overhit but a despairing back post header from N’Zogbia was carefully lifted over the bar to safety by Cornell. Quilks' floated cross landed on the roof of the net before a long punt forward from Ireland almost found Bent but Cornell rose above him to claim. With over half an hour played, the Villa Park resident Scotsman was getting increasingly animated in his technical area and his patience was further tested when Bannan blasted high over the bar when well placed.
Patience on the pitch also appeared to be being tested as Harry Pell cheekily rolled off N’Zogbia only to be unceremoniously dragged to the ground by the current French International. On 37 minutes, Bent knocked a ball down to Ireland who was clear on the edge of the six-yard box but Cornell pulled off a fine block and Heath completed the clearance. McQuilkin was next to get the treatment for daring to play football when Makoun dumped him on his backside. Then The Bulls produced arguably their best chance of the half when Facey headed down to Fleetwood who laid it off to Featherstone but the midfielder screwed his effort wide. At the other end, Heath collected a set of stud-marks off Albrighton when the Villa man, a little naughtily, went over the ball as the half closed without the scorer being troubled.
HT Villa 0 Bulls 0
Early in the second period, Facey got on the end of a Pell through ball to feed Fleetwood but Stuart’s clever flick on to Colbeck found our Joe back on his heels and the chance came to nothing. Colbeck almost made amends soon after as he broke down the right but a timely challenge from Lichaj saw off the danger. Lichaj then brought a fine save from Cornell who went full length to tip a crisp shot over for a corner. The Bulls then came within a whisker of taking the lead. Danny Williams took a quick throw and Colbeck hooked the ball to the back post but Facey was inches short of getting a decisive touch on the ball.
Ireland burst into life with a forty-yard dash before releasing Albrighton who, for once, put in a telling cross that Ireland glanced narrowly wide. As the game approached the hour mark, Villa withdrew N’Zogbia and replaced him with someone with a girls hair-do who turned out to be Nathan Delfouneso. Pitman responded by introducing Kenny Lunt in place of the hard-working McQuilkin as The Bulls continued to defy the odds as they matched their much higher graded opponents.
Featherstone headed a Colbeck free kick just wide before a six-man passing movement finished with Joe driving straight at Guzan. Facey fed Pell but his progress was abruptly halted as he was crudely hauled down by Lichaj who duly entered the referee’s notebook for his indiscretion. Colbeck’s free-kick into the danger area was hacked away by Dunne.
With twenty minutes remaining, Arquin replaced Facey whose efforts were roundly applauded as he left the field and, for Villa, Weinmann replaced Bent who appeared distinctly disillusioned by his own failure to get the better of a certain Mr Green. The Bulls’ fans sent him on his way with a rousing chorus of “what a waste of money”. Ryan Green promptly carried on the good work by comfortably shadowing Delfouneso into touch before Harry Pell was, yet again, dragged to the floor as he looked to break clear. The offender this time was Weinmann and he joined Lichaj on the naughty boys list. United had their best spell between 60 and 75 minutes but it was Villa broke the deadlock on 79 minutes.
Colbeck floated a cross beyond the far post before the hosts finally got the better of The Bulls’ temporary defence. A corner from the left was only half cleared and the ball fell, fortunately, to Lichaj who fired home from close range. Undeterred, The Bulls pressed forward again and Barry Bannan was lucky to escape a booking when he chopped down Colbeck.
The tie was wrapped on 87 minutes when Villa belatedly produced an incisive attacking move involving Albrighton and Ireland that ended with Delfouneso tapping into an empty net.
Pitman withdrew Fleetwood and gave a memorable first team debut to young Tom John who chased and harried for the final minutes. He won’t forget that for a while.
FT Villa 2 Bulls 0
Hereford: Cornell, Williams, Green, Townsend, Heath, Colbeck, Featherstone, Pell, McQuilkin (Lunt 60), Fleetwood (John 90), Facey (Arquin 72). Subs unused: Hoult, McCarthy, Feeley, Perkins.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Lichaj, Dunne, Clark, Herd (Beye 87), Albrighton, Makoun, Ireland, Bannan, N’Zogbia (Delfouneso 59), Bent (Weimann 72). Subs unused: Marshall, Hogg, Baker, Lowry.
There shouldn’t be many complaining Bulls fans after this game. In fact, the only heads that should hanging in shame are those of the supposedly superior team. Goalkeeper Cornell pulled of a string of fine saves, the makeshift defence in the main held firm and the midfield and attack grafted both manfully and constructively without, possibly, getting their just rewards in front of 21,058 witnesses. Having dealt with Bolton's Kevin Davies in pre-season, Ryan Green seemed to make light work of containing Darren Bent and Harry Pell will have raised more than a few eyebrows with his assured performance. It would be good to see some of those who don’t attend regularly at The Street a little more often.
See you at Bristol on Saturday.