Had matters gone the way of the Bulls in the opening few minutes, this story could have been very different. By half-time, the reason why both of these sides had failed to trouble the scorer in their first two games had become obvious. Nothing, however, would have prepared a sparse crowd for the dreadful second half in which Hereford contributed to their downfall, handing 4 (four) goals to a mediocre and incredulous Macclesfield Town outfit. Much dissatisfaction was voiced in the closing stages, and rumours of a dressing room lock-in added to the depressing atmosphere.
Stuart Fleetwood came close to giving the home side a first minute lead. Having burst through and evaded the attention of Jose Veiga, late of this parish, he seemed certain to score, but tangled with a covering defender and lost his balance as the ball bumbled the wrong side of the post. Penalty appeals were waved away. Within another minute, Harry Pell’s goal-bound blast was flicked over by the Portuguese keeper. Joe Colbeck slipped, but still won a corner which Rob Purdie planted onto Michael Townsend’s head, but he could not keep the ball below the bar. Nicky Featherstone, Delroy Facey and Colbeck all had shots saved before a quarter of an hour had elapsed.
After the opening period, the game reverted to a more familiar pattern. Both sides passed the ball around in midfield but showed little attacking flair. Fleetwood latched onto a through ball but was taken too wide to get in a shot. Macclesfield’s Emile Sinclair and Tony Diagne combined well on a couple of occasions, but Russell Hoult, replacing Adam Bartlett in the starting line-up, managed to make the required saves. Joe Heath sustained a blow to the kidneys and had to leave the arena, and in a reshuffle, Purdie dropped back and allowed an early introduction for Yoann Arquin. Chances were now at a premium as the half-time whistle sounded.
HT: HUFC 0 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 0
It will not be possible to say anything positive about a second half during which calamity and ineptitude were seen in equal measure. Early on, Sam Wedgbury waltzed through the home defence and won a corner which Hoult had to punch clear. Arquin then skipped down the line and delivered a perfect pass for Fleetwood who headed well over the bar. The French youngster then had a shooting opportunity himself, but opted to pass to Colbeck, who could not reach it. Townsend then caused a “heart in the mouth” moment, not getting sufficient weight on a backpass, just as he had done on Saturday; this time it was Hoult who had to react swiftly. More déjà vu quickly followed. The hapless Townsend conceded a rather harshly awarded free kick just outside the area. Surely, lessons would have been learned from the Morecambe game! Diagne watched on as an elaborate wall was assembled, then smacked the ball goalwards, the wall went awol, and Hoult got a despairing hand to it, but could not prevent the visitors taking a 53rd minute lead.
Fleetwood’s turn and shot resulted in a Bulls corner and Stefan Stam could not penetrate a congested six-yard box when the flag kick was sent over. Diagne and Sinclair mesmerised the home defence in a thrilling move during which both had a shot on target, both being cleared off the line by the head of Purdie. Sinclair then almost wriggled through the entire back line as Hereford’s confidence ebbed away. The Silkmen did not have to wait long for their next gift. James McQuilkin had only been on the pitch for a few minutes when he misplaced a pass in his own half. The recipient, one Ross Draper, noted that Hoult was well out of his goal, and attempted an audacious 35 yard lob which sailed over the keeper and into the net. With only nine minutes left on the clock, damage limitation would possibly have been an option.
However, further disasters then materialised. Substitutes Arnaud Mendy and Ben Tomlinson seemed determined to enjoy their brief cameo appearance. Hereford seemed unable to cope with one delightful move and were relieved to see the final shot go wide. Carl Tremarco joined in the fun with a slaloming run and shot which was beaten out, but only to Tomlinson, who nodded gleefully home. Time was now up, and the additional four minutes was not witnessed by a fair proportion who had left, wishing they had taken in DIY SOS or somesuch instead. However, there was still another twist, as Hoult delayed a clearance, was robbed by Tomlinson, and watched, horrified, as the sub walked the ball into the net for goal number four. An abject performance from a Hereford team, still seeking their first point, and indeed, league goal. Recriminations and accusations abound; worrying times indeed.
FT: HUFC 0 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 4
Attendance: 1629, including 42 from Moss Rose.
HUFC: Hoult, Green, Townsend, Stam, Heath (Arquin 29), Colbeck, Pell, Featherstone (McQuilkin 73), Purdie, Fleetwood, Facey.
MACC. T.: Veiga, Tremarco, Brown, Bisley, Hewitt, Chalmers (Mendy 82), Draper, Diagne, Wedgbury, Hamshaw (Kay 75), Sinclair (Tomlinson 84).
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