Lambs silenced by rampant Bulls

Hereford United stormed to a 5-2 victory against Tamworth with a brace of Josh O’Keefe spot-kicks and goals from Rod McDonald, Sam Clucas and Kingsley James while The Lambs replied through a Connor own goal and a quality strike from Lee Hendre.

Martin Foyle made three changes following the match at Woking with Stefan Stam rested in favour of Rod McDonald, Joe Connor came in for Joe Heath and Ryan Bowman started at the expense of Marlon Jackson.  Kyle Perry was on the bench for the visitors while former Villa star Lee Hendre started in midfield.

Tamworth forced the first corner when Cunnington’s cross deflected off Clucas but Bittner was confidently out to claim.  Hendre’s shot from a tight angle drew a save from Bittner and Luke Graham completed the clearance.  Then a flag kick from Hendre picked out Lloyd on the edge of the box but his volley finished on the site of the Langford sale ring.

Courtney was penalised when all over Chris Sharp but from the kick, Sam Clucas’ first touch let him down and the ball ran through to keeper Liam Mitchell.  Kingsley James fed a ball through to Marley Watkins but, again, Mitchell was quickly off his line to kick to safety before The Bulls took the lead from the spot on 17 minutes.

Kingsley James played a forward ball that was flicked on by Chris Sharp and with Ryan Bowman baring down on goal he was felled in the box by Connor Gudger and Josh O’Keefe stepped up to drill home to the keeper’s left.

Josh O'Keefe With Marley Watkins - Pictures Taken By Andy Compton Of The Hereford Journal

A Sam Clucas volley skidded just wide of the upright then from a Lee Hendre pass Cunnington broke forward but fired well over Bittner’s bar.  The Bulls got a second on the half-hour mark.

Ryan Bowman’s shot was only cleared out to Clucas and his deep cross was headed back across goal by O’Keefe for McDonald to finish from close range.

Rod McDonald's First Goal For The Bulls

James released Watkins on the right but his cross was too close to the keeper who was able to catch unchallenged.  Chris Sharp showed good touch and awareness to feed Bowman but Mitchell got to the ball first and hacked it out of play.  Chris Bush’s through ball found Marley Watkins cutting in to the box but his shot was blocked before the third goal arrived in added time.

Chris Sharp chased a ball into the box and got his ankles tapped.  O’Keefe finished sweetly from the spot to give The Bulls a comfortable three-goal interval lead.

HT Bulls 3  Tamworth 0

Kyle Perry joined the action after the break but it was The Bulls who were first to threaten after the break.  A Sam Clucas corner drew a bout of head tennis and when the ball eventually came down Chris Bush cracked in a drive that Mitchell did well to turn round the post.  But The Bulls were back in scoring action a minute later.

Rod McDonald intercepted an attempted through ball from Hendre and played a delightful forty-yard pass out to Marley Watkins on the right.  Watkins cut inside to clip a ball across to Clucas and although Mitchell palmed Sam’s first time shot up he quickly nodded into the empty net.

Sam Clucas Scored Hereford's Third Of The Game

Clucas might have added to the score shortly after when he blazed over from a Joe Heath cross from the right.  His through ball to Bowman also produced an opportunity but Ryan’s shot was blocked.  Then on 65 minutes The Bulls struck again.

Bittner’s quick release sent Chris Sharp away on a rampaging run down the right.  He outpaced his marker round the outside and pulled the ball back to the edge of the box.  Marley Watkins first time strike was blocked but Kingsley James picked up the rebound and curled an absolute beauty round the keeper and just inside the far post.

Kingsley James With Half The Team On Top

Martin Foyle then took the opportunity to make a triple change with Jackson, Jones and Smikle replacing Watkins, Clucas and O’Keefe.  The Lambs got on the score sheet a few minutes later when Lee Hendre’s pass found Darren Byfield at the back post and although Bittner blocked his volley, the rebound off Connor finished in the net.

Byfield was replaced by Stuart Hendre who injected some pace on the right flank and his dangerous cross was headed inches wide by Tommy Wright.  Chris Sharp made another surging run down the right and was unlucky to get a nasty bounce as he shaped to shoot resulting in a skied effort over the bar.

The Hendre duo then combined well for Lee to fire in an unstoppable shot from twenty yards with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining. 

Sub Appearance For Craig Jones

Three minutes were added in which both Smikle and Jackson saw decent efforts on target before the referee called time in front of an improved crowd of 1424, which included 108 from the snowdome.

FT Bulls 5  Tamworth 2

Hereford:- Bittner, Connor, Grahan, McDonald, Bush, Watkins (Jackson 70), James, O’Keefe (Jones 71), Clucas (Smikle 71), Bowman, Sharp.  Unused:- Heath, Stam.

Tamworth:- Mitchell, Tait, Wylde, Marshall, Courtney, Gudger, Kelly, Hendre L., Lloyd (Perry 46), Cunnington (Wright 61), Byfield (Hendre S. 78).  Unused :- Oji, Breedon.

With Season Tickets now on sale for next year this was perfect timing for The Bulls to turn in a convincing win.  Bowman’s return added pace and threat to the forward line and Chris Sharp’s determined and selfless running caused loads of problems for the visitors.  The midfield worked hard with Watkins and Clucas providing good service and, at the back, the new boys in Bush and McDonald made telling contributions.

All in all, it was a very satisfying and entertaining day at The Street.

See you at the Moss Rose on Saturday.

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