Poor first half Bulls defeated at Aggborough

Scorer Josh O'Keefe And Michael Rankine Celebrate Hereford's Goal

Slow-starting Hereford United went down to two first half Kidderminster goals with Josh O’Keefe's early second period strike not enough to earn a share of the spoils in today’s first of the two meetings over the holiday.

Martin Foyle named an unchanged side following the impressive performance against leaders Cambridge United last weekend.

The Bulls kicked off attacking the end populated by the Harriers fans but it was the hosts who quickly took the initiative.  Chris Bush sliced a clearance into touch but from the throw dispossessed Lolley to send a ball down the line to Frankie Artus who was taken out with a crude challenge from Lee Vaughan who was duly yellow-carded for his action.

Frankie Artus Having Attention To His Leg

A forward ball from McDonald found Artus on the halfway line and the Bulls’ playmaker again had his ankles taken away as he turned away from his marker but the referee waved play on.  As the hosts broke towards the Hereford goal, Artus was penalised for a retaliatory challenge a little over 25 yards from goal.  With Michael Gash poised on the ball, Demetriou barged a gap in the defensive wall and Gash fired low into the corner of the net for Harriers to take the lead on nine minutes.

Hereford Defenders Chris Bush And Rod McDonald Could Only Watch As The Ball Flies Past Lloyd-Weston

Mr Banks rightly dismissed claims for a penalty when Lee Vaughan ran away from the direction of the ball to make contact with a defender before throwing himself to the ground.  Had the referee chosen to apply the letter of the law for simulation then Vaughan may well have found himself with a second yellow card.

Lolley made space with a neat turn but his shot was well saved by Danny Lloyd-Weston before Storer blatantly blocked Sharp as he looked to break towards the Harriers box.  Rod McDonald strayed offside from the free kick and the opportunity was lost.  Harriers broke down the left in a move in which The Bulls were guilty of not tracking runs and was to result in a second goal for the hosts on the half hour mark.  Fullback Jackman advanced from deep to play two one-twos and finished controlling the ball 8 yards out to fire past Lloyd-Weston and double the Harriers advantage.  As good a move and finish as it was, the progress of Vaughan should have not been so easy.

Chris Sharp Worked Hard Throughout The Game

Rankine and Sharp worked tirelessly up top with little support from midfield although Frankie Artus did chip in with a couple of wayward efforts that comfortably avoided the target.

HT Harriers 2 Bulls 0

The Bulls started the second period in far more purposeful fashion with Rankine clipping in a ball from the right that required Jackman to concede a corner as Sharp arrived at the back post.  Artus' corner was cleared up field but Chris Sharp collected a pass from the back before breaking determinedly down the left and delivering a fine cross to the far post.  Micah Evans met it with a firm close range header, which brought a fine reaction save from home keeper.  From the resultant corner, a goalmouth scramble ensued in which several attempts were blocked before O'Keefe forced the ball over the line from very close range.

One Back For the Bulls

Buoyed by the early success (less than four minutes after the break) The Bulls stormed forward in search of the equaliser.  Evans delayed his shot when well placed before Dom Collins saw a shot hacked off the line.  A sharp flick-on found Rankine on the move but he was wrongly flagged offside when clearly onside at the time the ball was played.

Martin Foyle rotated his pack on the hour with Rankine and Artus making way for Dan Walker and Jon Brown.  Chris Sharp, attacking down the left, squared a cross the edge of the box and both O'Keefe and Lathrope had shots blocked before Sharp's own effort on the volley whistled inches wide of the upright.

Bushy picked out Brown with a trademark long throw but the hurried shot went wide.  Then a Bush break infield from the left finished with a deft reverse pass into the path of O'Keefe but, again, the shot was just wide of the target.

The Bulls continued to camp deep in the Harriers half but failed to find that little bit of quality to produce a goal and the hosts were able to hang on for both points in front of a decent 3420 including 831 who put down a marker for the carpet makers to follow on New Years Day.

FT Harriers 2 Bulls 1

Hereford: Lloyd-Weston, Collins, McDonald, Graham, Bush, Evans , Lathrope, O’Keefe, Artus (Brown 71), Rankine (Walker 71), Sharp. Subs unused: Edwards, Gwynne, Odhiambo.

Kidderminster: Lewis, L Vaughan, Dunkley, Storer, Demertiou, Byrne (Fowler 73), Gittings, Jackman; Morgan-Smith, Gash, Lolley (Dance 73). Subs unused: Malbon, Grimes, N Vaughan.

As many have already reported, this was very much a game of two halves although it must be said that the Harriers first half dominance was greatly assisted by a particularly half-hearted 45 minutes from The Bulls.  The quick pressuring in midfield that had been so prevalent against Cambridge was almost completely lacking and allowed a fairly average Kidderminster side to look much better than they actually were.  The second period provided more of a reflection of what should be expected and two home games against the Gumpers and the return match against Harriers provide a swift opportunity to remedy the situation.

See you all on Saturday evening (Kick off 7.30pm).

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