Young Bulls continue good run of form with point against title challengers Plymouth.
Yesterday saw us take a long trip to Plymouth. Plymouth won the league last season and will will have hopes of making it 2 years running this time around. The boys knew this, and we also knew that if we wanted to be challenging in the top 4, which I believe we can this season, then it was important to get a result.
We started the game poorly, getting out battled by a big, strong, quick Plymouth side and they took advantage after only 9 minutes. Lewis Fletcher should done better with a free header just inside our half and when he didn't Plymouth punished us with a quick move and a well struck low shot. It wasn't until around 20 minutes that we started to string a few passes together on a tough surface. Lewis Fletcher, Tom Jenkins and Tom Gameson working hard to get the ball down for us. The pitch was 3G, and a poor 3G at that, which made the game difficult for both teams but we finished the half the stronger and Matty Owen will feel he should of done better when over running a 1 on 1, allowing the keeper to collect.
We came out in the second half the better team aswell and levelled within 10 minutes. A Robbie Trumper corner was volley home brilliantly by Tom Gameson to get us level. We pushed on for the next 10 minutes and had a couple of half chances until Plymouth started to fight back. The pitch was unusually small, almost like a 3/4 quarter pitch and with a big strong side Plymouth started bombarding our goal with long throws. They got a couple of half chances but we defended sternly with Joe Davies, Chris May and Liam Taylor winning most of the balls in. We could of snatched it towards the end, Matty Owen again over running a 1 on 1 with the keeper and the loose ball being fired over by Trumper.
In the end it was a good away point which keeps us 5th in the league with games in hand to go 2nd. On a bad surface we did ok, with so many young players we are going to struggle with the physical aspect all year but we dug in and did enough today. Speaking to the Plymouth manager after the game he said we were certainly the best team they have faced this season. This is a great compliment as in their last 2 games they have comfortably beaten Coventry and Burton who sit 1st and 2nd in league. We remain 2 points behind Plymouth with a game in hand and have drawn away at by far the best side we have faced this season and I am confident that we have learnt more to progress again.
Next up is our Giantkillers cup game against Malvern FC. We are currently looking for a ground to play at in Hereford with so many unavailable to us. If anyone can help then please get in touch with the UITC at Edgar Street and hopefully some people will be able to come and watch us. Thankyou
Team: Benn Pugh, Liam Taylor, Simon Morgan, Joe Davies, Chris May, Lewis Fletcher, Tom Jenkins, Robbie Trumper, Matty Owen, Tom Gameson, Will Lawley
Sub: Lewis Clarke