Barney from B-Block watched this afternoon's game at Cherrywood Road.
It’s been too long, particularly for those of us who had enjoyed Cherrywood Road in our United days, but Bulls were welcomed back to Farnboro under grey skies and a tricky playing surface buoyed both by the returning serenity of Ryan Green, and the deft footwork of Pablo Haysham. Alarming hints of properness were evident in Hampshire, with seating on three, yes three, sides of the ground, while a touch of the New Romantic adorned the new stand, where twin drummers (remember Adam and the Ants?) led a noisy contingent of 400 plus visiting supporters.
The Bulls, in white, started with intent, but wayward finishing saw Mills and Bird as front-runners in the who can fire one furthest over the bar stakes, although how both Mills and Smith failed to find the net on seven minutes was a mystery, a goal-line clearance by the hosts defence defying the laws of physics.
The home side did gradually gain a foothold, forcing Horse into a decent stop above his head, but a duo of ‘I got there as soon as I could’ tackles saw a brace of yellow for the team in yellow.
Play became a little scrappy, and with sections of the crowd perhaps looking for alternative amusement, a smoke-bomb landed behind the home goal-line, sadly, more of which later. A Mills effort on 39 minutes well saved by the keeper’s feet, after some great work by Keyon Reffel was the closest either side came to scoring in an increasingly disjointed half, until, with referees whistle poised, the Bulls took a deserved lead. Eliot Richards played a teasing ball into the home penalty area which was, after many ‘no, after you Claude’ attempts to clear, calmly rolled home by John Mills. Not the most spectacular of his now century of league goals, but a fine example of a player who knows precisely where to be at key moments.
Half-time report: Bright start, patchy middle, good value for the lead.
Jamie Bird was first after the break to test the home keeper, who pushed a well-struck effort around the post, before two more long-rage strikes sailed even higher over the Farnboro crossbar. More fireworks came from the visiting support, as a second smoke-bomb was launched. Never smart, but particularly poorly-advised on this occasion, and given the prevailing wind, a lot of Bulls fans will tonight be rinsing their eyes. What on earth makes folk think that these pointless and dangerous toys are essential items for a football match?
Another scrappy period followed, before Cameron Pring picked up a clumsy yellow card. We mused that this could be a long, less than stellar second period – what followed was anything but. Jimmy Oates was cleverly released, full-throttle down the right flank, where his pinpoint cross was converted by a soaring Bird. Two-nil and comfortable, or so one might have thought. Wrong. Smoke-bomb number three (it might even have been number four) was launched onto the pitch by, let’s face it, an utter moron amongst the visiting support. Which, incredibly, was swiftly returned by ‘Boro’s Lewis Ferrell. Let me run that by you again. A semi-professional footballer threw a flaming missile into a crowded terrace, he really did. A red-card rightly followed, along with much finger-pointing and yelling from stand and terrace, including some unsolicited advice to Beadle along the lines of ‘get down there and sort your fans out.’ PB wisely declined, but after six minutes of desperately sad and alarming nonsense, a football match again broke out.
The ten men of Farnboro then found an unusual way back into the match, as Andrew Sealey-Harris scored direct from a corner-kick. That the Horse had been manhandled into the back of the net by a home player shortly before this may have been a factor, he, rightly incensed, chasing the referee a full 45 yards to remonstrate. Justice was however, swift as within a minute, the two-goal cushion was restored. John Mills is a player not generally in need of significant help in finding the net, but a hopelessly failed attempt to shepherd a ball out of play, followed by an even more miserable back pass was a gift-wrapped, silver salver of a double assist, and the inevitable followed. 77 minutes gone, and three-one, shortly after which Smith, Bird and Richards were replaced by O’Shea, Symons and Purdie. It should, almost immediately afterwards, have been four and game over, a golden opportunity saw Haysham, to whom much credit is due for somehow keeping his shot below the eight foot mark, tamely found the home custodian. Who promptly launched the ball over a bemused Jordan Libburd (perhaps still wondering how Pablo had failed to score), allowing Perry Coles a simple lob over a stranded Horse. Six of the eight added minutes had elapsed, surely time for some of that clever game-management PB likes. And there’s a concept that might need explaining to Jimmy Oates, who not for the first time, found himself screeching along the right touchline, ball at feet. I’m not sure what Beads and Jenks felt would be the best option at this point, but keeping the ball safe in the corner might have been somewhere near the top of the list. At least until Mike Symons neatly converted another pinpoint cross for the final action of a very eventful second half.
Full time report: Not a classic, but the Bulls were always in control of the match, and 4-2 perhaps flattered the hosts. A decent shift was put in by each of the players, noteworthy amongst them being Bird for his industry, Richards for his unflashy but again excellent work in front of the back four, and a generally solid days work from the back four. Captain Oates deserves huge credit for two wonderful assists and a prolonged ‘chat’ with some of our less than impeccably behaved ‘supporters’. MoM however would however be Keyon, whose quick and skilful feet were at the centre of most of the attacking threat. Also a special mention for Robert Purdie, a personal hero of mine, whose late but magnificent entry into the firing it miles over the bar stakes took a deserved gold.
As for the moronic minority who think smoke bombs are de rigueur at these events, please, have a word with yourselves. A steward told us when leaving the ground that the referee had made it crystal clear – one more of those, and the match is abandoned. The club, and Farnboro will no doubt be talking with the FA about this before long, and it will, if it continues, cost us in fines, perhaps even points. Which whilst hugely irritating, would be trivial if one of the flaming missiles had hit a spectator, or player. If you know who is doing this, tell the club, before someone gets hurt.
Hereford FC: Horsell, Oates, Pring, Green, Liburd, Richards (O'Shea 80), Reffell, Bird (Purdie 80), Mills, Haysham, Smith (Symons 76).
Subs not used: Preen, Puddy.
Attendance: 812.
Highlights here: http://www.farnboroughfc.co.uk/2018/highlights-farnborough-2-4-hereford/