Well Deserved Win On The Road For The Bulls

Tom Owen-Evans, Hereford's Top Scorer, Added Another One Yesterday

Spennymoor is the furthest north I’ve ever been to watch a game involving Hereford (United or FC) and by full time I felt like we’d drifted into the Arctic circle. What started out as a mild spring day ended up cold and grey with a sharp wind whipping across the sloping pitch. Fortunately the result was something to warm us all up. There hadn’t been many positive predictions of how today was going to turn out, but the Bulls came away with a deserved 3 points from the 2-0 win.

There was a lot of interest to see what difference the new striker, Rowan Liburd was going to make. . He’s certainly a big, quick, athletic figure, but his contribution was fairly limited today. It’s probably too early to judge, from one game – it will take a bit of time for him to build up an understanding with his new team mates. Based on the little montage of his previous goal scoring exploits on YouTube he does have some talent, I guess we’ll have to be patient before we see it in a Hereford shirt.

The aforementioned slope on the pitch surprised me, one of the biggest I’ve seen for a while, and I’d be surprised if it’s acceptable at a higher level of football, although Spennymoor’s promotion push seems to have faltered lately, so it might not be an issue. The Bulls attacked down the slope in the first half but weren’t able to take advantage of it initially. The first chance came to Spennymoor as early as the second minute, Yates producing a good save at the expense of a corner. The Bulls’ first chance came following a mix-up in the Moor’s defence, Tom Owen-Evans competed with the opposition keeper for a loose ball but it didn’t quite break kindly for Rowan Liburd.

Despite playing up the hill, Spennymoor created most of the first half chances. Jamie Chandler was through with only Yates to beat – he lifted the ball over the diving keeper but put it wide. Hereford allowed them a couple of free headers from dead ball situations, one of which seemed goal bound but was somehow blocked onto the bar and away.

The Bulls were riding their luck, but things turned their way on 33 minutes. A high ball into the home side’s penalty area was knocked down to Finn who controlled it and stabbed the ball goalwards. The keeper made a good block but the rebound was gathered by Lance Smith who advanced and slotted a diagonal shot into the far corner for a 1-0 lead.

Shortly afterwards Thomas was brought crashing down by James Curtis just outside the area, earning the defender a yellow card. 

Tom Owen-Evans cured the resulting free kick round the defensive wall but straight into the keeper’s arms. But TOE (as I believe he’s known to his mates) wasn’t to be denied. Within minutes he won a penalty, being brought down in the area as he turned inside his marker. He thumped the spot kick high into the net before hurling himself into arms of the small contingent of Bulls fans behind the goal. 

HT Spennymoor Town 0 Hereford FC 2

The Bulls started the second half with Mike Symons replacing O’Sullivan. I’m not sure of the reasoning behind this, but his first notable action was a good defensive header under pressure. After that he proceeded to be the Symo we’ve come to know well, grappling with the opposing defenders, and using his guile and experience to win throw ins and corners.

The second half consisted mainly of increasingly desperate attempts by Spennymoor to get back into the game. The closest they came was when a right wing cross from the full back evaded Matt Yates and with a home side forward threatening on the back post, Hickman produced a great defensive header to put the ball behind for a corner. 

Eliot Richards came on for Smith, and the game carried on much as before. Spennymoor continued to press, and Hereford kept them stretched when they broke forward. On one occasion Thomas won the ball out on the left flank and broke into the opposing penalty area. With team mates screaming for the ball in the middle he elected to take a shot which was smothered.

Substitute Mike Symons

Four minutes of added time was played out and Hereford players and supporters celebrated after the final whistle.

There were some good performances by Hereford players. After the first half scares the back four looked reasonably solid. Moving Thomas to midfield has been very effective. He was my personal man of the match – always in the middle of things and with his challenges just on the right side of what is legal. Finn also had some good moments on the ball, in the first half crossing well from the left and late in the second cutting in from the right flank to get the ball on his left foot and shooting well.

Surely we must be safe now? 14 points clear of the relegation positions seems secure, so it won’t be long before the conversation turns to “who would you keep for next season”. We’ll leave that for another day.

Full Time: Spennymoor Town 0 Hereford FC 2 (Smith, Owen-Evans (pen))

Hereford FC: Yates,Rickman,Greenslade,Cullinane-Liburd,Ezewele,Thomas,O’Sullivan(Symons),Owen-Evans,Finn,Liburd,Smith(Richards)

Subs not used Hill,Waite,Wharton

Attendance: 830 

Report by Harwood Bull