Son of Eric watched Hereford draw at Alfreton on Tuesday evening.
Alfreton’s ground has certainly improved since Hereford United visited. The Alfreton Chairmen Wayne Bradley was complaining in the programme that the fans did not appreciate this gradual and consistent improvement. However, he appears to be a little tone deaf as the programme was the original one from 16th March. I know we’re heading into the internet age and downloadable programmes, but for programme collectors there is an especial delight in the programme insert apologising for re-using the old programme and a couple of pages of new content.
Chairman Bradley’s unromantic, and decided to compound his meanness with a fifty pence charge for a team sheet and no update. Alfreton’s poor form and Richards’s team surging meant that last month’s programme showed Hereford 7 places and 9 points behind Alfreton. A win would see Hereford leapfrog Alfreton.
The game opened in a nondescript fashion and got worse. This was dire mid table, meaningless end of season fare. It’s a sign of the success of Harris-Richards in 2019 that Hereford did not have much to play for, and Alfreton still looked hungover from their drubbing. Hereford were playing very directly. It was as if Marc Richards had some compulsory UEFA training badge where you had to channel your own inner John Beck and Cambridge United of the 1980s.
Continuing the retro theme, it was like a nightmare episode of Stars in Your Eyes. Who will you be tonight Rowan Liburd? Tonight Matthew, I will be Dion Dublin!
Who will you be tonight Mike Symons? Tonight Matthew, I will be John Taylor!
The lack of imagination was dreadful, with the two strikers ploughing their instructed furrows and not switching with each other. In the competition for the longest and highest punt of the season Jak Hickman just about won the prize from a competition with plenty of entries.
The players have had a very good run of form, so they were due (allowed?) a poor half.
From my notes Eliot Richards played a sharp pass to Symons who won a free kick. Greenslade drilled it low through the wall where it was deflected. Waite surged towards the ball breaking loose only for an excellent block by Hotte for a poor corner from TOE.
Another quick pass from Eliot found Symons surging through but being forced wide. Tom Owen-Evans again stood out and Wilde heavily fouled him on the wing and was correctly booked. In recent times Hereford would have overloaded on the full back on a yellow card facing the tricky winger, but instead it was yet more long balls.
Curry clumsily fouled Symons for what should have been a hard talking to from the referee, but Curry stupidly kicked the ball away leaving referee Parsons no option but to book. Two of the back booked in under half an hour surely Hereford could exploit this? Greenslade hit a very poor free kick and his striking tonight from dead balls was no at his usual standards.
After 30 minutes Bacon roasted Greenslade and sharply turning inside shot narrowly wide of the far post. Until this point Alfreton had offered less than Hereford. Hereford finally put a nice move together with neat passing starting with Richards and involving Greenslade and Symons crossing to the far post from the left only for Liburd’s on target header to be tame.
Alfreton responding with a deep cross from right back Lynch. Clarke at the far post headed wide when he should have tested Yates. Most of Alfreton’s crosses were at best hopeful and at times poor. Yates looked impressive coming and gathering confidently to sniff out any possible danger.
At half time it was enjoyable to switch ends, Alfreton’s stewards recognising there was little on the field to get the fans too excited despite the supposed segregation.
Things can only get better was the dream from Hereford fans at half time.
Hereford started playing more on the wings and less direct in the second half. Pass master Richards dinked a delightful ball to Liburd who sharply flicked the ball to the on rushing Waite who was blocked off. Symons got past centre back Hotte who pulled him down just outside the box and was surprisingly not booked.
Hereford were playing some good football and a long pass from Gowling saw Richards clip the ball to Symons who took the ball into the box on the left and was taken down by keeper Ramsbottom for a clear penalty.
Something happened as Symons reacted angrily and lashed out. Thankfully the referee was as observant as your correspondent. Hereford fans who saw it thought Symo deserved a clear red and got away with one as he was just booked. Keeper Ramsbottom being booked for the foul on Symons.
Isn’t it nice to be quietly confident when you have a penalty taker of the quality of Tom Owen-Evans. A yard high, keeper the wrong sent the wrong way and into the side netting, not the back of the net. Classy, 1-0.
Alfreton were offering little and Hereford got on top. A rampaging run by Hickman saw him put Wilde on his backside as he checked back inside at pace on the edge of the box. He passed across picking out Wharton who could not quite get there. Wharton had a mixed game doing some tidy work as the defensive midfielder. With two big strikers and the offensive trio of Owen-Evans, Richards and Waite he was perhaps given a touch too much work. Waite may be small but his challenging and tracking back was impressive.
You’re never so vulnerable as when you’ve just scored and a cross from the right was looped over Yates. It bounced off the bar and fell to Peniket, who had the easiest of tasks to fire it back and into the net. A goal out of nothing.
Liburd received a heavy whack and hobbled for a little while, looking like he may have to go off, but he ran it off and surprised the Alfreton defence when he flew on to a precise pass down the line from Greenslade. Firstly, he left Lynch for dead, the keeper thinking Liburd had knocked the ball too far underestimated Rowan racing forward and sold himself. Liburd looked up and passed across to Symons on the penalty spot. Mike took a touch to control and then fired wide, a very poor miss with Waite also available for the seeming routine finish.
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Immediately after Symons was substituted for Finn. Alfreton brought on Sinnott for Johnson. Another fantastic run by Hickman lead to a mega melee in the box with Hereford hitting the post and desperate Alfreton blocking. The game petered out with Gowling booked for a late challenge.
Yet again a game of two halves from Hereford. The Symons Liburd partnership could cause defences a lot of problems, but both are much more than just big men to be lumped to. Liburd especially showed multiple neat touches and clever passes this evening. Hereford should have won this by at least one clear goal with their improved second half performance.
This season when I have reported on Yates he has managed to make a major error in every game usually resulting in goals being conceded. Tonight, he was Hereford’s stand out player. He read the game very well, came bravely and with good judgement to diffuse difficult situations and had no chance with the slightly fortunate Alfreton goal. All credit to Richards for sticking with him.
This match was mid table mediocrity at best, but I am happy to settle for that now Hereford are safe.