It’s off to a land far, far
away tomorrow, as Hereford FC travel to Blyth Spartans, kick off 3pm, or
whatever passes for 3pm in Blyth – midnight or something maybe. Sensibly, the team and staff embark on the journey today, so should hopefully trot out onto the turf as fresh as daisies.
The Bulls will be looking to
build on the promise of Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Telford, against a club
currently propping up the National League North having failed to pick up a
point so far.
Spartans, the self-proclaimed ‘most
famous non-league club in the world’, lost their opener at home to Gloucester,
and then succumbed to successive 3-0 defeats against Alfreton and then league leaders
York. This start will be all the more disappointing after they’d enjoyed a
really healthy season last term, finishing sixth before being knocked out of
the play-offs in the quarter finals by Altrincham on penalties.
Managed by former Newcastle
legend Lee Clark, the Spartans squad has been heavily rebuilt over the summer
following a number of key departures, some of whom opted to go full-time with
York. Striker Michael Sweet was brought in from Consett, where he scored 128
goals in 173 games, but he has so far clearly found the step up challenging.
The omens are good for
Saturday’s visitors if one looks back to last season, with the Bulls achieving
a rare double over the Spartans. A 3-0 opening day win was followed up with an
even more impressive 3-2 win away, which, unfortunately, was an unusually
entertaining game under the previous coach. It was bookended by a 1-1 draw with
Guiseley and a home loss to Curzon Ashton, results which were far more
representative of the season as a whole.
The signs on Tuesday suggested
that Tim Harris has remembered that he’s in the entertainment industry, with
standout performances from Bradley Ash, Simeon Maye and Kieran Thomas (moving
to right back) in what looked very much like a 4-3-3. Brandon Hall again shone
in goal, and is looking like an excellent last line of defence. It was smashing
too to see Rowan Liburd open his account for the season. Hopefully he’ll now go
on a goal-a-game run having got the taste for it.
Refreshingly, any one of
Tuesday’s starting XI would consider themselves unlucky to not start in this
one, although Jordan Nicholson or Raheem Hanley coming in for Mike Symons in a
4-4-2 looks like an attractive option. Good news too on the Reece Styche front. His shoulder injury isn't as serious as first thought. Indeed reports suggest that his treatment has included removing the chip from it, and as a result he's now sending chummy text messages to opposition centre halves.
Supporters will be hoping that
again the team is set up with plenty of attacking threat and intent, and a licence
to play with a bit of freedom in the attacking half of the pitch, rather than being
restricted by a slow, laboured, lateral build-up that goes nowhere. Seems a bit
of a no-brainer to somehow resist the urge to go for option 2.
A safe and smooth journey to all
those making the trip. Hopefully it’ll all be worthwhile, the Bulls will return
with the points, and things will suddenly be looking rosy again as the club climbs
back towards the top of the table and makes itself an even more exciting
proposition for a prospective new manager.
Everyone can then have a
well-earned midweek break before the visit of bogey team Brackley next
Saturday.
COYW