Hereford FC and King’s Lynn Town try again on Tuesday
evening at Edgar Street, kick off 7:45pm, following Saturday’s stalemate at The
Walks in their FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round tie. Taylor Allen had a good chance late on to put the tie to bed but it wasn't to be, the tie has not gone to bed yet, and if it's all tired and grumpy tomorrow it'll only have itself to blame.
Quite why we still have to
be in the qualifying stages when clubs from the heady heights of the second
tier of the non-league game join in is a bit baffling but there we go, ‘twas
ever thus I suppose.
The last time the Bulls impressively drew 0-0 away I
idiotically suggested here that it felt like it could be the turning point, and
that from then on the squad would start to fulfil its potential. That squad
then delivered a couple of truly wretched performances in losing to Alfreton
and Altrincham. Let’s hope that maybe THIS is the turning point and I just
picked the wrong 0-0 draw.
The dual threat of Marriott and Gash up front for the
Linnets still looks pretty ominous, and they’ll presumably be quite cross with
themselves for drawing a blank on Saturday against a defence whose reputation
for gift-giving transcends even Santa’s. Statistically it’s even more likely that Marriott
will score in this one I suppose, but turned corners trump statistics any day
of the week in my book, and I really am convinced this time. Poor old Farsley
Celtic, currently struggling for form themselves, won’t know what’s hit them
when they visit on Saturday.
Hereford welcomed back Jared Hodgkiss from injury on
Saturday. When played in his correct position of right back he has hinted at
being capable enough to make a significant difference to performances, and that
seemed to be the case again at the weekend. With Kieran Thomas still a doubt
along with Victor Sodeinde and Stephen Dawson, Hodgkiss looks a certain starter
in defence, perhaps once more as captain if Josh Gowling misses out again. If
Thomas has actually recovered from his own niggle, supporters would have few
concerns if he were to slot in to the holding midfielder role at Ben Pollock’s
expense.
There’s a bit of cash on offer for the winner here, and actually for the loser too, but more importantly a win would take the Bulls into the proper actual
tournament and avoid the ignominy of getting knocked out in qualifying. It's then just six small steps to
Wembley. Even if the slapstick penalty shootout debacle against Tamworth hadn’t
happened (and I so wish it hadn’t), a visit to north London in May in the FA
Cup Final wasn’t ever looking particularly likely. The Trophy’s a much more
manageable proposition of course, and even if it proves impossible to go all
the way, it would be nice to ‘go deep’ in the competition and beat a biggish
name or two in the process. Yeovil in the final anyone?
Apprehension about getting a footballing lesson from King's Lynn Town illustrates just how far apart reality and expectation are currently among anyone who cares about Hereford FC. It's also galling that Lynn considered themselves able to rest players in the first game, and to patronisingly congratulate Hereford on coming for a draw and getting it. It's all a bit demeaning. Unfortunately it's all a bit deserved too.
Suddenly, however, there’s a glimmer of hope again. No penalty shootout this
time though please.
COYW