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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Match preview - Hereford FC vs Altrincham FC

Following last Saturday’s match against Darlington, a spectacle one can only describe as ‘thoroughly entertaining’, hope is growing that Captain Gowling may be in the process of turning round the Hereford FC oil tanker at long last.

The Bulls are again at home this weekend, with Altrincham the visitors, and putting aside the largely meaningless loss to Lads Club in the week, supporters will be optimistic that the players can build on the Darlo performance and who knows, maybe even win. Perhaps some of the missing fans, who have utterly understandably been reluctant to turn up to witness the dross that’s been served up in many of the home draws this season, could perhaps be persuaded back for this one.

It was very much men against boys back in November when Alty cruised to a 5-1 win in the northwest, so a home win would clearly demonstrate that progress is indeed being made, and that Josh Gowling is just starting to make it difficult for the board to see past him as head coach next season.

Striker Jordan Hulme scored a hat-trick in that autumn thrashing, but it’s midfielder Josh Hancock who is their leading scorer with 14 goals this season. He’ll threaten with his dead-ball expertise, so the Bulls will have to be wary of conceding cheap free kicks within 30 yards of their goal.

The visitors are just clinging on to the final play-off place currently, courtesy of having scored a goal more than Spennymoor. They’ve faltered slightly recently, winning two of their last five matches, but surprisingly drawing at home to lowly Kettering and losing 3-2 in an entertaining match at Spennymoor. A 3-0 victory over Blyth to get back on track last time out was virtually a given. Their away form to date is far from special, having won just four of their 16 games on the road.

The Robins are one of the better footballing sides in the division, and if the Bulls can match them on the floor this looks like another potentially good game to watch.

Lenell John-Lewis’s masterful finish (right?) to get the Bulls back in contention last weekend, and to spark the crowd into life for the first time in a while, should see him well up for this one (ie 'up for it' rather than weeping). Gowling will have to decide whether to continue with Rowan Liburd, who looked more lively alongside The Shop last week, or to hand Demetri Brown a starting debut.

The former Worcester striker was scoring a goal every other game in the Midland Premier, but given that John Mills scored at twice that rate at the same level there’s no guarantee that he’ll be a goal machine in the National League North. However, he seems ambitious and could be the sort of player who performs better the higher up the pyramid he goes. An intriguing signing.

In midfield, Ben Pollock and Kieran Thomas are both back available, and either would complement quite nicely the dual attacking threat of a barely recognisable Tom Owen Evans and Kelsey Mooney, both of whom seem utterly transformed and eager to do well for the interim boss. However, Jacob Jagger Cane is another who's starting to look like a new player, and could justifiably feel a bit peeved not to start as the holding midfielder.

So, plenty to be optimistic about suddenly, but in the debit column there was nothing to suggest in the Darlington goals last week that the Hereford defence is now a lower league version of Dixon, Adams, Bould and Winterburn. There's still some room for improvement before even Price, Pejic, Hicks and Bray/Dalziel status is achieved, to be honest. However, that was the first time they'd played together as a four, so a better understanding should be in evidence for this match. Jordan Cullinane-Liburd misses out again as he continues his three-game suspension.

Could the tide be turning? All will be revealed at Edgar Street at 3pm on Saturday.

COYW