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| Storey And Kouhyar After Hereford's Goal |
Son of Eric was at Edgar Street last night to watch Hereford play Shrewsbury in the former's first home friendly of pre-season.
The A49 derby always means something special to me with family from Brimfield on the North Herefordshire border who were involved with Woofferton FC just over the border in Shropshire. Rather than rivalry most local people had an affection for both teams. Maybe this could be an annual fixture to be played for the Graham Turner Trophy to commemorate the most magnificent manager ever in Marches history.
Phew it was good to be an evening fixture and even then, temperatures were still in the high 70s and many fans were enjoying refreshment outside Radfords. A respectable turnout from Shropshire made for a lively atmosphere although there seemed to be some unfamiliar faces on the Meadow End more interested in jeering the Shrews than cheering the Bulls. The masked stewards kept a close eye.
First Kick-off Of Pre-Season At Edgar Street
Ryan Bowman returned
to Edgar Street leading the line for Shrewsbury looking leaner and
rangier than he was at times when with the Bulls. He was well marshalled
by Pollock at centre half and like last week at Westfields this appears
a more promising position for Ben than his record in midfield. An open
game saw Shrewsbury gradually getting on top in the first quarter up
until the drinks break.
Trialist Jack Bodenham With Former Hereford Striker Ryan Bowman
Having been unwell Owen-Evans did not
look his usual self, lacking the full vim and vigour he showed last
season. At one stage McLean who often looked lively with his pace broke
through following a quick clearance and fired in a shot, Owen Evans who
was the furthest player up the field showed no sign of getting close to
the rebound and his tracking back was not at the standard he has
developed. It was good that he got more game time, and he will work
towards getting back to being one of Hereford’s most influential
players.
Tom Owen-Evans
The mid half drinks break saw a change in momentum with Hereford beginning to take the upper hand and they continued this in the second half but just like in the Vase final having gone a goal up they could not finish the game off with a second goal. A spectator noted it was just like watching England with the inability to turn nice work and dominance into goals.
Butlin whilst working hard had a limited impact until late in the second half when a Grealishesque run into the box did not quite produce the final delivery. Hereford’s best player in the first half was Vincent easily finding space and knowing the game, being in the right place at the right time, doing the good work knitting which is often underappreciated. There are few higher compliments than to describe this is as worthy of comparison to Rob Purdie.
A trialist came on for Hodgkiss at half time and Hereford were more impressive down the right once the anonymous but fast right back was playing. This was complimented by the tired looking Owen-Evans being replaced with Kouhyer who again looked very impressive with the Afghan hounding the Shrewsbury back line and giving them no rest. He quickly made an impact with a free kick which Lloyd just headed over. He then got down the right and on the edge of the box pulled back a cross just behind Butlin which a Shrews defender poked out only for the ball to be smashed into the net by Storey via a deflection from a despairing defender.
Kouhyar's Cross Led To Hereford's Goal
Then another incisive Kouhyer pass fed Storey whose
prodded ball seemed to go over the line and was worthy of VAR rather
than the foul given which was unclear. Storey and Mclean worked well
together, but Storey looked a far better player with the Bull from Kabul
on the pitch.
Kouhyer looked to run at the Shrews defence and caused panic, but his lack of absolute pace means that some defenders will get back for a second nibble. His finest moment saw him dance into the box and the keeper’s desperate clearance went straight on to the Shrews centre back’s outstretched arm. With VAR Hereford would have got a penalty.
Hall was his usual competent self and looked a better player than the Shrewsbury keeper, Hereford’s defence did not look as comfortable when Hall was replaced with a trialist. It seemed that Hereford were going to see out a one goal victory but twice Shrewsbury broke at pace and Udoh fed Whalley for a tap in. Moments later the same combination saw Whalley return the favour with a tap in for Udoh. For much of the second half Shrewsbury had looked a little lethargic but their quality turned up just in time for them to sneak a victory.
For much of this match it would not have seemed that there were four divisions between the two teams and Hereford produced some bright and lively football. However, the inability to convert dominance into goals will mean just as at Wembley good teams will punish this failing. On this basis I would expect Hereford to do very well against teams in the bottom half of the division but not have the ruthlessness to turn play off flirtation into automatic promotion contending. Gowling has said he will wait for the right centre back, on the basis of this performance he must also be waiting for a striker who can ruthlessly turn periods of dominance into goals.
Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss, Bodenham, Hancox, Vincent, Lloyd, Owen-Evans, McLean, Butlin, Storey, Pollock. Subs: Haines, Klukowski, Raison, Forsyth, Kouhyar and about eight trialists.
Attendance: 1003