Son of Eric watched Hereford's game against AFC Fylde yesterday afternoon at Edgar Street.
This match was great value, five goals, several crackers, some great football from both sides, any neutral would feel they had grabbed a Bank Holiday weekend bargain.
Hereford threatened first with McLean surging down the left cutting in and driving his shot on to the bar with Neal beaten all ends up.
The programme (cracking cover photo of TOE) had featured Nick Haughton the Fylde 10 as “one to watch” with his goal scoring record. He clipped a free kick from forty yards into an empty net. His shot was so precise it hit the back left stanchion with a clear “ping”, so the net did not ripple and for a moment the crowd paused hoping somehow the ball had come back off an advertising board. This was an impressive strike, but Brandon Hall was well out of position and watched helplessly as the ball sailed into the net.
Hereford set out to chase the game with gusto playing some good football, breaking the lines, and looking the better side. McLean was prominent with another shot and right back Burke never fully got to grips with him.
Fylde clearly have more money than Hereford with a full-time squad. Hereford’s new striker on loan Tom Smith came in to make his debut on loan from Eastleigh of the Conference. Fylde’s debutant loanee Jacob Holland-Wilkinson (fit that on the back of a shirt!) came from Preston in the Championship. Fed by Haughton he wriggled in the box and fired off a shot which rebounded from the post, another warning for Hereford of the class of Fylde’s attack.
A further indication of the wealth divide was Fylde having veteran Scottish goal scoring legend Stephen Dobbie signed from Queen of the South on the bench. Hereford’s signings from the same division Vincent and Storey both stood out as amongst Hereford’s best players. Vincent had a tussle throughout the match with regular Edgar Street visitor David Perkins. The boyish looks have faded but the veteran moaned, groaned, and cajoled through the game. On the ball Vincent won their individual battle on points with interceptions and timely challenges.
Hereford had started with great brio and vigour and gradually this faded. Partly it would be hard to keep up such a level for a full half on a hot day, but also the goal allowed Fylde to sit back a little. McLean continued to look the most likely of Hereford’s forwards but when Tollitt picked up a long ball and beat Haines cutting inside his cross hovered over the penalty area with no-one to convert it. Haughton playing in the hole looked a quality player and he robbed Hancox only to have a poor shot. Hancox did not heed the warning and dwelling too long on the ball 25 yards out on the left he was again dispossessed by Haughton. Haughton drove into the box; Hall came out and spread himself for Haughton to dig out a Panenka style chip leaving Hall on the floor and the ball easing into the net for his fifth goal of the season.
Hereford had played the better football, but their cutting edge was not as sharp as Fylde. An early second half goal for the Bulls and it looked like they could still get something out of the game. Owen-Evans created the first chance but with no-one available to finish in the box. Fylde then played their best move of the match working the ball up to the pitch with Tollitt putting in yet another cross from the left, this time pulling it back to Piggott who in the middle of the box took it, turned, and banged it high into the corner of the net, a quality goal and finish.
Hereford battled hard to get back into the game. Smith flicked the ball on and Storey on the right in space resisted the chance for a cross shot, but by the time he was ready to pull the ball back Fylde’s defence was quickly back and organised. Hall charged out to head the ball away but miscued and watched on thankfully as Tollitt shot wide. Owen-Evans went off with Kouhyar on and Hodgkiss was booked for a foul. Storey was booked for a nastier foul which perhaps had a little retribution in it with the physical Fylde back line leaving their feet in at times. The referee had a poor game, strong on where free kicks should be taken and ensuring substitutes went off via the nearest touchline, but often poorly placed and not understanding the coming togethers of the game. Burke came in late on Haines appearing to leave his foot in the upper thigh area and Haines was clearly in a lot of pain on the floor. Hereford’s players protested the referee came across from his distant vantage point.
Burke did the slow walk of guilt away at an angle avoiding eye contact, but clearly expecting the referee at any time to whistle and call him over and at least talk to him, but the referee saw, heard, and spoke no evil. Burke’s face broke into a sly grin knowing full well he had got away with a nasty piece of work. Haines played on but had to be substituted for Forsyth. Perkins managed the referee well for Fylde assuring him that every clatter was an innocent mistiming.
New boy Smith faded in the second half. His height provides the chances for flicks and knock-ons, but positionally he was often too far away from the corridor of uncertainty when Hereford got good balls into the box. Haughton went off and Dobbie came on.
Three goals down it was pleasing to see the attitude of players McLean especially not giving up the fight, working across the line and flicking a ball through to Storey who from the edge of the box fired a howitzer across Neal. The goal a fitting reward for all his work.
There was still time to save a point but you’re never more vulnerable than when you have just scored and Hereford relaxed, Fylde kicked off and attacked an error at the back let in Dobbie and the veteran goal scorer did what’s he’s paid to do with an assured finish.
The game petered out and it seemed that Fylde could have gone up a gear if Hereford had got another goal. Ismail came on for McLean who got two warm rounds of applause, first from the Len Weston and then after his walk round an equally proud recognition of his effort from the Merton stand. Against title contenders this was an impressive display and Ryan has a season of promise ahead of him.
Fylde have one of the best budgets in the division and some very good players Haughton caught the eye, Piggott and Dobbie are clinical strikers and the defence play the game on and off the ball. You would expect Fylde to be in the play offs at least and on this showing possible champions. Hereford had some good passages but many individual errors. You can see what Gowling is trying to do. In the second half a coordinated high press had the keeper struggling for an out ball with Bulls players inside the Fylde box but suddenly a gap appeared, and it was played out to Burke. It was unclear whether it was McLean or Hancox who should have been pressing him, but these promising systems require total coordination, and it is not there yet.
Anyone dreaming about Hereford going up automatically received a severe reality check. It was an enjoyable game with much class on show, and to appreciate the quality on offer my man of the match would be Tollitt a threat on the left but popping up all over the pitch and creating danger and goals.
Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss, Haines (Forsyth 78), Hancox, Mclean (Ismail 82), Owen-Evans (Kouhyar 54), Storey, Lloyd, Pollock, Vincent, Smith; Subs not used: Fini, Klukowski.