This match was originally supposed to be the jam in the Christmas sandwich, with Kidderminster the bread either side, but the jam went the same way as the bread as Covid ruined the picnic.
The Tigers aren’t finding life as easy in the NLN this season as they did last, when they finished top having played 18 games, despite losing manager James Rowe and star centre forward Akwasi Asante to Chesterfield halfway through. Unfortunately for them it counted for nothing as the season was scrapped.
They’ve been stuck in the bottom six all season, and currently sit just four points above bottom-placed Telford, who thumped Darlington 5-0 on Saturday, making the Bucks theoretically 11 goals better than Farsley, the club immediately above them. Funny old division. Meanwhile, Gloucester lost 1-0 at home to Southport, and they’ve won just one of their last six matches, a narrow 1-0 victory at Leamington, who have gone very, very wrong lately. My heart bleeds for their thug of a centre forward.
Ollie Hulbert briefly showed for the Bulls earlier in the season that he’s a striker who can cut the mustard at this level, and the Bristol Rovers youngster has gone on to score seven goals this season after switching loan clubs in October. He’ll be eager to find the net in this one, and will need to be watched, although his rich vein of form has dried up a bit lately. Ex-Hereford FC midfielder Tommy O’Sullivan and ex-Hereford United defender Danny Leadbitter should also start for the Tigers. With other talented players such as Frenchman Fabien Robert in the squad, it’s slightly surprising that they’re struggling.
For Hereford, new striker Mo Touray did all that could be asked of him by coming off the bench and scoring on his debut on Saturday against Farsley, which could earn him a start here at the expense of Janaai Gordon, and Miles Storey will be relieved to be back among the goals having recently missed a few when clean through. The omens for Touray are good. The last player tracked for a long time before being signed by Josh Gowling was a certain Krystian Pearce. Plenty to be optimistic about then, and, with Luke Haines and Harry Pinchard to come back into the reckoning over the next few weeks after injury, supporters will be hoping for an exciting end to the season.
The suggestion, as the aforementioned Mr Pearce started his three-match ban a fortnight ago, that he may struggle to regain his place when available again would have been preposterous, but such has been the shift put in by the ‘emergency’ youthful back four in his absence that it’s a tough call in deciding who to leave out defensively on Tuesday. That said, it’ll be a massive boost to have the Chief back. With a trip to Chorley looming on Saturday, and then six games in February, the sudden strength in depth in the squad will come in very handy, although retaining that strength in depth throughout February may entail extending loan and work experience deals here and there. The boss seems resigned to the need for constant wheeling and dealing as Hereford head honcho, and must realise that ‘Dosh’ Gowling isn’t a soubriquet coming his way anytime soon. He does seem to be embracing the challenge of wringing every last penny of value out of the playing budget though. One concern about bringing in versatile players in an effort to do just that is perhaps that you could end up with someone who is average everywhere, rather than an excellent specialist in one position. Ryan Lloyd has offered solid cover at left back when needed there this season, partly because the specialist signed in that position in the summer turned out to only be good enough for York City, but Ryan’s impact further up the pitch is too significant to waste by using him as a makeshift left back.
A Matt McClure goal was enough for Gloucester to take the points back over the border in this fixture last season. The striker won’t be available this time as he’s injured, but recent arrival Matt Green offers plenty of experience up front alongside young Ollie Hulbert. The much-travelled striker looks like a useful signing if his 35-year-old knees still get him from A to B without too much creaking.
The visitors were absolutely flying at the time of that match last season, but the tables have now turned somewhat, and revenge can be wreaked.
It’s now actually possible to look at the league table on a Saturday evening without wincing, for the first time in some time – a sure sign that things must be looking up. This looks very winnable, and if this Tuesday night’s local derby goes as well as last Tuesday’s everyone will be considering that nasty-looking Chorley game to be winnable too, and that’s proper progress right there.
COYW