Owen-Evans scores winner as stand-in striker

Picture: Tom Owen-Evans' goal was out of reach of the Telford goalkeeper.
Tom Owen-Evans' goal a minute before half-time earned Hereford a crucial three points against a Telford side who haven't won at Edgar Street in twenty years.

A sun-drenched Edgar Street looked resplendent ahead of the Good Friday encounter, with the Bulls starting the game just outside the play-off places with six matches to go. Telford were unbeaten in six, lifting them away from the bottom of the table. 

Hereford were without former Telford striker Andre Wright against his former club, with Ryan McLean coming into the starting eleven and Tom Owen-Evans leading the forward line. Kristian Pearce dropped to the bench, replaced by Jamie Egan. 

The Bulls started well, with Ryan Lloyd’s early effort tipped away by Telford goalkeeper Luke Pilling. With both sides keen to play a passing game, Brandon Hall was also called into action. Devarn Green’s shot from an acute angle was pushed away following a sustained spell of Telford pressure. 

Lloyd’s low drive from outside the box was collected by Pilling, and then Harry Pinchard’s effort went just wide after an excellent crossfield ball from Seb Revan, who exploited space on the left flank throughout the first half to join the attack. 


Ten minutes before half time, Owen-Evans’ shot from eight yards out was blocked by an incredible sliding tackle by Telford captain Jordan Piggott.  Then Lloyd’s 25 yard effort was tipped over, before Owen-Evans opened the scoring just a minute before half time. 

He surged into the box, chipping the ball over Pilling and it dropped into the far corner to give Hereford a half-time lead.  

 
 
Telford added a physical edge to their game for the second half, with three players picking up yellows and they finished the match with ten men. Substitutes meant they added more grit to their attacks, but Hereford continued to pressurise. Luke Haines’ 25 yard shot went just wide, and Pinchard ran the length of the field but his effort was blocked on the edge of the Telford area. 

While Hereford struggled to regain the momentum they showed at spells in the first half, they created a late chance to test Pilling once again. McLean’s effort was pushed away for a corner. At the other end, Hall’s fine save kept a volley from Ryan Burke at bay as Telford searched for an equaliser. This was even more impressive given Hall picked up an injury following a clash with Telford substitute Marcus Marshall. 

The battle between dominant Harry Flowers and Owen-Evans led to Flowers being booked after he elbowed the Hereford attacker, and in injury time Flowers was sent off for another infringement, leaving the away side seeing out the match with ten men. 



Ultimately, three points is the most important outcome as the season reaches its final stage, and this keeps Hereford in the play-off hunt. 

Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss (capt), Haines, Egan, McLean (Klukowski, 87), Patten (Vincent, 68), Owen-Evans, Lloyd, Pollock, Revan, Pinchard (Touray, 80). Unused subs: Pearce, Sondegaard

Telford: Pilling, Burke, Oswell (Daniels, 72), Evans, Green, Goodridge (Marshall, 72), Melhado, Piggott (capt, Moore, 58), Nolan, Flowers, McNally

Attendance: 2,239

Referee: Richard Aspinall