Match Report Radcliffe v Hereford

Andy Williams Scored Hereford's First Goal

Nigel Preece watched Hereford at Radcliffe yesterday

Many years ago a group of my fellow supporters started using Preece's Law to describe a typical Hereford away day. It basically meant the enjoyment of the football was inversely proportional to the enjoyment of the whole day out. It was probably first coined in the 90s when trips away, especially to the Manchester area, inevitably meant some good pubs and beer but defeat on the pitch. The law got its confirmation when it worked the other way round, 5-1 win at Morecambe back in 97 was the good bit of a pretty crap weekend away.

After my previous trip up to Manchester for Curzon in the autumn, with delayed and overcrowded trains (a real Preece’s Law example of football good, day rubbish) I pushed for an even earlier start to reduce the risk of delays spoiling the day.

I wasn't so sure it was a good idea as I gingerly walked over icy pavements to my local north Cardiff train station at 6am, but this time everything worked; trains were on time, with plenty of room in the comfortable 5 carriaged loco. My regular travelling mate got on at Hereford, not even any issues with his train from Ledbury, all going far too well. As I wandered down to the buffet, yes they had one of those too, I bumped into a group of fellow fans living it up in first class, they were similarly scarred by the Curzon experience, so coughed up a surprisingly small extra few quid each for guaranteed comfort.

Into Piccadilly at 1015 allowed time to find a cafe (despite being in the cool streets east of Piccadilly Gardens, it wasn't too hipster, no waxed moustaches on display) for a decent brunch before the tram out to Bury, bypassing Radcliffe tram stop on the way.

We headed to Trackside, the double nerdery (is that a word?) of a real ale pub on the platform of Bolton Street, Bury Station, part of the East Lancs Railway. I was delighted to meet up with a fellow Bull who'd made the relatively short journey from the Barnsley area plus an old friend, not a Hereford fan but he enjoys watching us and a beer or two, who'd made an even shorter journey by local bus. After a pleasant hour or so we made the short stroll to the Broad Street Social, a micro style pub, an excellent establishment. We were supposed to be making a pilgrimage to the New Inn in Radcliffe, a traditional boozer visited frequently by one of our party back in the day, he also wanted a mushy pea fritter, yes you read that correctly, but neither happened and a taxi at 2.40 took us straight to the ground just in time for kick off.

Apologies for the lengthy pre match amble but how many would take the trouble to travel long distances to watch a mid table Division 6 football team without the other entertainments of the day? It was clear plenty thought the same with a decent away turnout, well over 200 I'd guess, many in good voice.

The team lined up …. Richardson. Robinson (right back), Bartley, Howkins and Hudson. Campbell, McGlynn, a welcome return for Babos, Ceesay. Williams and Cowley.

A bright start in more ways than one, the strong low sun made viewing from behind the goal difficult, perhaps also affecting the players and it wasn't long before Radcliffe's strong opening paid off. A chance for Hulme was well saved by Richardson, or so it seemed, but the ball somehow squirmed away and it almost looked as if he threw the ball into the net, not quite Gary Sprake like (look it up kids) but comical joy for Radcliffe nonetheless.

We responded strongly, the low on confidence Cowley dragging a glorious chance disappointingly well wide, he'd have buried it a year ago. 

Despite that chance, we almost conceded again, Richardson reacting sharply to prevent what would have been a Robinson own goal.

It wasn't long before we equalised though, Willo seemed to have two efforts blocked but finished the third one with what looked like a delightful delicate chip into the far corner.

We threatened to take over but that hope didn't last. A lump forward was chased by forward lump Jordan Hulme, Bartley had it covered but allowed Hulme to muscle goal side before the latter collapsed dramatically as Bartley tried naively to recover. It was a penalty, a soft and very annoying one and a example of why FL clubs send their youngsters to play men's football. I'm sure Bartley will learn but it showed how much we missed Preston. Richardson sadly had Curtis Pond-itis, guessed wrong and we were behind again.

While the score was not an unfair reflection of the opening half, I didn't feel we were out of it at all and was more than hopeful we would still get something. Before we restarted Derricot was on for Bartley, someone said there may have been words between the latter and the management after the penalty incident, I didn't see anything but it was an obvious conclusion to draw, fair or otherwise, for such an early personal change. Derricot had a perfectly ok 45 minutes but with Robinson the sole player on our right, it removed the opportunity for Bartley to take a spell out wide and roam forward in that area.

We did start the second half brightly, a Willo ‘goal’ was ruled out, offside, and a McGlynn shot rolled inches wide. Cowley, McGlynn and Campbell were withdrawn for Rose, Mitchell and White as we continued to press for an equaliser. However, it was Radcliffe who extended their lead; a quick break down our left, two tackles were missed with Hulme then able to bundle in the resulting cross from close range.

We did respond quickly though, Ceesay shooting (or crossing?) from a similar sort of area as his goal against Southport last week, it was certainly going wide before flicking off a defender and thanks very much we were back in it with plenty of time left. There was noisy expectation from the visiting support behind the goal we were attacking.

Except it never really happened. While we did dominate the play, you'd expect that, we created little. Rose had one goal bound header hit a defensive shoulder, there was another scramble sort of off the line, but I struggle to recall their keeper making anything other than the odd straightforward save.

In fact, Hulme squandered a simple chance and they hit the bar after a corner, misses which may have cost Radcliffe on another day but, a hopeful penalty appeal apart, for which Robinson was booked for arguing too much, was about as close as we got.

Their joint manager, Anthony Johnson, described it as probably the biggest win in the club's league history which is a compliment to our own history (please don't be pedantic, you get what I mean) but also rather damning. Paul Caddis was rightly angry afterwards, reflecting the thoughts of many that we need more ‘men’. I guess he means more physicality and nous, like Hulme showed for them, plus the no nonsense defending their number 6 showed all game. The outfield signings made since the last batch of poor results, White, McGlynn, Mitchell are all decent enough players but our recent goal tally reflects a lack of creativity or, equally valid argument, a lack of incisiveness and or brute force up front. Or perhaps both? And we did score 2 I suppose, I'd have taken that if offered beforehand and expected that would have been enough for at least a point. With games coming thick and fast now I struggle to see a simple resolution, probably because there isn't one.

As I waited in the car park for my mate after the game there was an unpleasant skirmish between fans. It looked to me that it was started by an angry local, but I didn't hang around to see it escalate which, sadly, apparently it did.

I legged it to Radcliffe tram station, got back to the centre in time for a decent pint (a wind down was definitely required) in the Piccadilly Tap before the long trip home. The train was long and quiet again, all the rights and wrongs were sorted by a bunch of us sat together, if only it were that simple?

A classic outing for Preece's Law I'm afraid. A fine day out, transport worked, pubs and beer decent, good company. Everything you want in an away day, apart from …….

Hereford: Richardson, Robinson, Bartley, Howkins, Hudson, McGlynn, Campbell, Babos, Ceesay, Williams, Cowley. Subs: Derricott, Mitchell, Rose, Sturridge, White. 

Attendance: TBC