.png)
Hereford FC host Southport on Saturday at what promises to be a fully lit and fully defrosted Edgar Street, as the big freeze melts away into a more general January chilliness.
New striker DJ Campton-Sturridge scored three goals in 18 games for his previous club Farsley this season, a club unfortunately struggling on and off the pitch, so it’ll be interesting to see how the ex-Villa player, like Jaiden White still only 23, gets on with hopefully better service and better players around him. Hereford FC’s history since John Mills hasn’t exactly been littered with prolific strikers – could this DJ play the right tune? Having Celtic and Villa on your CV sounds impressive after all, even if the ‘Celtic’ element may be a bit misleading and something a football agent would attempt to get away with, not that I’d ever mock that most honourable of professions.
He comes into a side that has flirted with disciplinary issues, so the Linekeresque no yellow cards this season is a side of his game to be welcomed. His cousin Daniel was always a player I enjoyed watching, and any genetic footballing similarities DJ possesses will be gratefully received.
At the other end of the pitch, new goalie Theo Robertson should make his debut, behind the solid centre-back partnership of Kyle Howkins and Matt Preston. With Aaron Skinner still some way off a return, Sammy Robinson should start at right back.
The Bulls go into this one off the back of two defeats and two postponements. It was a shame that last weekend’s match against Warrington couldn’t go ahead as it had the makings of a good one to get back on the bike or horse or whatever the metaphor is for returning to winning ways. However, this looks similar, albeit slightly less obvious as a golden opportunity. On the minus side, Southport are higher up the table than Warrington and more of an established outfit at this level. On the plus side, they’re absolutely awful away from Haig Avenue. They’ve won fewer games away than bottom club Rushall, and their overall record on their travels is only rivalled by Marine for its uselessness. From that perspective, therefore, the fixture computer has been an absolute sweetheart.
They did actually beat Warrington at home recently, only a second win in their last 11 league games. Despite their overall poor form, they haven’t conceded too many goals lately, and Hereford will have to work hard to get in front.
They beat Bamber Bridge 3-0 in a county cup game on Tuesday, although that may not have been any more taxing than the training session Hereford would have undertaken on the same evening.
The Sandgrounders’ form isn’t too surprising given how they finished last season. They flirted with the drop having lost their last eight matches, and the season before that avoided relegation by a point. Fallow times indeed then recently, for a club perhaps more associated with being a division higher.
They’ve generally been the sort of outfit that glories in doing niggly things the referee doesn’t see, and celebrates goals and good results in front of the Meadow End just to cause bother, but under Jim Bentley that side of things will presumably not be so prevalent, which will be good for the blood pressure of home fans.
Nathaniel Knight-Percival arrived in the summer at centre back. The ex-Sloppie finished the 2023-24 season on loan at Tamworth from Kidderminster, following the latter’s promotion in 2022-23. He’ll turn 38 this season, which may leave him open to being exposed by pacy young attackers. DJ C-S is known to possess a bit of pace – join the dots and there’s only one possible conclusion – a hattrick for the Hereford debutant. However, despite his age, NKP has been more or less ever-present for them this season so far.
Right-back Sam Minihan was at Buxton last season and picked up the supporters' player of the year award. He signed a two-year deal in the summer at Haig Avenue, and if his availability came about as a result of the Bucks going full-time it was a shrewd move to pick up one of their better performers. He also played nearly 200 games for Stockport County, and indeed is considered a ‘legend’ at Edgeley Park.
Fan favourite and main goal getter Marcus Carver finally actually properly signed for the club in the summer, having been on loan from Scunthorpe for most of the last two seasons. He got 12 goals in a poor season for his club last time, but hasn’t kicked on from that, with only two goals so far. He’s also been out of the side since mid-December.
More than making up for Carver’s lack of goals is Danny Lloyd, who returned to the club last February after 12 years away. He has ten in 27 appearances, so is clearly the danger man.
Following the weather-induced winterval, the Bulls should be well-rested and motivated to the max. This is a must-win to keep up with the leaders. It’s time to remount the bike or horse. A goal or two on debut please DJ.
COYW