A Return To Gloom
Nigel Preece reports from Edgar Street
Two weeks since my last match report, scribbled after the disappointing loss at Radcliffe, which itself followed several poor performances and results.
There were calls for drastic action, even manager sackings, it all seemed a little over hysterical to me, even if I guess it does show how many people still care, passionately.
Since then, 9 points and we're back in the mixer, I wasn't at either away win, both proper scrapped, hard earned victories, though I did witness the remarkable turnaround against Brackley a week ago. But, similarly and however welcome, those 3 successive wins doesn't mean we've cracked it and the only way is up. I'm trying and, probably, failing to stay level headed!!
I was hoping for last week's second half performance and goals without the first half struggle, sad to report we had the latter in spades, but no sign of the former.
A bitter, cold day, I left home at 10ish, train up was enlivened by 5 teenage Cardiff City fans on their way to Stoke, all bottles of lager, outward bravado and bolshiness. I did chat to them briefly before I got off, it was the first away game for several of them, they had the wrong rail tickets by the sounds and I wasn't convinced they would get there in time anyway, but good on them for trying to support their team.
Hereford was even chillier than Cardiff, a hot meal in the Butter Market (a wonderful eclectic selection of food outlets, I chose Tanzania this time, a different one that, I'd try it again though), a quick beer in the Orange Tree, a little longer in the Barrels before it was game time.
Unsurprisingly, an unchanged team but we started like the Brackley game, mostly conceding territory and struggling to compete in the middle of the park, Dolan for Spennymoor particularly dominating and impressive. No such lack of competitiveness at the back though, an early Spennymoor corner was delayed as the ref spoke to Kyle Howkins and veteran visiting striker Glen Taylor for engaging in early shirt swapping, and when play proceeded the battle between the two continued, the two of them still pushing and shoving in the goal well after the ball was safely cleared. The referee didn't seem to know how to handle it and, frankly, struggled all afternoon with managing the physical side of the game; or, perhaps, he tried to just let the game flow.
Either way, we were getting little joy, a shot from White straight at the keeper about our only first half effort worthy of note.
Williams Could Not Get On The End Of This Forward Ball
Spenny, on the other hand, created several opportunities. A nice piece of skill foxed Robinson and a cross to the back post resulted in a powerful downward header that took an excellent Richardson save to keep the ball out.
We didn't survive for long. A foul by Campbell, perhaps over enthusiastically trying to cover for a team mate's defensive lapse, just outside the area, our right side, about 10 yards from the goal line. Richardson lined up a two man wall and went to guard his back post. I'm not quite sure what Babos and Mitchell in that supposed wall were doing or thinking but Dyson spotted what looked to me like a gaping hole and fired the ball to the near post, Richardson scrambled but couldn't quite get there in time to keep it out. Quite awful defending or sharp thinking opportunism? Probably both.
It didn't really improve. Richardson made another smart save to prevent a second but it wasn't long before the visitors doubled their lead. Taylor, mostly well marshalled by Howkins, received an incisive, intelligent pass (something we failed to supply all afternoon) in the inside right channel, he didn't even have the proverbial half a yard, but one touch gave him sufficient space and he drilled home from around 12 yards. To be fair, it was a quality bit of forward play, demonstrating why he's scored so many over the years, though Willo must have been green seeing the difference in supply.
With almost 15 minutes to half time the exodus from the Meadow End to the bar started in earnest. They didn't miss a lot, Ceesay did his best as always and looked our only threat despite being double marked, Robbo was booked for a lunge after a sloppy pass from Campbell and, inevitably, the half time whistle wasn't exactly greeted with wild acclaim.
Ceesay Was Brought Down But The Free Kick Came To Nothing
After such a depressing first 45 a nice win on the half time draw would at least cheer me up a bit but no luck there either, so another call of Turner Out from me! More importantly, good to see Jeremy selling again after his recent little tumble.
Back to the actual football, it was palpably clear some action was needed. I'd have, grumpily, replaced all three in midfield, as it was Campbell and Babos were axed, along with Hudson and White. Andoh (right back, Robbo moving to midfield), Skinner (left), Sturridge (right midfield / wing) and Cowley were on. Have I ever seen us make 4 half time changes before? The new formation was more 424 than 442 but despite a little more oomph and some effort and invention from both wings, the Spenny defence had little in the way of serious or persistent pressure; certainly no saves worthy of mention needed from the keeper. Willo did narrowly head over, Cowley turned, briefly reminiscent of his wonderful winner in the corresponding fixture last season, but shot well over. The chances came, perhaps inevitably as we left spaces in our desperation, from Spennymoor, three times in a few minutes Richardson was called on to make decent diving saves to keep us clinging to futile hope.
Our best chance, and it's all relative as it was hardly gilt edged, fell to Cowley, good work once more from the persevering Ceesay, but the first time snapshot under pressure from 12 yards flew over.
Shortly after, a clever, improvised shot over his shoulder from Willo almost caught out the Spenny keeper but he recovered in time to make a relatively comfortable save (and then probably fell over in the modern time wasting way).
A couple of cynical bookings for the visitors, McGlynn came on for the disappointing Mitchell (surprisingly awarded Man of the Match by the sponsors, it had to be Richardson for me) and the game petered out. It seemed somehow fitting that as the ref blew the final whistle, Taylor was grabbing a handful of Howkins’ shirt.
Very poor fayre for the faithful on a bitterly cold afternoon. Well done to the 2360 (30 happy visitors) who showed up, the weather, I assume keeping many away. Indeed, instead of my normal post match warm down in the Beer in Hand I favoured a warm up with a hot beverage across the road in the Courtyard. Rock and bloody roll, but I was cold.
For my sins I'm off to Needham Market on Tuesday, we somehow managed to lose to them at Edgar Street back in August but if I recall correctly at least we created (and missed) a hatful of first half chances before our legs seemed to go later on. No reason why we can't grind another win though. As always, it's the hope etc.
Hereford: Richardson, Robinson, Howkins, Preston, Hudson, Campbell, Mitchell, Babos, White, Ceesay, Williams
Subs: Andoh, Skinner, Sturridge, Cowley, McGlynn