REACTION | Paul Caddis - Hereford FC 0-3 Hemel Hempstead

Paul Caddis gives his post match reaction to tonight's 3-0 defeat to Hemel Hempstead.

Click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

Hereford out of FA Cup

Hereford are out of this season's FA Cup after falling to a 3-0 defeat against Hemel Hempstead Town.

Hereford twice hit the crossbar with shots during the third qualifying round replay, but a bizarre indirect free kick on the edge of the six-yard box saw the visitors take the lead through Millar Matthews-Lewis.

Then two goals in seven minutes of injury time from Wilkinson and Williams condemned the Bulls to a 3-0 defeat against a side who created few chances throughout the evening.

Goalless at half time as Campbell soldiers on after injury

It's goalless in this evening's FA Cup third qualifying round replay against Hemel Hempstead Town.

Hereford have created a good handful of chances but were unable to convert, with Remaye Campbell hitting the crossbar with the best chance of the half. 

He also spent several minutes down while being treated with what appeared to be a cut to the head.

The visitors could've taken the lead in six minutes of first half stoppage time, but Samuel Adenola hit the side netting. 

Half time: Hereford 0 - Hemel Hempstead Town 0 

Hereford team news for Hemel Hempstead FA Cup replay

This is the Hereford side to Dave Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Cup third qualifying round replay at Edgar Street this evening.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Quansah, Preston, Howkins, Hudson, Sterling-James, Osbourne, Edwards, Campbell, Nto

Subs: Lewis, Roberts, Williams, Richards, Rooney, Bitemo

Hellenic League side over the moon as Beadle makes managerial comeback

Peter Beadle and his side at Wembley for the FA Vase final in 2016

Shortwood United have appointed former Hereford manager Peter Beadle as their new boss.

The 53-year-old takes the reins at Meadowbank following the departure of former boss Marcus Foxwell and assistant Andrew Moody last week.

The striker-turned-manager once commanded over a million in transfer fees, playing for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, AFC Bournemouth, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and Barnet.

Beadle met the squad for the first time on Monday and said he was excited at the challenge ahead on his return to the dugout.

Beadle told Stroud Times: “I just missed football, the buzz, just getting in the changing room.”

A poor start to the season has seen the Hellenic Division One outfit win just one of their opening nine games and Beadle wants to buck the trend, he added: “I think we just need to start winning games and then just pull ourselves away from that bottom three.”

Joining him in the dugout will be Jamie Underwood, who has been named assistant manager. Underwood, a former midfielder with Swindon Town, Forest Green, Brimscombe and Shortwood, brings local knowledge and strong ties to the club.

Beadle boasts an impressive playing and managerial CV. As a manager, he saved Hereford United from relegation before the club were later expelled from the Conference, and then led the reformed club to three consecutive championships.

As a player, he played for clubs including Gillingham, Bristol Rovers and Bristol City before moving into management and coaching with clubs like Taunton Town, Newport County and Clevedon Town.

After a spell with Cheltenham Town’s U16s, Beadle moved into youth coaching at Hereford United, where he was later appointed first team caretaker manager in 2014.

Later that year he became head coach at Sutton United, before being handed the reins at the newly formed Hereford FC in 2015. During his time at Edgar Street, Beadle secured three consecutive league titles, took the Bulls to Wembley, and masterminded a memorable FA Cup run to the second round in 2017.

After being abruptly sacked by Hereford in 2018, he managed Barnet in the National League during 2020, before a brief spell at Yate Town two years' later.

Shortwood chairman Simon Grant said: “I’m over the moon to have appointed Pete. His credentials speak for themselves. He is a very experienced coach that the Shortwood boys will learn a lot from. We look forward to working with him.”

Cotterill Back At Cheltenham

Steve Cotterill is back with Cheltenhan Town.

'We are delighted to confirm that the club's most successful manager has returned to the Robins on a contract until the summer of 2028.'

Cheltenham are currently bottom of League Two. 

Now 61, Cotterill left Cheltenham in May 2002 after five years in charge during which time the club were promoted three times.

They also lifted the FA Trophy in 1998. 

Hereford 13/10 To Progress In Cup

 

The bookmakers are offering a price of 13/10 for Hereford to progress in the FA Cup this evening.

Last Saturday Hereford drew 2-2 at Hemel Hempstead.

Tonight's replay kicks off at 7.45pm.

Hereford 13/10  Draw 13/5  Hemel Hempstead 2/1 

List Of Ties In The FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round

FA Cuo 4th Qualifying Round

The Draw

North 

1 AFC Fylde or Darlington vs AFC Telford United
2 Macclesfield v Stamford
3 Gainsborough Trinity v Hartlepool United
4 Carlisle United v Boston United
5 Rochdale v York City
6 Runcorn Linnets or Ashton United v Buxton
7 Morecambe v Chester
8 South Shields v Spalding United
9 Tamworth v Hyde United
10 Scunthorpe United v King’s Lynn Town
11 Halesowen Town or Aveley v Gateshead
12 Spennymoor Town v Hednesford Town or Billericay Town
13 Southport v Halifax Town
14 Altrincham v Harborough Town

South

16 Worthing v Forest Green Rovers
17 Maldon & Tiptree v Flackwell Heath or Bracknell Town
18 Woking v Brackley Town
19 Wealdstone v Whitstable Town
20 Slough Town v Enfield Town
21 Eastbourne Borough v Boreham Wood
22 Hampton & Richmond Borough v Eastleigh
23 Southend United v Folkestone Invicta
24 Ebbsfleet United v Solihull Moors
25 Braintree Town v Farnborough
26 Cray Valley (PM) or Tonbridge Angels v Chatham Town
27 Weston Super Mare v Needham Market
28 Hemel Hempstead Town or Hereford v Yeovil Town
29 Banbury United v St Albans City
30 Chelmsford City v Chippenham Town
31 AFC Totton v Truro City
32 Salisbury or Dorking Wanderers v Aldershot Town
33 Farnham Town v Sutton United

Parker Back At West Brom.

 

Michael Parker is back at West Brom.

His loan spell with Hereford has ended. 

He missed the last two games, both in the FA Cup, because of injury.

But there might be a chance he could return to Edgar Street to help him return to fitness.

"We want to extend it," said manager Paul Caddis.

"However Michael will probably go for a scan and so if he is out for three or four weeks it makes no sense for us to extend it.

"It's a waiting game.

"West Brom has been outstanding with us, they have really been cooperative with us.

"I know Michael has enjoyed it, we've enjoyed having him but we're now in the hands of the medical.

"He's pleased with the games he has played, he's been excellent for us, he's liked the way we've managed him, West Brom have liked the way we've managed him.

"So all parties are happy but we are all waiting on the same thing." 

Into the lion's den

In what’s becoming a busy little period of fixtures, Hereford FC host Hemel Hempstead Town at Edgar Street on Tuesday evening. Extra time or penalties will decide this FA Cup tie if it’s still deadlocked after 90 minutes.

There’s still a lingering feeling in terms of Hereford’s defensive frailty that if this is 0-2 after ten minutes courtesy of two preventable goals at the Meadow End you wouldn’t be that surprised. You’d be irritated, you might even find yourself going to Radfords 20 minutes early, but you wouldn’t be surprised.

Focus and shape, particularly defensively, should be key considerations in the early stages of the game. If in doubt, boot it out of the ground. If it’s still 0-0 after half an hour the hosts should be able to grow into it and start to dominate, rather than having to play catch-up again. If it's 2-0 the right way after half an hour all the better; what a refreshing change that would be.

The threat mentioned in the preview here for Saturday’s game from young centre forward Millar Matthews-Lewis was realised as he grabbed the late equaliser that took this tie to a replay. He’s now on five goals for the season, and will hopefully still be on five goals for the season at 9:45pm on Tuesday.

Lawson Dath will be out for this one with a troublesome groin, and Gus Mafuta is still on the long-term absence list, although perhaps not for much longer. For the third consecutive game, Montel Gibson gets to put his feet up as he’s cup-tied. He’ll presumably be very, very up for it at Leamington on Saturday when he’ll finally be able to play, with four of the last five Hereford games being in the FA Cup.

Michael Parker’s initial one-month loan from West Brom has now expired, but encouragingly he’s keen to come back to the club to continue that loan spell when fit, although that could be November time as he may need a scan.

That keenness can be seen as a testament to the coaching and mentoring of Paul Caddis and Adam Rooney, and also to the togetherness of the dressing room generally in terms of being something he wants to be a part of.

Sam Osborne continues to grow agreeably into his season-long loan with Hereford, and will presumably start here as he did on Saturday. It would be nice to see him get his first goal at Edgar Street for the club after a couple away from home.

Any fouls conceded by Hemel within about 40 yards of the goal are currently more-or-less guaranteed to result in Omari Sterling James scoring from the resulting free kick, a threat the Tudors are all too aware of, which will hopefully cause them some uncertainty in terms of a hesitancy in making defensive challenges, which the Bulls could profit from.

Hemel manager Lee Allinson is the son of Ian Allinson, who played in the FA Cup for Arsenal against Hereford United in 1985 when the Bulls could have won in a 1-1 draw at Edgar Street on a frozen pitch, before a non-frozen pitch at Highbury in the replay saw the home side 4-0 up before a good proportion of the away fans had even arrived on delayed ‘football special’ trains. Luckily the game ended 5-4 to Hereford and we all went home happy – OK, not quite.

Allinson Junior has described his club’s trip up to Hereford in front of what is likely to be a crowd some way short of the 15,777 present for that Arsenal game as being like going “into the lion’s den”. Home fans will have to do their bit to make it feel like 15,777, although it seems that everyone will be shoehorned into two sides of the ground to save money on stewarding.

A 2,000 gate would make that nice and cosy, and with the 30 or so Hemel fans accommodated in the Merton Stand it’s all a bit half-and-half scarf vibe rather than Belgrade or Glasgow derby hell-fest, let alone lion’s den, but it makes sense financially. If the 30 or so Hemel fans storm Addisons in the spirit of Serbo-Scottish anarcho-chaos, eyebrows will be raised, not so much in disapproval as utter surprise.    

The journey from a southeastern dormitory town to somewhere more soulful is an unusually long one for Hemel, culturally, spiritually and geographically. Hereford is, after all, northern England according to the football pyramid (I bet it doesn’t feel like it to Paul Caddis on his three-hour commute to work from northern England). Therefore they’ll hopefully spend the first ten minutes of the game recovering from bus legs rather than racing into a two-goal lead, although early bus legs didn’t stop Kings Lynn. Or Chorley. Or Bedford. Maybe they all took private jets to Shobdon.

The Bulls are now six unbeaten as they approach what looks on paper to be quite an unpleasant October.

The winners here scoop up the £5k+ prize money and have a home tie against Yeovil to look forward to in the next round, the final round before Leagues 1 and 2 join the fun. For Hereford, that’s not too far off as ‘juicy’ a draw at this stage of the competition as supporters could have hoped for.

COYW

Hemel Hempstead or Hereford to face ex-Football League side in FA Cup

Remaye Campbell celebrating his goal against Hemel Hempstead on Saturday

Hereford will face Yeovil Town at home in the fourth qualifying round tie if they get past Hemel Hempstead Town.

The Somerset club, whose 16-year stay in the EFL came to an end in 2019, are currently 12th in the National League.

Having drawn 2-2 at Vauxhall Road on Saturday, the step two sides will face each other again on Tuesday evening. The winner will receive £5,625 in prize money and the losers £1,875, with gate receipts also split after expenses.

The draw took place live on TalkSport during the Hawksbee and Jacobs Show, with Hereford and Hemel Hempstead in the southern section.

The ties will take place on Saturday 11th October and the winning sides will make it through to the first round proper, where League One and League Two sides join the competition.

The 32 fourth qualifying round winners will pick up £9,375 from the prize fund and the losers £3,125.

FA Cup Draw At 2PM

The draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup will be made at 2pm this afternoon.

Hereford are in the draw but need to win their replay against Hemel Hempstead to take part.

National League clubs join at this stage of the competition.

You can listen to the draw on Talksport. 

Paul Hawksbee and Andy Jacobs will draw the balls on the Hawksbee and Jacobs Show.

Fourth Round Qualifying fixtures are set to be held on the weekend of Saturday 11th October.

 

INTERVIEW | Lee Allinson - The Hemel Hempstead manager gives his post match reaction

Hemel Hempstead manager Lee Allinson gives his post match reaction to yesterdays 2-2 draw with Hereford FC. Press on the play button to hear his thoughts.

After 90 Minutes at Hemel

Perhaps a touch of relief that Hereford are in the draw for the next round was evident at Hemel Hempstead after 90 minutes yesterday.

 

Highlights From Hemel Hempstead

 

Highlights from yesterday's FA Cup tie between Hemel and Hereford are online.

To watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyY0auB-6U 

Second Half Pictures From Hemel Hempstead

Some pictures from the second half of yesterday's FA Cup tie at Hemel Hempstead.

 

Hereford Women Draw At Knowle

Hereford Women were held to a 1-1 draw this afternoon at Knowle.

Knowle took the lead in the first half but Hereford replied in the second with a penalty goal from Sheree Smith.

Following the result Knowle top the table whilst Hereford are 4th with 4 points from 2 games. 

Ticket Details For Cup Replay On Tuesday

Ticket Details for the FA Cup replay between Hereford and Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday evening.

This from Hereford FC:

Following the hard fought 2-2 draw at Hemel Hempstead in the Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round on Saturday, the tie will now be settled in a replay at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium on Tuesday night (30 September).

Tickets for this match – which will kick-off at 7.45pm – have been frozen at the same prices as last season’s FA Cup matches and all the information ahead of the game can be found below.

TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE ONLY

Tickets for this match will go on sale to all supporters at 6pm on Sunday 28 September via the Tickets page on the official website. The link to this page can be found here.

Tickets will also be on sale in the Club Shop from 10am till 4pm on Monday 29th September and Tuesday 30th September and from 6.30pm from the ticket office ahead of the match.

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

Unfortunately, due to the short turnaround for this game, we are unable to reserve specific season ticket holder seats. While not ideal, and we are sorry for the inconvenience, this is unavoidable as there simply isn’t time for our online ticketing system to be set up with a priority window, while also giving time for full general sale over the next 48 hours.

We would encourage any season ticket holders in the Merton Stand who are planning to come to the game to buy a ticket online as soon after 6pm today as possible if they wish to sit in their usual seat.

LEN WESTON STAND

Due to the anticipated crowd, we have made the decision to close the Len Weston Stand for this match, as we look to manage costs associated with the game. We appreciate that this may cause some inconvenience to Len Weston season ticket holders, and we apologise in advance for any disruption caused.

However, with the gate receipts from the game being split (after costs), we believe this is the sensible option for both clubs.

AWAY FANS

Away fans will be located in D Block seating in the Merton Stand. Away fans will have access to Addison’s Bar pre-match and at half time.

TICKET PRICES

Ticket prices have been held at the same level they were for last year’s FA Cup matches. Advance prices are available up until 11.59pm on Monday 29 September.

Please note that D Block is reserved for Away Fans ONLY.

Seating – Advance

Adult £19
Concession £16.50
Student £9
U16 £4

Terrace – Advance

Adult £16.50
Concession £13
Student £8
U16 £4

Seating – Matchday

Adult £20
Concession £17.50
Student £10
U16 £5

Terrace – Matchday

Adult £17.50
Concession £14
Student £9
U16 £5

 

Match Report: Hemel Hempstead 2 Hereford 2

Still In It

Mitch, with help from Justin, watched Hereford force a replay at Hemel Hempstead.

After the extended endeavours of Tuesday evening in the Black Country, the question today would likely be, ‘Is there enough in the tank to see us through to the next round?’ The Tudors of Hemel Hemstead Town stood in the way, along with yet another plastic pitch, this one surrounded by a series of low-rise structures that nowadays comfortably passes as a football stadium. That the London Bulls (plus tin-foil FA Cup) opted for nearby (does anything ever happen in Hemel?) St. Albans for pre-match refreshments tells its own story – that our car load were directed to a curtained off ‘Visitors only’ section of the Hemel social club tells another – disappointed but not surprised. The presence of a number of stewards obviously brought by Hereford FC was a first, for me at least, and sadly necessary, but wouldn’t the wages of these lads be better spent on an on-field body?

Of those who did make the artificial field, it was good to see Sam Osborne getting a start after a number of productive cameos, as part of a 3-5-2 formation, with Hudson and Sterling-James as wing-backs.

A feature of too many Bull’s performances this season has been a slow start, and annoyingly, here was another. Theo Richardson saved excellently three times before we had mustered even half a chance, and while things slowly improved, Hemel were repeatedly finding alarming amounts of space in our defensive third. They were quicker, more mobile, and had a method, and while on a good run of results, seemed to have an extra man, which would have explained a lot. They didn’t, I counted, but most of what scraps we were able to offer as an attacking force came via Osborne – there is a good footballer in there somewhere – but the ball was given away repeatedly – I’m sure that the injured but watching Lawson D’ath would have at least partly, addressed this.

This Free Kick By Sterling-James Came To Nothing

To get to the break level would have been a bonus we didn’t deserve, and as it happens, didn’t get. The Tudors six foot plus centre-back (among three six foot plus centre-backs of our own) got his head onto a corner, and was first to react as it dropped, slamming it past a blameless Richardson. Will check on the highlights, but this, unusually, appeared to be a goal and an assist to the same fella. It could, and should however, have been dealt with. Nil-one, and plenty to do.

No changes at half-time saw the Bulls attacking our 300 or so fans, or at least the terracing housing them, and thankfully, with a lot more gusto than the first 45. Home custodian Johnson, more of whom shortly, remained pretty much untested, until on the hour, some quick feet from Osborne led to confusion, a few missed hacks, and a free kick 20 yards out. You would expect that Hemel would have done their homework on the wand that is the right foot of Sterling-James, but to little surprise/much joy of the travelling support, Omari did what Omari does for a splendid equaliser. 

Momentum remained, even grew with the Bulls now seemingly a man up, and shortly after, took the lead, helpfully aided by the aforementioned Johnson. Channelling his inner Andy de Bont, a scuffed clearance found Sterling-James, who eased past his marker and whipped in the sort of cross that goal-poachers love. Cue Remaye Campbell, showing equal measures of predatory instinct and courage, touched it home before colliding, pretty heavily, with the home keeper. 

The bedlam behind him went unnoticed by Mr. Johnson, face down and motionless. A full six minutes later, a visibly shaken goalkeeper was back on his feet, while a visibly very unshaken physio was advised to look after his charges a little better – If a player takes six minutes to regain his feet after a head injury, he really shouldn’t be allowed to continue, and this on the day when a minutes silence was held in memory of Billy Vigar, the Chichester player who lost his life earlier in the week following a head injury.

So, could the Bulls, now dominating the game, see it out? Sadly not. Willo, having one of his less than influential matches was replaced by Edwards, Richards also going off for Nto, but Hemel found a way. A home striker found himself a little space 18 yards out, a neat turn found a little more, and he fired across Theo for an equaliser, the last action of any significance.

For their first half dominance alone it would be harsh to say it wasn’t a deserved draw, but the ‘Urban barnacle’ will visit the ‘Boring Market Town’ (look up Mel Smith, Football results, you won’t regret it) on Tuesday, for another go, and this time on a proper football pitch.

Credit due to Mr Caddis and his team for their resilience and attitude, and indeed their fitness, but the seeming lack of a game plan and the repeated slow starts are of concern. Individual credits to Theo and Omari, MoM’s of first and second half respectively, to Sam Osborne, who with more game time could be influential as an attacking midfielder, and to Keenan Quansah, probably his best game in a Hereford shirt, who adds mobility and pace to the centre of defence.

Plenty of credit also to the travelling support, who perhaps outnumbered and certainly out sung the home contingent. Plenty of noise but almost nothing to offend – it can be done, let’s keep it like today.

Finally, back to the question, does anything ever happen in Hemel? Maybe not, but its most famous son is almost certainly going to create sporting history later on this evening, when Luke Donald lifts the Ryder Cup. Go Europe.