Bulls fans heading to Lancashire for the game at second placed AFC Fylde could be forgiven for a lack of optimism, based on the two clubs’ recent form and respective league positions. Did we expect to get much out of the game? No.
We did indeed come away with nothing but that really doesn’t tell the whole story. The Bulls matched the home team in all aspects of the game, and had enough chances to have been two up at half time. If the game was measured by that ludicrous metric beloved of Sky Sports pundits, xG, we would have had it sown up. However the only number that counts is goals scored, and having battled for the win right to the end the Bulls fell to a goal from substitute Ustabasi in the last of the 4 additional minutes.
Hereford made three changes to the starting line up from the side who drew against Telford as Mafuta, Edwards and Williams came in. Howkins was injured; Richards and Campbell on the bench. Theo in goal behind Skinner, Preston, Parker and Hudson. Mufata & Cooper in the deeper midfield positions, Osborne, Edwards and Sterling-James the three behind lone striker Williams, in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Much has been said about the single striker option, and while it’s not inherently a bad idea, it only works if the others get up to support him, and on many occasions Williams looked quite isolated.
Having said that, on 6 minutes he was put through by Mufata but the Fylde keeper saved comfortably. Two minutes later from a Fylde corner Thomas had a worryingly unchallenged header but was way off target. Then at the other end Williams was through again but once more was denied by Jones who then saved again from Osborne’s attempt to score from the rebound. From the resulting corner the ball fell again to Osborne whose low shot was just wide. Exciting stuff.
The game was quite open, with both sides having chances. Hudon crossed from the left, and Osborne hooked the ball back into the middle from beyond the far post for Williams to attempt a diving header, risking decapitation from the keeper’s boot as he hacked it clear. With the Bulls heavily committed to attack, and with Hudson now out of position Fylde broke upfield, the Bulls failed to clear and Ormerod finished strongly to put the home side 1-0 up.
Hereford still kept taking the game to Fylde. Williams had an opportunity to score on 37 minutes, seizing on a loose back pass, but Jones smothered the
chance. Then Osborne’s cross from the right was deflected behind Williams just as it appeared to be dropping perfectly for him.
Shortly before half time Paul Caddis was yellow carded for something he said. He just can’t help himself.
That was the last event of any note in the half, and the Bulls went in 1-0 down but certainly not outplayed.
Half time: AFC Fylde 1 Hereford FC 0
No substitutions at half time and immediately Parker made a fine run but saw his shot deflected. Sterling-James “took one for the team”, getting a yellow card for stopping a Fylde breakaway. Osborne had a long range shot just over. On 57 minutes Richardson made a good save from Mitchell having been wrong footed and unsighted. He couldn’t hold the shot but recovered brilliantly to flick the ball off an opponent’s toe when a goal seemed certain. There was another heart stopping moment when a poor back pass from Preston let Ormerod in. Parker seemed slow to recognise the danger at first but his great pace rescued the situation and Ormerod shot wide under pressure.
On 67 minutes Hereford drew level. With two Fylde defenders looking to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick Hudson manged to get to the ball and with the home keeper coming out, Hudson’s low cross found Willo at the back post for a tap-in.
Five minutes later Williams was came off for Campbell. It’s fair to say that Williams didn’t looked thrilled about it. A couple of minutes later Mafuta, who was clearly completely knackered, came off for Richards.
At this point the game looked as if it could go either way. The Bulls weren’t holding on for a draw, and clearly thought they could win it. Sadly it was the home team that did, Ormerod putting Ustabasi in for the final goal.
There was no time for a come back, and the Bulls were clearly gutted at the end, to have given so much against a team placed second in the table, and matched them all the way.
The Teams
Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Hudson, Preston, Parker, Mafuta (Richards 76), Cooper, Osborne, Edwards (Bitemo 90+2), Williams (Campbell 78), Sterling-James
Subs: Lewis, Quansah, Rooney
AFC Fylde: Jones, Mitchell, Taylor, Merrie, Thomas, Healy-Byrne, Brockbank, C Whelan, T Whelan, Colclough, Ormerod
Subs: Boyes, Coates, McFayden, Wilson, Jolley, Ustabasi, Meadowcroft
Man of the match: Parker is both literally and figuratively head and shoulders above of the rest and clearly has a good football career ahead of him. However my choice for MoM would be Cooper. Maybe surprising but he protected the back four well, broke up attacks and used the ball quickly and effectively. With Mufata still a long way short of full fitness he was doing two player’s jobs for a while until Richards replaced big Gus.
I’ve written before about the set up at Fylde. It’s very impressive at this level of football, but with only small towns and villages nearby, and competing for support with Preston, Blackpool and Fleetwood, it can’t be sustainable without considerable financial input from the owner. Yesterday’s crowd was about 1,100. Do the maths.
I have to be honest, I’m not a fan of drums at football matches. However you have to give credit to the travelling support behind the goal for their commitment, particularly for the relentless 20 minute version of “That’s the way (Uh-huh) I like it”. What it lacked in musicality it more than made up for in stamina.
The pies and mushy peas were reasonable, although describing the pie as “Steak and Ale” was overselling it a bit. Seven out of ten.
The Bulls have to shrug off the disappointment and prepare for the visit of Curzon Ashton next week.
COYW
Harwood Bull