Hey big spenders!

Hereford FC host big-spending Hednesford on Saturday as they look to pick up where they left off in the National League North, after an enforced and unwanted mini-break. The Bulls’ blistering start to the season sees them top of the table, and everyone will be hoping that momentum hasn’t been dented by an early FA Cup exit and the resultant pause in league action.

As usual it’ll be a relief to return to Ben Bowen’s lovely live grass on Saturday after another plastic away-day at Bedford last time out, a last time out that seems like ages ago now.

Hednesford are still a little bit in the collecting-players-like-they’re-Panini-stickers phase of the new-found-wealth cycle, a cycle that has a tendency to pedal itself off a cliff edge if it’s not ridden sensibly. In the Pitmen’s case it seems that sustainable investment is the name of the game with infrastructure improvements at Keys Park given at least as much priority as the Panini aspect. Proper club, good to see them on an upward trajectory.

Their latest Panini sticker is Danny Whitehall from Scunthorpe. The 6’ 3” Liverpudlian reliably scores a goal every other game at this level, and is presumably being paid Scunthorpe-ish money. He’s played once for his new club and impressively contributed three assists in that one appearance.

Since gaining promotion last season, and being tipped in some quarters to go up again off the back of their new-found wealth, Hednesford haven’t found things easy in the National League North so far. However, last time they won 4-1 at home to struggling Radcliffe. Ex-Halifax midfielder and top scorer Jamie Cooke got two of the goals and ex-Bull Ahkeem Rose got one. Another ex-Bull Omari Sterling-James is in and out of the starting XI. That win moved them up to 15th, three points clear of the relegation places.

They’ve won just one of their five away games so far, at Paul Caddis’s King’s Lynn. Dylan Mottley-Henry scored in that game, and the ex-Chester man is one to be mindful of.

Cooke, Mottram-Henry, Rose, Whitehall and ex-Yeovil striker Aaron Jarvis represent a potent attacking threat, with OSJ pulling the strings behind. Plenty to keep Kyle Howkins and Will Merrett on their toes, a central defensive partnership that has generally been excellent so far this season.

They had the weekend off last week, as like Hereford they lost in the Cup at the first time of asking to lower-graded opposition, in their case 1-0 at home against Coventry United.

So they’ve got plenty about them in attacking positions, but they’ll be rightly concerned about the strength the hosts have in those areas. The three Hereford strikers are scoring freely, particularly Harrison Iwunze, as is Billy Phillips. Supporters will be keen to get a proper look at new arrival Kameron Muir who, despite being only 17, looks to be a very promising loan acquisition indeed.

Long-term absentee Joe Willis could make his senior club debut in some capacity here too, and given the Downes-Pell recruitment record so far, his introduction is something else supporters will eagerly anticipate.

Keziah Martin will possibly be back in the Hereford squad for this one after suffering from some tendonitis in his foot recently. A quality player who will contribute significantly over the course of the season to the push for promotion.

Thankfully there are still things money can’t buy, one of which is the team spirit Aaron Downes and Harry Pell have instilled in this Bulls squad.

Hopefully good players will continue to be attracted to Edgar Street by the lure of playing in front of a crowd, even if they’re getting paid less than at some smaller clubs. By definition you then get players with something of the right calibre about them rather than money-grabbers. Certainly this season’s HFC crop, as well as being a hugely talented group, seem like a very nice bunch of human beings too, whilst at the same time not being averse to a yellow card or two. A good balance.

Aaron Downes’ post-match interview after Bedford showed how invested he is in this, how bloodlessly Australian he is in pursuit of being a winner, how irritated he was at the late equaliser, but how capable he is of expressing that irritation rationally and articulately, and not having to blast hairdryers in people’s faces. His ‘the players owe us two points’ comment dripped with uncompromising authority, all the more so as it was delivered in a measured way.

However…no wins in two. No wins since narrowly scraping past South Shields almost a month ago. Only two points clear at the top. Disgraceful. Mr Downes needs to turn things around here with a much-needed win.

Given the Staffordshire side’s strength up top, this could be a bit of a belter for another bumper crowd to enjoy.

COYW