These are the fixtures set to take place in the National North League this afternoon.
Alfreton v Rushall
Buxton v Kidderminster
Curzon Ashton v Warrington
Darlington v Farsley Celtic
Hereford v Chester
Kings Lynn v Chorley
Peterborough Sports v Leamington
Radcliffe v Scunthorpe
Scarborough v Marine
South Shields v Brackley
Southport v Oxford City
The game between Spennymoor and Needham Market has been postponed as Spennymoor have an FA Trophy Tie.
Once again it's back to this weekend in 2003 and a Conference game against Burton.
| Hereford United | Burton Albion |
| Matt Baker | Matt Duke |
| Matt Clarke | Terry Henshaw |
| Michael Rose | Mark Blount |
| Ian Wright (captain) | Darren Stride (captain) |
| Andy Tretton | Dale Anderson |
| Rob Purdie | Aaron Webster |
| Ben Smith | Colin Hoyle |
| Albano Correia | Craig Dudley (off, 49 minutes) |
| Paul Parry | Andy Ducros (off, 24 minutes) |
| Karl Hawley | Andy Sinton |
| Steve Guinan (off, 89 minutes) | Jon Howard |
| Subs | Subs |
| John Grant | Paul Talbot (on, 49 minutes) |
| Ken Griffiths | Dan Robinson |
| Richard Teesdale | Andy Garner |
| Danny Williams (on, 89 minutes) | Nigel Clough |
| Rob Sawyers | Ben Petty (on, 24 minutes) |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Ian Wright (foul, 44 minutes) | - |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Karl Hawley (8 minutes) | - |
| Steve Guinan (21, 30 minutes) | |
| Albano Correia (70 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Steve Guinan |
| Attendance | 1780 |
| Referee | Mr. G. Chapman (Stroud) |
There is still a chance
There
is still a chance that Hereford United can make the playoffs. With
Dagenham losing at Morecambe the Bulls are still in sixth place but only
four points adrift.
After the game Karl Hawley, the Bull's on-loan forward from Walsall
spoke to BBC Hereford & Worcester. He was asked what he made of the
game and his goal. "I got the first. It was a shot by Smith and I
deflected it in. It was a good result this afternoon."
Asked about having three strikers in the team, he said: "Steve
Guinan was like a right mid-field striker. He was told to attack more
than defend so it was all positive."
He talked of the difference between his previous club Raith Rovers
where he had also been on-loan and Conference football. "It's not too
different to Scotland as I went on loan to a second division club up
there," he continued.
"We've got no complaints," said Burton player-manager Nigel Clough
after the game."The game was dead for us after they scored three goals
in the first 31 minutes."
Last autumn Hereford ended a lean run with a 4-0 win and went on to
take ten points from the next four games. If only that sequence could be
repeated it would give the Bulls a chance to make the play-offs.
Confidence returns to the squad
Some
supporters have called today's performance "brilliant". A four-nil won
is good but Burton were not the team that defeated the Bulls at Eton
Park last October.
It should be remembered that they were without Christian Moore, who
has scored eighteen goals for them this season, and for what ever reason
Nigel Clough did not play. That said, today's win will put confidence
back into the Hereford side.
It was difficult to pick a man of the match today. Several players
could have deserved the accolade. Rob Purdie had perhaps his best game
in an United shirt so far. He seemed to run and run and was a little
unlucky not to score. It is to be hoped that Graham Turner offers him
another contract.
Steve Guinan, so missed last week until he came on as a sub, must
have found his new position as a right wing midfielder (at least that's
what Hawley called it) to his liking as he scored two good goals. The
second one from the right was a low drive from twenty yards or so.He has
now scored 14 Conference league goals this season which for a player
who is not a natural striker isn't bad. He, too, deserves to be offered a
new contract.
Of the two new strikers Albarno Correia and Karl Hawley, both had
good games. Correia looked fresher than last week and scored in the
second half. Hawley, however, seems to be more talented.He held the ball
better and challenged strongly. His goal early in the first half was a
delection off Ben Smith and he was unlucky not to have scored again
later. If only Walsall would let him go, he could make a massive
contribution to the Bulls.
A word of praise for the officials is due today. The referee had a
good game and the linemen kept up with the play. So much different to
some officials we have seen at Edgar Street recently.Although Ian Wright
picked up a yellow card for a late challenge which was probably
deserved, the game produced some good flowing football with the referee
waving play-on several times as opposed to blowing his whistle.
Graham Turner selected a team without Tony James,who failed a late
fitness test, Jamie Pitman, serving time, John Grant, and Danny Williams
who came on for three minutes for Guinan when he appeared to have
injuried his left thigh. To have won by four goals without these four
players shows that Turner has put together a useful squad. He will have
another selection problem next week of who to leave out and there's
still Richard Teesdale and Rob Sawyers looking to get a game. If only
Turner can hold onto the vast majority of the squad then even if things
don't quite work out this season the Bulls must be in with a real chance
of promotion next season
Both teams can win the league title.
The game takes place at Edgar Street with a 2pm kick-off.
Entry is just £2.
Top of the Midwest Counties Female Football League:
1- Ross Juniors 22/52
2 - Hereford Women 18/49
3- Kingfisher FC Women 19/48
Chester City will be without captain Connell Rawlinson for tomorrow's game at Hereford.
He picked up an injury against Curzon Ashton last week.
Otherwise neither Chester or Hereford are reporting any new injury problems.
Meanwhile Hereford say there are less than 130 seats remaining in the Main Stand for tomorrow's game.
The Meadow End is filling up but there is some room in the Len Weston.
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Hereford FC, fresh from doing what they needed to do against Farsley in Buxton last Saturday, face a much more challenging opponent this Saturday in the form of promotion-chasing Chester. It looks to be a much more ‘proper’ game than a lot of the dross that will be served up in the division above this weekend. Yes Maidenhead vs Tamworth, I’m looking at you.
A pessimist may point to the last big home game that Edgar Street hosted this season, Kidderminster on Boxing Day, and worry. An optimist may think it impossible for the same flat performance to be dredged up for this, especially with so much at stake. I’m with the optimists.
It took Chester manager Calum McIntyre a few months to find a successful starting XI this season, but once he did they flew up the table and up until recently were top. Not a huge surprise perhaps as you’d expect Chester to be up their challenging as one of the bigger clubs in the division.
They forked out the princely sum of £12,500 for Connor Woods from Warrington in January. Since signing he’s scored precisely no goals, so princely sum or not, he’s been about as useful as Prince Andrew for them so far. He was an unused substitute last Saturday when they drew 1-1 at home to Curzon Ashton. They also had fellow strikers Kurt Willoughby and Dan Turner on the bench for that game, so maybe they have slightly deeper pockets than Hereford despite there being similarities between the two clubs.
Willoughby was one of the division’s top scorers two seasons ago, earning him a move to Oldham. He hasn’t had the same success in this second spell at Chester though, a season-long loan from the Latics, with just five goals in 33 games.
They lost star player Charlie Caton to Accrington in January, and that has coincided with their recent slight dip. That Curzon game petered out to something of a nothingness after half-time, with the second half played out between two teams who have possibly (hopefully) passed their seasonal sell-by date, although Curzon did edge past Needham Market on Tuesday. Chester have won four and drawn four of their last ten – far from shabby but it’s form that’s seen them slip from the top of the table to fourth, five points above Hereford.
The player who has been scoring their goals this season is Tom Peers, with 17. The striker started his career at Chester before taking in a host of clubs in the northwest, returning to the Deva two seasons ago from Macclesfield.
Ex-Bulls Mitch Hancox and Ben Pollock were recruited in the summer, although Hancox promptly moved on again in January, to Spennymoor, with Pollock following him to the same club in February.
Declan Weeks is as ever the fulcrum of the team, and if he can be nullified the likes of Peers will be starved of opportunities.
The Blues are typically very, very good defensively at the Deva, and true to form this season they’ve conceded fewer goals than anyone at home, but away they’re really quite leaky, having let in more goals than anyone in the division on their travels apart from South Shields, outside the bottom five. Visiting defenders can no longer coast through games at Edgar Street in the way they’ve been able to do depressingly often in the past, now that Remaye Campbell is giving them something to think about. If Chester do have a weakness away from home, which they very much seem to have, Remaye will exploit it. If they try to rip his shirt to shreds or give him a friendly strangle, hopefully the ref will see it and brandish an early yellow card or two.
Hereford loanee Kieran Coates left Chester last summer having spent a couple of years there, and will presumably be well up for this as a result. The signing of Coates hot on the heels of the arrival of Omari Sterling-James offers more evidence that the Hereford board and manager aren’t content to sit on their hands and hope for the best in terms of play-off qualification. Coates looks to be a player who will add the same sort of quality as OSJ has at the other end of the pitch, and their presence makes the squad look more competitive against the likes of Chester than was previously the case.
If the Bulls do make the play-offs these clubs could be seeing each other again in a few short weeks, so this could be a useful exercise in sizing up the opposition for that. However, that’s all a long, long way into the future in terms of any number of variables still to come before the regular season finishes, so I’ll stop right there with that nonsense.
The visitors will of course be up for this more than if it was someone a bit boring, but given their away record, and the wobbles they’ve experienced lately, it’s utterly winnable if the hosts go into it with the sort of confident mindset that saw them win impressively against Curzon Ashton two weeks ago.
COYW
A preview of Saturday's National North League fixtures from the National League:
Scunthorpe United know that if they’re flawless from now on in, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop them taking the National League North title.
Those chasing will be comforted by the fact Saturday’s opponents Radcliffe have something to play for, sitting just one place above the relegation-zone. Aways games could settle it, with the Iron also on the road at Hereford and King’s Lynn Town in the final month.
The problem for second-place Kidderminster Harriers is that the side they visit on Saturday won’t be on the beach, either. Just two points off the play-offs, Buxton won’t want to let Kiddy close their own two-point gap.
The title hunters are all on the road and Brackley Town fans may feel anything other than victory at South Shields could do significant damage to their championship hopes.
A number of the sides desperate for success in the play-offs come together.
Hereford host Chester, who are all-but out of the race for automatic promotion. King's Lynn Town are level on points with the Bulls but are just outside the top seven. They host Chorley, who are by no means certain of their place.
With Farsley Celtic relegated in midweek, defeat at Curzon Ashton on Saturday will end Warrington Town's one-year stay in the National League North.
It’s almost win or bust for the other two in the bottom four. Alfreton Town stand in struggling Rushall Olympic’s way, while Needham Market must wait with opponents Spennymoor Town in FA Trophy action.
The winner of Southport vs Oxford City will have their place confirmed for next season.
Elsewhere, Darlington face already down Farsley, Peterborough Sports play Leamington as Scarborough Athletic host now-safe Marine.
National League North fixtures:
Alfreton Town v Rushall Olympic
Buxton v Kidderminster Harriers
Curzon Ashton v Warrington Town
Darlington v Farsley Celtic
Hereford v Chester
King's Lynn Town v Chorley
Peterborough Sports v Leamington
Radcliffe v Scunthorpe United
Scarborough Athletic v Marine
South Shields v Brackley Town
Southport v Oxford City
 |
| Last Season's Game Was A 1-1 Draw With Andy Williams Scoring For Hereford |
The odds are in favour, just, of a Chester win at Edgar Street on Saturday but in truth there's little in it according to the bookmakers.
Chester are 4th in the table with 74 points from 41 games, Hereford are 7th with 69 points from 41 games but have home advantage.
Last Saturday Hereford defeated Farsley 4-0, Chester drew 1-1 at home against Curzon Ashton (6th).
Hereford's home record is won 11, drawn 4 and lost 5.
Chester's away record is won 9, drawn 4 and lost 7.
As for goal difference, Hereford's is plus 18, Chester's is plus 22.
Recent form:
Hereford LLLWW
Chester LWWLD
Hereford 19/10 Draw 23/10 Chester 6/4
Hereford FC are hoping for a gate of around 4000 when Chester visit Edgar Street on Saturday.
The club are having a Fans Zone outside Radfords and the London Bulls are doing a Podcast inside Radfords.
"Attendance wise it's looking to be in and around the 4,000 mark,"said Hereford general manager Jamie Griffiths.
"And up to potentially 500 from Chester, they are close to 350 tickets sales at the minute.
"As for Hereford fans sales are way ahead of where they would be for an average game.
"So it looks like it will be a great atmosphere.
"We've got a fans zone outside Radfords with a couple of food vendors.
"London Bulls are going to do a live podcast in Radfords as well so plenty of reasons to get down here early and soak up the sun and have a couple of drinks."
Club Chairman Chris Ammonds is also looking forward to the game.
"Even the weather look like it might be playing ball.
"It should be a really good day.
"The game itself looks to be an absolute cracker and has the potential to be one of those really memorable afternoons
"So get yourselves down to the club early, enjoy yourselves, have a few drinks in the sunshine, I'm partial to a couple of drinks in the sunshine'
"It will be absolutely fantastic. I'm really looking forward to it."
Quotes from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2W5GZnl_-Y
A large selection of HFC pin-badges will be on sale pre match this Saturday v Chester City. All those badges pictured are available at £1 or £3 each ( cash only ) from a sales point in front of the matchday ticket office. As usual all net proceeds go directly to HFC.
Peter Heritage opens the scoring, but a controversial penalty gives Wrexham the opportunity to equalise.
Former Hereford United player Ronnie Burbeck died on Monday, aged 90.
He made 61 appearances for the club between 1964/65 to 1966/67.
Hereford historian Ron Parrott will post an obituary later.
Hereford, currently 7th in the National North League, have five games to play this month.
Saturday, April 5: Chester (h) - 3pm
Saturday, April 12: Oxford City (a) - 3pm
Friday, April 18: Leamington (h) - 3pm
Monday, April 21: Kidderminster Harriers (a) - 3pm
Saturday, April 26: Scunthorpe United (h) - 3pm
Next Saturday's game against Chester, who are 4th, is all-important. A win would keep Hereford in the play-off positions.
Tickets for the game are on sale. Buying in advance is a bit cheaper.
https://herefordfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/chester_2425
Three fixtures took place in the National North League this evening.
Farsley Celtic 1-3 Oxford City
Needham Market 2-3 Curzon Ashton
Spennymoor 2-0 Warrington
Curzon move above Hereford into 6th position.
6th - Curzon 40/69 GD+20
7th - Hereford 41/69 GD+18
8th - Kings Lynn 41/69 GD+6
9th - Buxton 41/67 GD +19
10th - Spennymoor 41/66 GD +22
Realistically Hereford need to win their game against Chester on Saturday or they could drop out of the play-off places.
This from the National League:
Farsley Celtic will be relegated from the National League North tonight if they fail to win at home to Oxford City.
Needham Market know that to avoid going down with them, wins must start coming. They look to make up the seven-point gap with a win at home to Curzon Ashton.
But the Nash have their own agenda - victory takes them into the play-off places.
Warrington Town also know time is ticking down and 13 points from safety, it’ll be all over bar the shouting if they lose at Spennymoor Town later on.
The chairman of National League Yeovil has decided to sell the club because of abuse from some fans.
Martin Hellier bought the club nearly two years ago. Stuart Robins will take over as chairman until a new owner is found.
"I am proud of the significant changes made around the club, changes that I believe will benefit it for years to come," Hellier said.
"Helping the club regain its place in the National League was a key milestone, and while the journey has had its challenges, real progress has been made.
"However, due to the pressures placed on myself and my family, I have made the decision to step away from my role."
Earlier he gave his reasons for wanting to sell.
"I fully intend to sell the club and leave as soon as a suitable buyer is found," he said '
"It's simply not worth losing the money to be abused and my children abused and so on.
"I would ask in the meantime that you stop the endless online harassment and abuse. You've done enough, it's worked.
"My investment provided the club with the funds needed to get through and provided you with football and promotion to the NL (National League) but has given me nothing but abuse and minus £4m personal deficit," Hellier added.
"So yes, I do not intend to be at YTFC next season. Your abuse has succeeded. Now leave me alone until the end of the season."
As of this morning Chester had sold 300 tickets for the game against Hereford at Edgar Street on Saturday.
Chester have been given 348 seated and 352 standing tickets, all in the Len Weston Stand.
All eyes will be on Tuesday's fixtures and in particular the games at Needham and Spennymoor.
Ideally from a Hereford point of view wins for both Needham and Warrington would be appreciated.
Farsley Celtic v Oxford City
Needham Market v Curzon Ashton
Spennymoor v Warrington
| 6 | Hereford | 41 | 69 | |||
| 7 | Kings Lynn Town | 41 | 69 | |||
| 8 | Buxton | 41 | 67 | |||
| 9 | Curzon Ashton | 39 | 66 | |||
| 10 | Spennymoor Town | 40 | 63 |
