Cawley Cox celebrates with Harrison Iwunze after the Notts County loanee's second Hereford FC v Spennymoor Town in the Enterprise National League North.
Following the 1-0 victory on Bank Holiday Monday at Haig Avenue against the Sandgrounders which took the Bulls to 2nd place in the table they returned to the MandM Edgar Street Stadium to face 22nd in the table Spennymoor Town who had Director of Football Jason Ainsley in the dugout following the resignation of manager Tommy Miller on Wednesday.
Vice-captain Kam Kandola served the final game of his three-match ban, Aaron Skinner continued to deputise with the captain's armband and Harrison Iwunze came into the starting line-up with Danny Waldron on the bench. Ex-Bull Ben Pollock started for the Moors along with goalkeeper Jake Oram who made his debut after signing a youth loan from Sky Bet League One side Doncaster Rovers.
The game started a bit back-and-forth between the two sides with the Moors starting with a bit more of the possession.
8 minutes on the clock and the first opportunity for the Moors with Cam Salkeld who found space on the right before crossing into the box but Glen Taylor's first-time curler was tame.
Harry Tustin then looked to create something for Hereford when he went on a lung-busting run down the centre of the Moors half before he was cynically hacked down on the edge of the box by Richie Bennett who was the first in the book. From the set-piece Luke Spokes’ effort just went over the crossbar and ripped the top of the net.
Spokes played a great cross-field ball across to Joseph James who clipped the ball into the area towards Harrison Iwunze with the strikers header into the ground repelled by goalkeeper Jake Oram before ex-Bull Ben Pollock cleared for a corner before Spokes lofted the resulting corner into the box but James could only head over.
On 21 minutes Iwunze opened the scoring getting his fourth goal for the club after he was played through by Spokes inside the box, before steadying himself and lifting the ball over Oram high into the top-left corner.
The visitors responded with a floated cross by Salkeld from the right which was easily collected by Theo Richardson.
Moors then had their first corner which was delivered by Matty Dolan towards the back post finding Dan Jones but his header fell into arms of Richardson with the Bulls stopper called into action shortly afterwards when he was equal to Taylor's curling effort from the outside of the box diving full-stretch to his left.
Taylor then had a strike which fell to Bennett inside the area but the Moors forward brought down Howkins for a foul.
The dangerous Salkeld tried again from the right swinging the ball in which Bennett knocked down to Jack Jenkins, before his low right foot shot was well held by Richardson before the Moors almost levelled two minutes before the interval after another good ball into the box to the back post by Salkeld was headed down by Taylor which Richardson palmed around the post for a corner.
After taking the lead Hereford had a spell on the front foot before Spennymoor pushed towards the break but Richardson was equal to whatever they could throw at him keeping the Bulls’ lead intact.
Half-time: Hereford FC 1-0 Spennymoor Town
A change at half-time saw Keziah Martin make way for Cawley Cox.
The Bulls striker was involved in the thick of the action from the off when Skinner clipped a delightful ball into the danger area from the left which just evaded the onrushing no.9 who couldn't quite get anything on the end of the delivery.
Hereford’s first corner of the second period didn't come to anything after Spokes delivered to the front post with Dolan flicking the ball away with his head.
Phillips then had a good chance when he cut into the box before from the right but could only lift his strike past the left upright.
The Moors had a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box on the left, Dolan stood over it but his delivery was straight down the throat of Richardson.
Hereford started to up the intensity in search of a second, Iwunze did well to lay the ball to Phillips who burst into the Spennymoor half before threading through to Cox who'd made a good run into the box before he cut back onto his left before seeing his fizzing drive narrowly whistle past the right post. The Bulls continued on the offensive after great work again by Phillips on the edge of the area, he played the ball across to Preston Bitemo on the right who was in space before the Bulls midfielder's stinging strike was straight at Oram who collected at the second attempt.
There were then shouts for a red card after Moors substitute Sam Murray steamed into Iwunze near the left touchline but only a yellow was brandished by referee Darren Rogers.
The Notts County loanee then twisted and turned and got a shot away from inside the area from a tight angle which Oram beat away.
Phillips tried his luck from the edge of the box but Oram patted down the shot and collected before the visitors went on a rapid counter-attack and equalised on 72 minutes, Junior Mondal whipped a ball across the face of the box which substitute Danny Johnson slid in and smashed into the bottom-left corner.
Jones then saw Richardson slightly off his line and tried to lob him from a free-kick just inside the Moors half but his high and hopeful effort was comfortable for Richardson.
Four minutes later Iwunze regained the Bulls’ lead grabbing his second of the afternoon, the striker received a pass from Cox before turning on the edge of the box and slotted past Oram into the bottom-right corner.
Late in the game Spennymoor persevered in search of a second equaliser, firstly a long throw into the area by Jones near the right corner was claimed by Richardson before a free-kick on the right which Dolan swung into the box was headed away by Will Merrett. Which Phillips picked up the loose ball and sent the Bulls on the counter-attack before the wideman flashed a ball across the face of the box which Oram got finger tips to before substitute Jordan Williamson collected and fired goalwards only for the Moors loanee keeper to push the strike away before the full-time whistle blew sounding back-to-back wins for the Bulls.
Full-time: Hereford FC 2-1 Spennymoor Town
Goals scored by Harrison Iwunze (x2)
Hereford FC Starting XI:- 1 Theo Richardson, 2 Aaron Skinner ©️, 5 Will Merrett, 7 Keziah Martin, 8 Harry Tustin, 14 Luke Spokes, 17 Joseph James, 19 Harrison Iwunze, 20 Preston Bitemo, 23 Billy Phillips, 28 Kyle Howkins.
Substitutes:- 9 Cawley Cox, 10 Danny Waldron, 15 Jordan Williamson, 18 Liam Roberts, 21 Ollie Lewis, 24 Jack Tolley, 25 Harry Jones.
Attendance 3228
The Bulls kept their 2nd place in the table claiming back-to-back wins courtesy of Harrison Iwunze’s brace.
A first ever trip to Harborough Town and the Harborough Town Community Football Ground next up. COYW
Words: Sam Cummins
