Match Report: Hereford FC 0-1 AFC Telford United

Hereford FC v AFC Telford United in the Enterprise National League North.

The Bulls were back at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium for a local derby against AFC Telford United after reclaiming top spot following victory on Saturday in the top-of-the-table clash against Macclesfield FC in biblical conditions.

Aaron Downes and Harry Pell kept the same line-up and bench following the victory over the Silkmen.

The Bucks had a plethora of ex-Bulls in their ranks with Brandon Hall, Zak Lilly, Orrin Pendley, Kian Ryley, Dylan Mitchell and Jordan Cranston all now residing at the Shropshire outfit however only Hall and Lilly started with Pendley, Ryley, Mitchell and Cranston were on the bench.

Telford came flying out of the traps, a ball from the right by Jamie Meddows into box was cleared for a corner before a coming together of Louis Moult and Kyle Howkins before a corner was played towards the front post by Mel Benning which Joseph James cleared.

Charlie Williams won the ball on the left flank before going on a marauding run, flashing a cross into the path of Moult who stabbed wide of the left post.

The Bucks continued on the ascendency penning the Bulls back into their own half with Sam McLintock lashing a powerful strike wide from 30-yards.

Williams had a dig from the edge of the box on the left floating narrowly wide.

25 minutes in and Hereford had failed to test former Bulls no.1 Hall before warming his gloves when James swung a ball into the area which was chested into the path of Aaron Skinner by Billy Phillips, the latter's shot tipped away by Hall for a corner.

James scooped high over the bar from a central position before the visitors went up the other end and broke the deadlock on 32 minutes with their pressure finally telling, a long ball found Williams who squared from the right for Moult to have the simplest of tap-ins 5-yards out at the far post.

A disjointed first-half display by the Bulls saw them narrowly trail at the break.

Half-time: Hereford FC 0-1 AFC Telford United 

Hereford started the second-half kicking towards the Meadow End with much more intensity.

Phillips’ effort trickled past the left post for a corner after a wicked deflection.

The Bulls won a free-kick in the left corner after a high challenge on Harrison Iwunze by Remi Walker with Luke Spokes’ curler almost creeping underneath the bar but just crashed off it.

Telford introduced ex-Bull Ryley as a substitute whose first involvement was to ping a cross into the box which Moult latched onto, his goal bound shot was well blocked by Howkins before the rebound fell to Walker who blazed narrowly wide of the top-right corner.

Hereford were really starting to now up the ante in search of an equaliser throwing bodies forward at any given opportunity - Spokes was next to try his luck after being teed up inside the box on the left by Skinner before he fizzed a drive across the face of the box low and hard towards the bottom-right corner but Hall was equal to the effort parrying away for a corner.

The former Hereford shot-stopper was called upon again pulling off a quick-fire double save, firstly a miscommunication at the back by Lilly and Oliver Cawthorne allowed Iwunze through one-on-one but he pulled off a point blank save before the rebound fell into the path of Fin Holmes who again could only find the Bucks custodian in the way.

Shortly afterwards there was a worrying sight  with Phillips going off to be replaced by Keziah Martin after a tackle by Ryley near the left touchline before the visitors saw out five minutes of stoppage time to inflict a second straight home defeat on the Bulls.

Full-time: Hereford FC 0-1 AFC Telford United 

Hereford FC: 1. Theo Richardson, 2. Aaron Skinner, 4. Kam Kandola ©️, 5. Will Merrett, 8. Harry Tustin, 10. Danny Waldron, 14. Luke Spokes, 17. Joseph James, 19. Harrison Iwunze, 23. Billy Phillips, 28. Kyle Howkins.

Substitutes: 6. Joe Willis, 7. Keziah Martin, 9. Cawley Cox, 11. Fin Holmes, 18. Liam Roberts, 21. Ollie Lewis, 30. Kameron Muir.

Attendance 3525 (170 away)

Bitterly disappointing and frustrating that Hereford couldn't back up the immense victory at Macclesfield after regaining top stop with the Bulls huffing and puffing in the second-half but couldn't quite do enough with Telford inflicting a second straight home defeat meaning surrendering the summit once again.

However no time to dwell with a quick turnaround and a chance to bounce back with the visit of King's Lynn Town and the return of former manager Paul Caddis and assistant manager Adam Rooney to the MandM Edgar Street Stadium. COYW

Words: Sam Cummins

Tonight's National North League Results

Bedford 1 Hednesford 0

Buxton 3 Harborough 0

Chester 2 Marine 1

Hereford 0 Telford 1

Morecambe 1 Darlington 0

Oxford City 3 Merthyr 0

Radcliffe 0 Chorley 3

Spalding 2 Brackley 2

Spennymoor 0 South Shields 1

Worksop 5 Kings Lynn 0 

Oxford City top the league with 27 points from 13 games, Hereford are second with 26 points from 13 games.

South Shields are third also with 26 points from 13 games but with a poorer goal difference than Hereford. 

REACTION | Luke Spokes - Hereford FC 0-1 AFC Telford United

Man of the match Luke Spokes gives his reaction to tonight's performance, click on the link below to hear his thoughts.

REACTION | Aaron Downes - Hereford FC 0-1 AFC Telford United

Aaron Downes gives his post match reaction to tonights defeat against Telford, click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

Hereford Lose To Telford

At full time tonight's game at Edgar Street ended:

Hereford  0  Telford. 1

A first half goal for Telford separated the sides.

Whilst Hereford did come into game in the second half, Telford deserved to take all three points.

Hereford drop to second in the table.

Next for Hereford on Saturday is Kings Lynn who lost 5-0 at Worksop this evening.

Half Time Hereford v Telford

At half time in tonight's game at Edgar Street it's:

Hereford  0 Telford 1

Telford took the lead in the 32 minute.

They have bossed the first half and should have added to their talley.

However Hereford will be playing down the slope in the second half.

Team News Hereford v Telford

The unchanged Hereford line-up against Telford:

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Kandola, Merrett, Waldron, Spokes, James, Iwunze, Tustin, Phillips, Howkins. 

Subs: Willis, Martin, Cox, Holmes, Roberts, Lewis, Muir 

 

Muir Loan Exrended

Kameron Muir is to stay with Hereford for a further month.

The Notts County youngster has made two substitute appearances so far.

Manager Aaron Downes speaking after Saturdays game said he was hopeful to see the loan extended.

Talking Bull On Sale Tonight!

This from Talking Bull

Due to some amazing work by our printers - Signworx - there will be a limited number of the latest edition of Talking Bull on sale tonight ahead of the Hereford vs Telford match.

First come, first served. Cash £3.

If you're not able to get to Edgar Street this evening you can still order via the Talking Bull online store and have a copy in pristine condition delivered to your letterbox, or a digital copy will save you postage and packing.

Printed copies will also be sold ahead of the Kings Lynn fixture on Saturday at Edgar Street whilst stocks last.

National North League Preview

A look forward to the games taking place in the National North League this evening written by NL's Richard Dorman:

Another packed midweek programme in the Enterprise National League North gets under way tonight. Barely is there time to wring out the kit from the weekend, before we're back to action once more!

So what’s in store this evening?

Hereford are back on top after winning 2-1 at Macclesfield on Saturday... and with only three points covering the top four places, Aaron Downes’ side can’t afford to let up. AFC Telford United make the 50-mile trip to Edgar Street, where they’ll need to find a way past a defence that has conceded just seven all season.

Second-placed Oxford City have enjoyed their travels: they’ve won five of their seven away games. But they're back on their own patch tonight - where they have just two wins in five league games to date. So they'll be aiming to find home comforts - with this evening's game against Merthyr Town being the first of three in a row at the MGroup Stadium.

Nobody is on a quicker rise than Hednesford Town, who beat Spalding 2-0 for a fourth straight win. They head to Bedford Town, who won at Scarborough on Saturday, just days after going out of the FA Cup on penalties to Cray Wanderers.

There’s a new chapter at Darlington, where Steve Watson left last week. Terry Mitchell’s first game in interim charge brought a 3-0 win over Spennymoor. Dylan Stephenson scored a hat-trick, and it was the Quakers’ first home win since March. They visit Morecambe - who won 3-0 when the sides met in the FA Cup on the Lancashire coast earlier this month.

Spennymoor Town remain bottom and welcome South Shields, who make the short trip down the A1(M). Shields won this fixture 6-0 last Boxing Day, and shrugged off back-to-back losses to leapfrog visiting Chester at the weekend.

Speaking of which: Chester, now seventh, host a Marine side that went into last Saturday on a six-game winning run in all competitions.

Radcliffe have won all three games under new manager Grant Shenton, the latest at Brackley. They host a Chorley side who have had a tough week, going out of the FA Cup at Worcester City and then losing 3-2 at home to Buxton.

Buxton host a Harborough Town side who have only played at home in October - winning three times and drawing against Worksop at the weekend. Worksop Town welcome King’s Lynn Town, who are unbeaten in five, and Brackley Town go to Spalding United, who have lost to Hednesford and to Alvechurch in the FA Cup over the past week.

 

Telford Manager Pre Hereford Tonight

AFC Telford manager Kevin Wilkin has spoken about tonight's game at Edgar Street.

Telford have taken four points from their last two games and Wilkin has told his players to ask questions of Hereford.

“They’ve had a fantastic start and we know they've got that bit of momentum at the moment,” he said as reported by the Shropshire Star. 

"It’s never an easy place to go, and with the form they find themselves in there will be plenty of confidence that they’ll have off the back of being top of the league.

“It’s going to be a really tough game for us, but we’re looking forward to it, especially after the last couple of strong performances we’re had.

“We've been really competitive pretty much throughout the course of the season, and haven't won as many games as probably we deserve to do, but that is the step forward that we need to take.

“It'll be a real big challenge for us on Tuesday night, but we have to look forward to it, and if we can go out there and apply ourselves in a way that I know we're capable of, I'd like to think we'll give ourselves a chance.

“They've had a fantastic season and have changed lots of things around after a tough, tough season last season, but they have recruited really well through the summer, and it's always a difficult place to go.

“We look forward to it, and I don't view it as a free hit. We want to go there, be competitive, and try and ask questions of Hereford."

 

 

Tonight's National North League Fixtures

A list of the fixtures set to take place in the National North League this evening:

Bedford v Hednesford

Buxton v Harborough

Chester v Marine

Hereford v Telford

Morecambe v Darlington

Oxford City v Merthyr

Radcliffe v Chorley

Spalding v Brackley

Spennymoor v South Shields

Worksop v Kings Lynn 

The game between Southport and Macclesfield was called off yesterday because of damage to the stadium caused by the recent high winds.

Hereford 11/13 To Defeat Telford

Sam Osborne Scored For Hereford Against Telford Last Season

 Telford are the visitors tomorrow evening to Edgar Street for a National North League fixture and according to the bookmakers Hereford are 11/13 to win the game.

Currently Hereford top the league after their 2-1 victory at Macclesfield last Saturday.

Telford are 21st. They draw, at home, 2-2 against Hebburn (10th).

Hereford's home form is won 4, drawn 1 and lost 1.

Telford's away form is won 1, drawn 2 and lost 3.

As for goal difference Hereford's is plus 17, Telford's is minus 7.

However it has to be noted that half a dozen or so of the Telford squad are ex-Hereford players.

Hereford 11/13  Draw 11/4  Telford 27/10

Meanwhile following their victory at Macclesfield, Hereford's odds for winning the League title are now 9/2.

Macclesfield and South Shields are both 4/1. 

Southport Postpone Tomorrow's Game Against Macclesfield

Hereford At A Sunny Southport Last August

Southport's game against Macclesfield due to take place tomorrow evening has been postponed.

This from Southport:

Following the passing of Storm Boelo over the weekend, the National League has been advised that there was significant damage caused to Southport’s stadium, including damage to panels on the side of the main stand, advertising hoardings, and a marquee in the ground which has been ripped from its stand. 

Given the extent of the damage, the limited timeframe to fully implement repairs ahead of tomorrow’s game against Macclesfield, and forecast over the next 24 hours, the National League has determined that the match will be postponed in the interest of safety for all parties.  

Tickets On Sale For U18's Cup Tie At Oxford

Tickets for Hereford's Under 18's FA Youth Cup First Round Tie at Oxford City on Wednesday November 4th go on sale from tomorrow morning.

The game takes place at the MGroup stadium and kicks off at 7.30pm.

Admission is £6 for adults, £3 for concessions and £2 for under 18's.

Last season Oxford City reached the fifth round of the competition.