REACTION | Aaron Downes - Hereford FC 2-1 South Shields

Aaron Downes gives his post match reaction to todays 2-1 win over South Shields, click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

REACTION | Harrison Sohna - Hereford FC 2-1 South Shields

Man of the match Harrison Sohna gives his post match reaction to todays 2-1 win over South Shields.

Click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

Saturday’s Enterprise National League North results and updated table

This afternoon's results from the National League North:

AFC Fylde (1) 4-1 (1) King's Lynn Town
Alfreton Town (0) 0-2 (0) Peterborough Sports
Bedford Town (0) 1-0 (0) Radcliffe
Chorley (1) 1-2 (0) Buxton
Curzon Ashton (0) 0-2 (1) Macclesfield
Darlington (0) 1-0 (0) Leamington
Hereford (0) 2-1 (0) South Shields
Kidderminster Harriers (0) 1-1 (0) Chester
Marine (1) 4-2 (1) Worksop Town
Merthyr Town (1) 2-3 (0) Spennymoor Town
Scarborough Athletic (0) 1-1 (1) AFC Telford United
Southport (1) 1-3 (1) Oxford City

The updated league table can be found here: http://bullsnews.blogspot.com/p/league-table.html

Sensational Sohna brace sees Hereford topple leaders

South Shields have lost their place at the top of the National League North table after falling to a 2-1 loss at Edgar Street.

It ends the Mariners' 16-game unbeaten run with two sublime goals in the second half for Harrison Sohna, the first curled into the top left hand corner from open play and the second from a free kick in a similar position on the right.

The visitors did grab a late consolation goal thanks to Lennon Wheldon.

But Hereford had done well to keep Shields at bay and limit their chances throughout the afternoon, and are rewarded with their third straight league win for the first time this season.

Hereford team news for visit of tabld toppers South Shields

This afternoon's Hereford side to take on league leaders South Shields at Edgar Street.

Richardson, Skinner, Hudson, D'Ath, Sohna, Quansah, Munday, Daly, Martin, Willcox, Howkins. 

Subs: Preston, Lane, Williams, Donawa, Lewis, James, Tustin

Less Space To Park At Merton Meadow

Merton Meadow On A Match Day Earlier This Season

Herefordshire Council have cut the amount of space for parking at the Merton Meadow car park, which is situated right next to the Edgar Street stadium.

So given it's expected that today's gate for the game between Hereford and South Shields will be close to, if not over 3,000, any supporter hoping to park close to the ground is advised to arrive in good time. 

Other parking is available such as the multi-storey in Widemarsh Street but this also can get full well before kick-off on match days.

There is also the Old Market car park, opposite the ground. It is more expensive to park here unless one shops at, for example, Waitrose where a discount can be obtained if one purchases goods worth £30 or more. 

On This Day In 2009

A look back to March 14th 2009 and a disputed penalty at Edgar Street.

Hooper and Theo defeat Hereford

Hereford were defeated 1-0 at Edgar Street this afternoon courtesy of a goal from one of their former loan strikers. Theo Robinson, who spend all of last season at Edgar Street, stepped up to convert a controversial 87th minute penalty awarded by referee Simon Hooper. The majority of the 2633 present were shocked at the decision although the away following of 432 were delighted.

After the poor display against Bristol Rovers in mid-week, there were a number of changes to the starting line-up. Darren Dennehy, signed from Cardiff on loan yesterday, partnered Dean Beckwith at the back whilst Richard Rose replaced Kris Taylor at left-back. Sam Hewson started in central midfield; out of the four players ousted from the starting eleven, just Karl Broadhurst made the bench. Godwin Antwi, Kris Taylor and Ben Smith failed to make the sixteen. The visitors handed Robinson a place up front alongside Lee Barnard whilst Kevin Betsy started on right-wing; the former Bristol City winger has been linked with Hereford in the past.

The message to the players in the first half seemed to be to have a 'shoot on site' policy in front of goal, with the in-experience Ian Joyce starting in place of the injured Steve Mildenhall. The 'keeper had to be alert early on with Toumani Diagouraga playing a one-two with Steve Guinan before firing a half-volley just past the far post whilst a Hewson free-kick was held by Joyce after Rose had touched the ball to the midfield man. At the other end, Betsy cut inside Rose on the right before dragging a left-foot shot wide. A forward pass from Rose found Guinan, whose control opened up a shooting opportunity but he couldn't hit the target from 20 yards. Southend went close to taking the lead in spectacular fashion when Adam Barrett hit an excellently weighted diagonol pass to Barnard, who had peeled away from Rose at the back-post and the former Spurs youngster hit a volley just past the near post.

Franck Moussa set up Peter Clarke for a header which Peter Gulacsi held on to with ease whilst Robinson found space 25 yards out after being found by Betsy but his shot rose over Gulacsi's bar. Febian Brandy, who for long periods of the game was ineffective, showed one or two moments of class; he skipped past two players in the inside left position before seeing a shot be deflected just past Joyce's near-post. From the corner that followed, Dennehy shrugged off his marker to meet a Hewson corner but he couldn't direct his header on target. Guinan hit a 35 yard shot after Diagouraga had won a header in the middle of the park but Joyce was well positioned to deal with the effort whilst a direct burst from Brandy created an opportunity to shoot but his shot lacked power and rolled into the arms of Joyce. In stoppage-time, Southend had perhaps their best chance of the half when a cross from the left was only cleared as far as Betsy inside the box but he screwed his left-foot shot wide from 10 yards out.

The second period started with the visitors threatening from the off; a back-post header from Clarke after a corner went over whilst a high pass from Barnard found his strike partner Robinson and the Watford loanee forced Gulacsi into a save after getting away from Richard Jackson and hitting a right-foot shot towards the far corner. Gulacsi had to be on hand to make another save moments later when Betsy shrugged off the challenge from Matty Done before hitting a powerful left-foot shot towards goal which Gulacsi palmed before Dennehy cleared. Jean Francois Christophe showed superb feet to turn on the edge of the box to fire goalwards but again Gulacsi denied Southend with a strong hand whilst the follow up effort by Robinson from an acute angle went out for a throw-in.

The Bulls came to life after the early pressure with Brandy setting up Guinan for a 25 yard shot but it was harmless. Soon after, Jackson's precise pass was touched off by Guinan for Hewson to hit but he got under his shot and it went into the Meadow End. Graham Turner was distraught when the referee failed to produce a red-card for Dorian Dervitte after he fouled Brandy. The Man Utd loanee came alive after turning away from two defenders just inside the Southend half before skinning three on his way to the box before being knocked over; Brandy ended up a couple of yards in front of their defence and look as though he'd have gone all the way yet the referee failed to produce a red-card for the foul and a free-kick was given. From this, Hewson curled around the wall but couldn't bend it on target and it fell wide. Gulacsi held on with ease to a half-volley from Moussa whilst a crisp drive from Done after a Hewson corner wasn't cleared went a yard wide of the post.

A mini-game of head tennis on 18 yard line of the Hereford box finally dropped to Clarke who screwed a left-foot shot past the far post before Steve Tilson made two subs; Francis Laurent and Damian Scannell replaced Barnard and Betsy. Scannell looked tricky and caused Rose problems down the right with some good footwork and his cut-back was put wide by Laurent from close-range. Simon Johnson came on for Sam Gwynne late on whilst former Chelsea youngster Anthony Grant was given far too much time in the middle of the park to shoot goalwards with his powerful right-foot shot narrowly missing the top corner. With just a few minutes to go, Southend won it thanks to an awful refereeing decision from Hooper. A ball into the box was controlled by Laurent who turned away from Dennehy but the Irish defender got back to get a firm foot on the ball with a perfectly time tackle yet to the shock of everyone in the ground, the referee pointed to the spot. Robinson stepped up in front of the Blackfriars End and placed his shot beyond the reach of Gulacsi to nick the points for Southend.

Hereford probably did enough for a point in an equal game yet they lost out courtesy of a refereeing shocker. Debutant Dennehy can count himself desperately unlucky, after making a solid debut whilst Diagouraga looked on form in the middle of the park but there was little threat up top. The defeat is a nail in the coffin of The Bulls' chances of staying up and who knows, another Hooper could well have a say in the relegation battle when Hereford visit Glanford Park on Tuesday, with striker Gary on top form for Scunthorpe this season.

Hereford: Gulacsi, Jackson, Beckwith, Dennehy, Rose, Gwynne, Diagouraga, Hewson, Done, Guinan, Brandy.

Subs: Veiga, Broadhurst, Macleod, O'Leary, Johnson.

Southend: Joyce, Sankofa, Dervite, Clarke, Barrett, Betsy, Christophe, Grant, Moussa, Barnard, Robinson.

Subs: Masters, Francis, Scannell, Herd, Laurent. 

Turner blasts Officials

Hereford United manager Graham Turner has blasted the officials at this afternoon's League One game at Edgar Street after the Bulls were defeated by the only goal of the game, a disputed penalty.

It looked as though new loan signing, Darren Dennehy, had made a perfectly good tackle inside the box on Francis Laurent but the linesman signed a penalty and the referee, Simon Hooper, gave it. What rubbed even more salt into the wound was that former Bulls' striker Theo Robinson converted for Southend.

After the final whistle several Hereford players surrounded the referee, amidst them Dean Beckwith who was given a yellow card.

Coach John Trewick ran onto the pitch to confront the referee. Eventually he was ushered away by one of the stewards.

Turner gave his thoughts, mainly about the referee's decisions, to BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"I thought there were two (decisions). When Febian got through and was deemed to have been fouled. He was clean through, obvious goal scoring chance, and the player should have been sent straight off. It's got to be a red card when he is threw like that. We also felt part of the contact was inside the penalty area.

"Then young Dennehy making his debut. He let the lad get the wrong side of him but I thought it was a superb tackle. He stretched out a long leg, took the ball as cleanly as anything and I think everybody on the ground was amazed to hear the whistle go and see the referee give a penalty.

"We do feel hard done by. It's not been a great game. We've not played particularily well. You hope you get a break.

"The Febian incident, we felt, could have been the break we required. He wriggled himself free and into the box. We were ever so disappointed that there wasn't a better outcome for us. When you're down there decisions tend to kick you in the teeth. I thought that referee's decision certainly did.

"He was clearly running in the box with the ball, goalkeeper to beat when he was knocked down. For me it was a straight forward red card. It part and parcel of the laws of the game - why wasn't it applied?

"I don't moan too much about referees but when you get a referee who can't even kick off on time then you realise there is a degree of a problem there. His decision making was very poor." 

This Afternoon's National North League Fixtures

A list of the fixtures set to take place this afternoon in the National North League.

AFC Fylde v Kings Lynn

Alfreton v Peterborough Sports

Bedford v Radcliffe

Chorley v Buxton

Curzon Ashton v Macclesfield

Darlington v Leamington

Hereford v South Shields

Kidderminster v Chester

Marine v Worksop

Merthyr v Spennymoor

Scarborough v AFC Telford

Southport v Oxford City 

Winger incoming, possible friendly with Worcester? All the key points from the fans forum

From left: Harry Pell, Aaron Downes and Chris Ammonds at the fans forum. Picture: Hereford FC's YouTube channel

Hereford are due to announce the signing of a new winger on Monday.

Bulls manager Aaron Downes made the announcement at tonight's fans forum, saying that, as long as everything is agreed, the new playing will be coming on board.

Split in two halves, Downes - who was joined by assistant manager, Harry Pell and chairman Chris Ammonds - answered a range of questions from supporters.

He started by saying that he was really enjoying his time at the club, and is happy with the start the team has made - picking up 13 points from his opening six games. However, he did say he was not naive and there's still a long to go.

He said it was an honour to manage the club on Tuesday - the first league game at Edgar Street in nearly three months.

There were "good and bad elements" of the 5-1 win against Leamington, said Downes, but ultimately at this stage of the season, results and points are the most important thing.  

Pell, meanwhile, said he never expected to be sitting here, or being a coach after literally finishing his career about two months ago.

But, Downes is his best mate (he was his best man at Pell's wedding), so when he asked him if he wanted to be his number two, Pell said he had to do it because it's a club he knows. 

Downes said he is a big believer in going through certain emotions and challenges to hopefully make you better for it. He explained he spent 10 years at Torquay, and two at Cheltenham. 

However, when he left the Robins, he felt he was ready to make the step up. The opportunity at Hereford then came along, and Downes felt it was the right time and he was ready. Downes said he knew a couple of the players he could bring in and make an impact. 

Four principles

Downes explained he has four principles that are non-negotiable. He said on the day of the Darlington game (his first match in charge) he told the the players that was him, and if they couldn't do what was being asked of them, they won't play. 

He said he could tell with their body language and attitude that 90% "have absolutely done it" and bought it into it. Downes said the players have run through brick walls, and that his heartening for him to say. Once you've got that, you can be build on it, said Downes. 

Downes talks about loan players

Downes said the squad had a good nucleus, but needed a bit of legs, and that is what the young loan players have brought. He acknowledged that Cormac Daly and George Munday were at the club prior to his arrival - saying he could see something in Munday at the Southport game. He also knew Daly would cause problems - you just need to get the ball to him.  

Mindset and mentality is so important for young players, said Downes, and he knew Freddie Willcox and Harry Tustin (on loan from Cheltenham) have that. He confirmed that the pair are on loan until the end of the season, but there is a call back option. 

Downes said he is conscious of the amount of games the team have to play and has a plan for the next week which will see them play four times.

There is no call back option for Madou Cisse though, who has been at Hereford on loan from Hereford since the start of the season. He is is in constant contact with parent clubs to ensure the players are fresh when they play, and seeks a minimum of four opinions when trying to recruit players. 

Pell not registering as a player

Pell was asked if he would register as a player. He said if he could, he would, and wanted to come back as a player following an horrendous run with injuries.

Pell went to Bath in National League South following a year out with an ACL injury, but got injured again after only two games, therefore he knew his time was up. 

Looking ahead to next season

Ammonds said he was hugely impressed how things have started, but nothing has been achieved yet. He has had some conversations about starting to looking ahead next season, with Downes saying he has started thinking about pre-season, and the club need a plan whether he is there or not.

He said he wanted "value for money" for the home friendlies, as there is a risk of losing 5-0 to a big Football League team, meaning that nothing is learned.

There will be two, ideally three home games, with matches against Under-23 teams maybe being away so that relationships with clubs can be built. However, Downes said he won't disrupt his programme "to give someone a favour."

Ammonds said that Worcester City is one of the names the club is looking at. Hereford played two games at Sixways, although Sixways is a separate business, so the Bulls actually didn't work alongside Worcester. 

Ammonds said it "didn't sit right with me for someone to just come in until the end of the season", adding that one or two candidates were on the list that he, thought "it's just going to be another job for them. 

He said he spoke to Downes for the first time the day after the club lost 5-1 at Southport, and was very impressed with him. 

"I got a sense other board members were on the same page. I genuinely hope that is what we've got," he said. 

Talking about the off-field pitch problems, Ammonds said you can't can't pin all the blame on the floodlight installation company  - three of areas were unconnected, which were drainage issues.  

Ammonds admitted mistakes had been made, and the club has to make sure the end of season drainage work is done properly have a long-lasting impact. Playing three home games elsewhere has probably cost the club between £40,000 and £45,000, said Ammonds. 

Training outside of Hereford

Training outside of Hereford in Studley, where Solihull Moors trained, was mentioned. Downes said that, while he was looking at making tweaks to the timings, it gives the club a more commutable location, and opens up a variety of locations to recruit. 

There is a changing room, gym, training pitch, and analysis area - saying not many places do that. 

Ammonds conceded that an in ideal word, the team would train in Hereford, but we are not an ideal world, and would probably have to pay players £200 a week more to come and use the Herefordshire roads. 

I'm Fully Aware There Is A Long Way To Go Said Downes

 

Aaron Downes has been in charge at Edgar Street for four weeks and in that time has lifted the spirits of the players and the supporters.

"It feels a lot longer than what it is." Downes told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"It's been good so far, I'm really enjoying it.

"There's been a lot of football played in the last three weeks, so it does feel a lot longer than what it is.

"Still a long way to go, a lot of work still to be done but very happy with how it's gone so far.

"I'm looking very short term, each game is an individual really rather than focusing too much on the long term because we have to, we have to make sure we are looking after each game as they come.

"I'm fully aware there is a long way to go, there are still lots to be done, we are not resting on our laurels, we're focusing on making sure we have the right team for each game and we've got the right attitude and mentality for each game."

Tomorrow Hereford entertain South Shields who are top of the league.

"They are top of the league for a reason but at the same time we've got to show confidence, belief, aggression. We've got to go out and give it a go.

"If we do that then nobody in this division is unbeatable so we've got to make sure we approach it the right way, in the right manner.

"We've knew we were going to have a lot of the ball against Leamington, we probably won't have as much against South Shields so we will have to be very efficent when we have it and we've got to be good out of possession and that's what we will be focusing on."

Four games in eight days, how are you going to manage that?

"It's a difficult period but I knew coming into the job that this week was going to be pivitol but I knew building up to this week was going to be just as important.

"I think we've had a good return with our points which is great. That gives us a buffer going into this week.

"I'm going to say to the players take each game as it comes and just go and focus on that. Obviously as the manager you are going to have to plan a little bit ahead and manage the squad so that we have the right energy levels.

"It's going to be a difficult week." 

National North Weekend Preview

This preview of tomorrow's games in the National North League was written by Richard Dorman from the National League.

There’s plenty on the line in the Enterprise National League North this weekend… time is running out and opportunities for important points are becoming more and more limited!

Some clubs are looking up, some are looking down… and handful know that a particularly brilliant run could pull them into the mix, or a desolate streak could drag them into a battle! So whether it’s the title race, the battle to stay in the play-off places or the scrap at the bottom, there are storylines all across Saturday’s fixture list.

The stand-out game may well be at Hereford, where the 21st-placed side host leaders South Shields. A sizeable gap on paper, but Hereford have picked up 10 points in four games and could climb out of the drop-zone for the first time since December if they can overturn the pace-setters.

Second-placed AFC Fylde are on home soil as they take on King’s Lynn Town. Fylde are right in the thick of the promotion picture and will be aiming to keep the pressure on, but King’s Lynn Town have shown their capabilities on the road this season; they picked up a creditable point at Scarborough in midweek.

Merthyr Town sit third going into the weekend and welcome Spennymoor Town. Despite a string of hit-and-miss results lately, the hosts remain very much part of the conversation at the top end, while Spennymoor are placed in mid-table and will be keen to prove they can disrupt one of the division’s best performers this season.

There’s another big game in the top seven picture at Kidderminster Town, where fourth plays 10th as Chester come to town. Harriers are well placed, but Chester are not so far away that they can’t still have designs on finishing the season strongly. Five wins from the last six outings has the Seals dreaming of a play-off campaign – only goal-difference keeps them out of the reckoning at present.

Scarborough Athletic against AFC Telford United looks one of the most finely-balanced fixtures of the day, with sixth taking on seventh. With so little between the sides, it could be a dress-rehearsal for a play-off meeting in a little over six-weeks’ time.

Macclesfield, in fifth, make the short hop to Curzon Ashton looking to strengthen their position in the play-off places. Curzon are down in 15th, winless in four, and almost equally far from both the play-offs and the relegation places as far as the points column is concerned.

Darlington are another side with reason to look upwards. They begin the weekend eighth and face bottom side Leamington, knowing a home win could help keep them firmly in the mix. For the Brakes, it is a first appearance in the dugout for new boss Scott Easterlow.

There’s a huge one at the foot of the table between Alfreton Town and Peterborough Sports. 22nd hosts 23rd, and while three points would be valuable at any stage of the season, both teams will sense a chance to deny their opponents some points too. Double the incentive.

Southport (16th) and Oxford City (20th) has both sides looking over their shoulder. The same goes for Bedford Town, who are 19th before taking on Radcliffe, with the visitors still sitting inside the top half and just goal-difference beneath the dotted line for play-off qualification.

Chorley and Buxton are separated by only three places and two points in the middle of the table; Marine’s meeting with Worksop Town also falls into that category of game where they both look set for another National League North season in 2026-27 – not that a big win wouldn’t change the feel of things! 

Downes Looks To Add To Squad

 

With so many games to play, four in the next eight days, Hereford manager Aaron Downes is likely to add to his squad.

"I think there is still a little bit of business to be done because there are going to be a lot of games in a short space of time," Downes told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"It's unheard of really. 

"I'm going to have to manage the squad well.

"One or two might have to come in just to boost numbers." 

Fans Forum Tonight

Quick reminder that Hereford FC are holding a Fans Forum at Edgar Street this evening.

Both manager Aaron Downes and his right hand man Harry Pell are set to be in attendance. 

The Forum is being held in the Hereford Suite starting at 7pm. and will be chaired by Chris Ammonds.

It is hoped the Forum will be live on YouTube. 

Happy Munday again on Saturday?

A big game for Hereford FC on Saturday then, as they host league leaders and championship favourites South Shields, a side who’ve topped the table from the very start of the season.

Full-time Shields were promoted to the NLN two seasons ago, and seemed to have the profile (well supported, healthy financial backing) to suggest that they’d immediately go up again and push for advancement into the Football League. That didn’t happen, and 8th and 17^th-placed finishes since promotion suggested that they’d found their level.

That notion has been firmly left behind this season, with star striker Paul Blackett on 22 league goals, but for once his goals aren’t the only show in town. Strike partner Cedwyn Scott, who joined the club in the summer from Carlisle for a fee, has also been scoring freely with 17. He’s been out since February though.

However, as big a factor in their success so far has been the concession of just 30 goals in their 36 games. To put that into perspective, Merthyr in third position have conceded 66.

Ian Watson replaced Eliott Dickman as manager in the summer and has completely transformed the fortunes of the club. He oversees a young side, with an average age of 24, but the youngsters are showing no signs of letting the pressure of topping the table get to them.

In October Hereford were unlucky to come away from the northeast with nothing in a 2-1 loss. Mike Parker had a good game that day and is of course no longer around, but despite that the squad is now far stronger than it was then, so there’s plenty to be hopeful about.

So Shields may be the league leaders, but there will be very few fixtures they’d less like to play than Hereford away at the moment, given the Bulls recent form and recovery. They’ll make the long trip south on Friday fully aware that the Bulls’ league position is rapidly starting to look like something of a nonsense.

It would appear to be an absolute given that Freddy Willcox will be the best defensive midfielder on the pitch. His positional awareness on Tuesday night, allowing him to be the ‘out ball’ seemingly for virtually all his teammates regardless of where they were playing, was astonishing. Even more so given that he’s only 20. If Hereford have any aspirations to get back to the right end of the table next season, the Worcester-born playmaker is the sort of player they need to bring in as a key component of the spine of the side.

He allowed the side to keep possession, ably assisted by an impressive Keziah Martin, forcing Leamington to waste energy chasing the ball. It’s unlikely that the hosts will enjoy such a share of possession on Saturday, but what’s now long gone as a tactic is to boot the ball vaguely in the direction of a blameless and isolated Remaye Campbell, allowing opposition defenders to easily mop up and launch attack after attack. Hereford now have the players to keep the ball, and this should be a very entertaining encounter between two footballing sides.

Suddenly the Bulls are scoring. 13 in four games, and one of those games was 0-0. George Munday now has five in seven, and Willo has two in two. Mikey Lane has the bustling energy of a Duracell bunny who’s had too much coffee, and, like Jason Cowley, has that incessant presence that defenders find distinctly irritating and mistake-inducing. He’ll hopefully get off the mark here.

So, there’s now an attacking threat, but that mainly comes from the fact that the attackers have something to feed off, with players such as Cormac Daly and Harry Tustin skipping directly through or round the back of defences. Previously, a Hereford ‘attack’ comprised long balls or lethargic lateral passing across the pitch in the vague hope of finding an opening. Now there’s purpose and a belief that an opening can proactively be manufactured, on the floor and at pace. I can’t remember the last time a Hereford goal looked utterly inevitable in the way that Harrison Sohna’s on Tuesday did in the minutes before he scored it.

On a more cautionary note, Leamington’s defending was poor whereas South Shields’ won’t be. Also, there’s still seemingly an element of panic in the Hereford defence when they’re faced with pacy counterattacks. Obviously the goal conceded on Tuesday was poor, avoidable and reminiscent of so much Hereford defending that’s gone before it this season, but there were several other moments too when a better side, a side such as Saturday’s visitors, would have capitalised on the uncertainty at the back much more mercilessly. It would be surprising if Aaron Downes isn’t looking to spend the budget freed up by Adam Rooney’s departure on a new centre back. He’s got until the end of the month before the seasonal deadline. He’s also got some negotiating to do with Cheltenham in order to extend the stays of Willcox and Tustin.

Heavy rain on Thursday evening doesn’t seem to have been enough to trigger that dreaded phrase ‘pitch inspection’, and, given the upturn and goalfests, Aaron Downes and his players should be rewarded with a 3000 crowd here.

COYW

Highlights Hereford v Leamington

 

Highlights of last Tuesday's game between Hereford and Leamington are now online.

Go to: https://herefordfc.co.uk/2026/03/highlights-hereford-fc-5-1-leamington-fc/ 

3/1 For A Hereford Win Over South Shields On Saturday

Andy Williams Scored For Hereford Against South Shields Last Season

Currently the bookmakers are offering prices of around 3/1 for Hereford to defeat table-topping South Shields on Saturday.

Last Tuesday Hereford defeated Leamington 5-1 whilst South Shields drew 1-1 at Chorley (14th). 

Hereford's home record is won 5, drawn 3 and lost 5.

South Shields's away record is won 10, drawn 6 and lost 2.

As for goal difference Hereford's is minus 10, South Shields's is plus 50. 

Recent form:

Hereford WLWDWW

South Shields DWWWWD

Hereford 3/1  Draw 14/5  South Shields 16/19 

Badges On Sale At South Shields Match

A large selection of HFC pin badges will be on sale pre match this Saturday v South Shields. The badges pictured are available at £1 or £4 each ( cash only ) from a sales point in front of the matchday ticket office. All net proceeds go directly to HFC.

Rooney Instrumental In Bringing Munday To Hereford

 

Former Hereford assistant manager Adam Rooney played a large part in bringing young striker George Munday to Hereford.

Speaking after Tuesday's game against Leamington, Munday was asked how his move had come about.

"Adam Rooney actually," said Munday.

"He's been keeping tabs on me, he's been watching me since the start of the season.

"It was around August time I think, he knows one of the players at Cambridge, Korey Smith.

"Korey Smith kept telling me Hereford are interested but obviously it's so far for me, it's a lot of travelling, three hours to get here tonight.

"I said a full season of that would be difficult and a big risk.

"I went to Bedford and the opportunity came again and I spoke to Adam Rooney and he was really eager to get me on board.

"So I looked at this and thought the amount of games and the project and it's such a big club as well and playing in front of that many thousands.

"For me if it wasn't for the travel it would have been a no-brainer anyway.

"A big thank you to Adam Rooney for bringing me in and when I came in for the first few weeks he was really good with me as well.

"So I wish him all the best at Kings Lynn.

"That's how it came about."

Munday's first goal at Edgar Street was in front of the Meadow End.

"Scoring goals, there's no feeling like it in football especially for a striker.

"It's what you are judged on at the end of the day.

"To score in front of that many here is an incredible feeling.

"It makes me hungry to score more." 

After The Final Whistle At Edgar Street On Tuesday Evening

Kit Man Dan Pace With Three Match Balls For Striker George Munday

After defeating Leamington 5-1 on Tuesday evening, Hereford players and staff thanked supporters for turning out for the first home game at Edgar Street for two months.