GamingBlomp Back At Edgar Street

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL4FMqqjJUY

Back at Edgar Street for me, for the first home game of the 2026-27 season, with Hereford taking on Marine. 

Hereford beat Marine home and away last season as we looked to maintain our National League North status, eventually surviving on goal difference on the final day, but surely the new season has to be better? 

Both teams come into matchday two off the back of an opening day defeat, with Hereford losing 2-1 at Buxton and Marine beaten 1-0 at home by Macclesfield, and this was a hard fought contest. 

Check out all the action, as well as the post match thoughts of Aaron Downes & Kam Kandola  

Highlights Hereford v Marine

 

Highlights of yesterday's game at Edgar Street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxSmfWgRaOc 

First Half Pictures From Hereford v Marine

A selection of pictures from the first half of yesterday's game at Edgar Street.

Upgraded Medical Room and New Toilet Facilities

This from HUST:

During the close season, Hereford FC have undertaken a number of projects to improve the facilities for all spectators at the MandM Edgar Stadium.

The improvements include the installation of a new disabled toilet block between the Merton Stand and the Meadow End, two new ladies toilets in the Executive Club (one of the club’s key non-matchday function spaces), an improvement to the toilets in Radford’s Bar and also the relocation and upgrade of the main matchday medical room to a pitchside location between A Block and B Block.

In addition, the Hereford Suite has had a complete roof refurbishment over the summer, as it had been leaking badly for some time and the water was causing ongoing damage to the room below, which is a key income stream for the club off the field.

Bulls Chairman, Chris Ammonds, said:

“All the work carried out is vital to ensure that we continue to look after all our supporters and provide them with the best facilities possible. While we are always fighting a battle against the age of our ground and the way it was designed, we know we have to try to make the fan experience better and we have further plans to improve the Fanzone outside Radford’s in the near future.

“While the work done has seen a significant investment from the club, I would also like to thank the Football Foundation for its support in terms of grant funding and also express my gratitude to the Hereford United Supporters’ Trust (HUST) for its 50% donation towards the cost of the new disabled toilet block.”

HUST Chairman, Richard Tomkins, commented: “The Supporters’ Trust is pleased this project is now completed ahead of the new season. We have funds set aside for this purpose, and are delighted to assist with this new infrastructure, to benefit the matchday experience of our fans”.

 

Hereford Women Draw First League Game Of The Season

Hereford Women have drawn their first league fixture of the season.

The game played at Bromyard ended:

Hereford 2 Bromsgrove Sporting 2 

After Ninety Minutes At Edgar Street

A few photos from after the final whistle at Edgar Street yesterday afternoon. Hereford defeated Marine 1-0 in their first home game of the season.

Hereford Women's First League Game This Afternoon

Hereford Women start their league campaign this afternoon.

They will play Bromsgrove Sporting.

The game will be played at Bromyard's Delahay Stadium, kick-off at 2pm. 

It's also been confirmed that only Cup games will be played by Hereford Women at Edgar Street this season. 

The reason is to protect the surface given all the recent expenditure. 

Is This The Best Non League Stadium In England?

 

Yesterday Footballylogs UK took a long trip down the Welsh border to Edgar Street home of Hereford FC for their first home game of the season against Marine 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m24ZiiHCVU 

Bulls News Prediction League: standings after match two

The Bulls News Prediction League table has been updated after Saturday's 1-0 win over Marine at Edgar Street.

Only six people saw the 1-0 win coming, so congratulations to Sarah bull, One F in Hereford, Bring Birds Bro, Dhall, Wizzywen, and new entrant BullsAlive, who all get a maximum 10 points.

In total, 95 of our 102 competitors entered, with 70 going for a win, 21 for a draw and four for a loss.

The updated table can be found here.

Next up is Radcliffe at home on Tuesday.

Be sure to email your username and prediction to bnpredictions@outlook.com by 7.45pm on Tuesday, including if you want to enter for the first time.

Before Kick-Off At Edgar Street This Afternoon

Hereford's first home game of the season took place at Edgar Street this afternoon.

Here are some pictures from before kick-off.

Downes brands three-match ban 'a bit harsh' amid injury woes

The moment Connor Kirby went down after clashing with Preston Bitemo

Aaron Downes has doubled down on his support for Preston Bitemo after the midfielder’s red card appeal was rejected, calling the three‑match suspension “a bit harsh” and insisting the challenge at Buxton was fair.

Bitemo was sent off during last weekend’s fiery clash at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium after a 50–50 with Bucks skipper Connor Kirby — an incident that sparked a melee and left the home captain with a double leg break.

Hereford appealed the decision, confident the tackle was legitimate, but the FA upheld the red card. Bitemo missed Marine, and will also be absent from Radcliffe and Worksop Town.

Downes said he firmly believed it was a fair challenge but respected the outcome.

“I still think it’s a bit harsh what’s happened to Preston,” he said after Saturday’s win over Marine. “He’s been brilliant for us.”

Downes has been unwavering since the moment the clash happened. He said both players “went in for the ball”, described the injury as “unfortunate”, and stressed that Bitemo is “not that person” — not malicious or dirty.

On Saturday in a club statement, Downes said: "I send my best wishes to Connor Kirby and hope he makes a full and quick recovery."

After the match last Saturday, he admitted that "no one likes to see that type of injury on a football pitch".

The suspension comes at a rough time for Hereford. Captain Lewis Hudson is already out for around three months, Joe Willis is sidelined, and now Bitemo is unavailable. It forced Downes into a reshuffle against Marine — and Kam Kandola stepped up with a performance his manager labelled “a real captain’s display.”

Fin Holmes is also absent with a hamstring problem, and Danny Waldron had been carrying a knock, though he was on the bench against Marine.

But despite the injury list, Downes said "everybody was excellent" against Marine, adding: "There was no real bad performance today."

He singled out Kam Kandola, the sponsors' man of the match, for praise, before adding: "It's a good job we've got players who are a little bit versatile and Kam was superb today, really good.

"A real captain's performance out there, so really pleased for him and pleased that he's done a good job because it got us a win."

Iwunze Gets Off The Mark

Harrison Iwunze's 76th minute goal was enough to ensure Hereford won their first home game of the season this afternoon.

The 19 year old loanee from Notts County had only been on the pitch eight minutes when he scored.

 

 

Downes lifts lid on Hereford’s dominance — and the one flaw he won’t ignore

Hereford boss Aaron Downes

Aaron Downes praised the control and discipline shown by his Hereford side in their 1–0 victory over Marine, describing the performance as “dominant” while stressing that greater ruthlessness in the final third will be needed as the season develops.

The Bulls secured their first National League North win of the campaign thanks to Harrison Iwunze’s composed second‑half finish, but Downes felt the scoreline should have reflected his team’s superiority. “It was a deserved win, a good win,” he said. “I thought we were really good with the ball and we nullified their threat excellently. I would have liked us to be a little more clinical, but overall it was a strong performance.”

Marine’s threat on transition had been a major concern heading into the game, and Downes was pleased with how his midfield and back line handled the visitors’ attempts to release their wide players. “They’re a really good side on transition,” he explained. “You’ve got to work so hard to jump on seconds and stop their balls in behind. We did that excellent today.”

Despite Hereford’s dominance, the match remained goalless at half‑time, but Downes insisted he was never worried. “I wasn’t concerned at all,” he said. “I was happy with how we were playing. We just needed to reiterate a few things and stay comfortable.”

The introduction of Iwunze and Jordan Williamson on 69 minutes proved decisive. Downes was full of praise for Iwunze, who has only been with the club a week. “He was excellent,” he said. “Cawley Cox ran their centre‑halves ragged, and that opened up space for Harrison. He took his goal ever so well and his all‑round game was really good.”

On Cox, who led the line with energy and physicality, Downes added: “He was excellent today.

“He ran channels, put himself about, got hold of the ball. If he’s getting opportunities, I’m happy.”

At the other end, goalkeeper Theo Richardson produced a vital late save to preserve the win. “That concentration right at the end was massive,” Downes said. “We switched off for a moment at the set play and it could have cost us.”

The manager reserved special praise for captain Kam Kandola, deployed deeper due to injuries and suspension. “A real captain’s performance,” he said. “We knew he could play that position and he was superb.”

With nearly 3,000 supporters inside Edgar Street, Downes said the atmosphere played a major part. “The fans were fantastic,” he said. “I hope we gave them something to cheer.”

But his message to the players was clear: enjoy it, then move on. “You get nothing for winning one game,” he said. “We’ve got to go again on Tuesday.”

Match report: Iwunze’s moment of quality seals deserved win for determined Bulls

Harrison Iwunze's second-half goal was enough to secure three points over Marine

Hereford are off the mark in the National League North after beating Marine 1-0 at a sun-drenched Edgar Street.

On a warm summer’s Saturday afternoon on what must be the greenest grass in Herefordshire, the Bulls gave a dominant, albeit not overly clinical, performance to secure their first win.

A solitary goal from Harrison Iwunze was enough for the bossy Bulls, but they had dominated possession and deserved to bag the win.

After the opening day’s 2-1 defeat at Buxton, Harry Tustin, Jordan James and Kyle Howkins came into the starting XI for Jordan Williamson, Liam Roberts and the suspended Preston Bitemo.

Attacking the Meadow End in the first half, the Bulls set the tone early, moving the ball sharply and forcing Marine backwards. James’ quick reactions on the right created the first opening, keeping the ball in play and feeding Cawley Cox, whose improvised volley drifted across goal. 

Cox remained heavily involved, drawing fouls and linking play, while Howkins headed over from a Luke Spokes free‑kick as Hereford pressed for an early breakthrough.

Marine responded with spells of tidy possession, and Fin Sinclair‑Smith went close when a ricochet sat up kindly for him, only for his volley to flash wide. The best chance of the half fell to Hereford, though, when Billy Phillips struck a fierce effort that required the goalkeeper to tip onto the bar. 

Kam Kandola, donning the captain’s armband in place of the injured Lewis Hudson, nodded the resulting corner just over.

Hereford’s approach play was encouraging, with clever link-up play between the new-look side, but the finishing touch continued to elude them. Cox combined neatly with Spokes late in the half to break into the box, yet his strike flew off target, leaving the sides level at the interval.

Half time: Hereford 0 - Marine 0

Marine emerged with intent, sending an early low ball across the six‑yard area that travelled untouched. Cox then pounced on a loose back‑pass, rounded the goalkeeper and looked certain to score, but Marine scrambled back to block his eventual shot.

The game tightened as both sides traded half‑chances and defensive interventions. Will Merrett produced a vital recovery tackle to halt Potter on the counter, while Tustin’s persistence earned corners and kept Marine pinned back. Spokes continued to dictate set‑pieces, sending one free‑kick narrowly over as Hereford’s pressure grew.

Cox Tries His Luck

Manager Aaron Downes introduced Williamson and Iwunze on 69 minutes, and the changes proved decisive.

With 14 minutes remaining, Iwunze isolated his defender, shifted the ball neatly and drove a low effort that squeezed past the goalkeeper. Edgar Street erupted, and Hereford finally had the goal their play had threatened.

Aaron Skinner's Through Ball Found Iwunze

 

Spokes almost added a second with a superb free‑kick that was clawed away at full stretch, but the closing stages belonged to Marine as they pushed for an equaliser.

The Bulls were forced to dig deep in stoppage time. Williamson’s knock across the six‑yard box lacked a finishing touch, and moments later Kandola produced a crucial challenge at the opposite end to snuff out a dangerous Marine break.

The visitors then missed their clearest chance of the afternoon when Irish right-back Isaac Abankwah, unmarked six yards out, headed wide. It proved the final scare, and Hereford saw out the remaining seconds to secure a deserved victory.

Full time: Hereford 1 - Marine 0

Attendance: 2,932 (57 away)

Sponsors' man of the match: Kam Kandola

After the frustration of Buxton, this was exactly the reaction Downes wanted: committed, organised and ultimately rewarded, but perhaps not as clinical. With Radcliffe visiting on Tuesday, the Bulls head into their next fixture with confidence restored and their first win on the board.

Hereford: Richardson; Skinner, Kandola (c), Merrett, Martin (Williamson 69’); Tustin, Cox (Iwunze 69’), Spokes, James; Phillips (Roberts 90+2’); Howkins.

Subs not used: Waldron, Lewis, Tolley, Jones.

Marine: Barrett; Abankwah, Doyle, Whelan, Drysdale; Sinclair‑Smith, McAleny (McDonald 60’), Jolley (Kattah 87’), Wardle, Darby (Hilton 79’); Hodkin (Potter 46’).

Subs not used: McIntyre, Butler, Huby.