Coach disappointed and frustrated as Edgar Street junior finals pulled

Young footballers are set to miss out on a “massive” Edgar Street experience after Hereford cancelled this season’s junior cup finals - and it's been compared to moving the FA Cup final from Wembley.

Belmont Wanderers under-16s coach Rob Gwilliam described the news as "very disappointing", saying it removes a key part of the experience for young players.

"It’s something we’ve done for generations," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester. “From under-8s to under-16s, they play there — now they’re looking for solutions where we’ll just play at local clubs.

"It devalues what the cup’s about. The cup final’s about going to Edgar Street as well."

Hereford confirmed earlier this week that urgent pitch repairs, including the installation of a new drainage system, mean no end-of-season matches can be hosted at the stadium.

The decision follows a season of significant disruption at Edgar Street, with repeated pitch problems leading to a number of postponements and forced the club to move three home games to Sixways and Redditch.

Club officials have maintained the issues, exacerbated by earlier floodlight works and an inadequate drainage system, have left them with little choice but to undertake major remedial work this summer.

The planned programme will see contractors begin work within 48 hours of the final home game of the season, installing new drainage pipes across the pitch before carrying out further repairs, including removing the top layer of the surface, sanding and reseeding.

Hereford said the timing is critical, with the pitch then needing around 10 to 12 weeks to recover ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Any delay, they warn, would risk the surface not being ready for the start of next season.

The club said the works would render the pitch "completely unplayable" throughout the close season and insisted the project is essential to safeguard the long-term future of football at Edgar Street.

While acknowledging the disappointment caused, Hereford said they explored a number of alternatives but ultimately concluded there was no viable way to both complete the works and host additional fixtures.

However, Gwilliam believes solutions could still have been found, particularly for older age groups who will not get another opportunity.

"For a little eight-year-old who probably goes and watches Hereford, for them to play on that pitch is such a big thing," he said.

"For them to come out the changing room, to come down the tunnel, is massive.

"It’s a bit like the FA Cup saying they’re not going to play at Wembley."

He added that some teams had already missed out last year due to the floodlight works, which contributed to the pitch problems this season.

While he said he understands the club’s position, Gwilliam feels the situation is becoming a recurring issue.

"I’m just a little bit frustrated," he said. “We should be looking to find solutions instead of just cancelling them.”

He suggested the under-16s finals could still be staged after Hereford’s final home game against Peterborough Sports, allowing those players — who will not be eligible next season — a last chance to experience playing at Edgar Street.

"I feel the 16s should be playing this year, they should make an effort to get the girls' 16s and the boys' 16s on because they won't get the chance again," he said, also proposing fixtures could be scheduled around Hereford's matchdays.

Hereford have offered an alternative by inviting junior finalists to take part in a lap of honour at a first-team fixture early next season, although that has done little to ease frustration among some grassroots teams.

Highlights from Bulls' defeat at Macclesfield

Highlights from yesterday's 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield are now available to watch.

These are from Macclesfield.

Before Kick-Off At Macclesfield

A sunny early spring afternoon at a ground Hereford haven't played at for over 12 years. 

A 

Match Report Macclesfield v Hereford

The Bulls’ battle to get out of the relegation zone in National League North received another setback today, as they went down to a Macclesfield team who are battling at the other end of the table to hang on to a place in the playoffs. The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story. Hereford played with fight and commitment to the very end, and played some very good football at times, but were up against it, having to play the whole of the second forty five minutes with ten men following a hotly disputed red card given to Harrison Sohna at the end of the first half.

Just the one change for Hereford from their defeat against Alfreton on Thursday, with D'Ath on the bench and Tustin in. The Bulls lined up with Skinner, Howkins, Quansah and Hudson in front of Theo Richardson in goal. Willcox and Tustin anchoring the midfield, Martin and Sohna further advanced to support the attack, Daly patrolling the left wing and George Munday leading the line.

Munday is a bit of a raw talent but has seemingly limitless energy. He almost created something on a couple of occasions with his willingness to chase back passes and pressure the keeper into hasty clearances. Hereford got a couple of shots in early from Martin and Willcox, and then Munday had a header saved. There wasn’t much between the two sides, the Bulls were holding their own despite being maybe 60-40 down on possession. On 29 minutes Luke Duffy’s dipping shot hit the crossbar, and there were a couple of moments when the ball was bouncing around the Hereford box, and the home side came close to scoring before the ball was scrambled away.

There was a short disruption to the play when medical attention was required for a fan on the away terraces, with the physio and a paramedic attending, but they weren’t required for long so presumably nothing too serious had happened.

Once we were back under way Macclesfield’s Heathcote received a booking for bringing down Cormac Daly. Then a minute later came the pivotal moment of the game. Sohna tangled with Duffy near the half way line, bringing him down. They both ended up on the floor, and with everyone expecting a yellow card for Sohna, the ref produced red instead. Sohna allegedly kicked out at Duffy when they were on the ground, something that the Macclesfield players, led by their captain, number 6 Dawson, did their best to impress upon the ref. When Sohna eventually trudged off the pitch Dawson appeared to put a consoling arm around his shoulders – pure hypocrisy given how hard he tried to influence the ref to send him off.

The Bulls still had a chance to open the scoring before half time. Daly cut inside trying to get a shooting chance but was forced sideways across the 18 yard line. He managed to check back and got the ball on to his left foot and curled a shot towards the top corner only to see it tipped over the bar by Ravenhill.

That was it for the first half, and the Bulls left the field with Aaron Downes having a serious problem of how to negotiate the second half a man down.

Half Time: Macclesfield 0 Hereford FC 0

There were no changes to the Hereford line up for the start of the second half, and ironically, they played some of their best football at this point. An excellent move, started with neat interpassing out of defence ended with Munday’s low angled drive being tipped round the post by Ravenhill. The Bulls kept attacking, although being a man down inevitably left them exposed to breaks on the counter and both Skinner and Hudson were forced to make excellent blocks having sprinted back to cover.

The opening goal came on 65 minutes when a corner for the Silkmen wasn’t cleared and the ball was eventually bundled home by Duffy. 

Hereford stuck to their task and after a further ten minutes Downes made his first substitution, bringing on striker Lane for Howkins and going to a back three. A positive move but it was only two minutes before Hereford were exposed at the back again and Duffy scored his second with a well struck angled shot. 

Hereford came back strongly and Ravenhill was forced to tip a goal bound header over the bar.

On 86 minutes Munday reduced the deficit with a fine volley, and for a brief moment a come back didn’t seem out of the question. 

This feeling was soon quashed when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts cut in from the left wing, evaded a couple of ineffective tackles and scored with a crisp shot.

That was game over. Hudson and Willcox picked up late bookings but there was no more significant action.

Full Time: Macclesfield 3 Hereford FC 1

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Hudson, Sohna, Quansah, Munday, Daly, Martin (Williams 82), Willcox, Tustin, Howkins (Lane 76). Subs not used: Lewis, Preston, D'Ath, Donawa, James.

Macclesfield: Ravenhill, Matheson (Fensome 76), Dawson, Buckley-Ricketts (Dos Santos 90), Duffy (Stone 90+3), Heathcote (Borthwick-Jackson 46), Lacey, Gale, Osbourne, Edmondson, Popoola (Chapman 70). Subs not used: Menayese, Pasiek.

There were some good performances. Willcox is like a younger version of D’Ath, Daly’s pace and trickery always threatened to create something, and Munday deserved a goal for his tireless efforts. Quansah has had a few dodgy moments this season but generally looked pretty composed.

A lot has been said about the intense nature of Hereford’s program of fixtures. Downes has avoided using the situation as any kind of excuse, and personally I’m amazed by the fitness and resilience of the players given the limited recovery time and the fact that most of the guys presumably have to get up early in the morning to do their day jobs after a tough fixture the night before. If I was wearing a hat I’d take it off to them.

This level of fitness shows in their refusal to give up and the way they fought right to the end. This was appreciated by the travelling support who gave the players a great reception after the final whistle. The players also seemed visibly pleased with the supporters’ response – there does seem to be a bond between players and fans which was starting to look a bit strained towards the end of Paul Caddis’s time.

It was good to go back to Macclesfield after a 12 season break, it’s a nice ground and all seemed very pleasant in the spring sunshine. I was less impressed with the stewards some of whom were a tad unhelpful. One of them asked us if we were from Cardiff which was a bit baffling.

And, of course there’s always the pies. A pretty decent steak pie, maybe 7.5 out of 10, and a good strong cup of tea.

Spennymoor on Tuesday. Here’s wishing the squad a quick recovery from today’s efforts, ready to go again.

COYW

Harwood Bull

Downes gives verdict on 'extremely soft' red card

Harrison Sohna, left, with captain Lewis Hudson

Aaron Downes has questioned the fairness of Harrison Sohna’s straight red card, describing the sending-off as “extremely soft” after Hereford’s 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield.

Sohna was shown a red on the stroke of half-time following a coming together with Luke Duffy on the halfway line - Downes said it was a missed header and awkward landing, though the referee accused the former Cheltenham midfielder of kicking out at his opponent.

In his post-match interview with the press at Moss Rose, Downes said: "I've spoke to both of them and I know which one I'm believing.

"I think it's extremely soft, I think there's nothing in there. I think it's a foul on the halfway line where he's tried to win a header and he's not; he might have clumsily landed on him but what he's been accused of has not happened."

When asked whether a furious reaction from the Macclesfield players had forced the referee's hand, Downes said: "I'm not going to comment on that."

Downes told Bulls News that he'll have to watch the footage of the incident before deciding whether to appeal.

"I'm trusting my player," he said. "Sometimes it can do you more damage because generally, they do not favour the player.

"If there's any doubt, they favour with the ref, but I know Harrison, I know my player, and I know he's not done what he's accused of." 

Despite the Bulls going down to 10 men before the break in the fiercely contested National League North match, they threw everything at the search for the opener, and even when they found themselves 2-0 down thanks to a Duffy brace, pulled a goal back through George Munday.

But Macclesfield went on to add a third through Isaac Buckley-Ricketts to wrap up the three points in Cheshire.

Downes bursting with pride as 3-1 scoreline flatters Macclesfield - listen in full

Hereford manager Aaron Downes has said he is proud of his side after they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield.

The gaffer said the scoreline flattered Macclesfield in an interview with the press after the match.

Listen in full by pressing play below.

Harriers match abandoned after Dibble injury

Christian Dibble at Edgar Street

Kidderminster Harriers’ National League North clash at Radcliffe has been abandoned after a serious injury to goalkeeper Christian Dibble.

Saturday's game was level at 1-1 when Dibble was left in need of treatment after a heavy collision with Harriers defender Joe Foulkes in the 70th minute, with both medical teams attending.

After a lengthy stoppage, the match was abandoned before an ambulance arrived on the pitch at around 5pm.

Radcliffe had taken the lead from a controversial first-half penalty through Rio Clegg, before Owen Evans equalised for Harriers just before the break.

Speaking after the game, Harriers boss Adam Murray praised the reaction of the players on the pitch as Dibble and Foulkes were put in the recovery position immediately.

He said that Dibble had lost consciousness and was still drowsy as he was taken to hospital with Foulkes, with both having cuts to their heads.

Update Sunday 8.30am: Kidderminster report 'happy to share Christian Dibble and Joe Foulkes have been discharged from hospital. Following Saturday’s collision, Joe has a fractured eye socket and cheekbone; Christian has suffered a concussion. Both will now recover at home with the best wishes and support of us all.' 

Saturday's National League North results and updated table

This afternoon's results from the National League North:

AFC Telford United (0) 0-2 (1) Marine
Buxton (3) 3-0 (0) Bedford Town [840]
Chester (0) 1-2 (0) Southport
King's Lynn Town (0) 0-0 (0) Curzon Ashton
Leamington (1) 1-2 (0) Scarborough Athletic
Macclesfield (0) 3-1 (0) Hereford
Oxford City (0) 2-0 (0) Chorley
Peterborough Sports (0) 0-1 (1) Darlington
South Shields (3) 4-1 (0) Merthyr Town
Spennymoor Town (0) 1-1 (1) Alfreton Town
Worksop Town (1) 1-0 (0) AFC Fylde

Kidderminster's trip to Radcliffe was abandoned after an injury to their keeper Christian Dibble in the 70th minute.

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

10-man Hereford beaten by Macclesfield

Play-off hopefuls Macclesfield have beaten 10-man Hereford 3-1 at Moss Rose this afternoon.

Hereford had good chances in the first half with Keziah Martin, Freddie Willcox, George Munday and Harry Tustin all going close, while Paul Dawson saw his headed effort saved by Theo Richardson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts' effort being blocked by Keenan Quansah.

Macclesfield also went close as the ball pinged around inside the 18-yard box but Richardson pulled off two fine saves to deny them the opener before being reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time. Harrison Sohna was shown a straight red after an off-the-ball incident with Luke Duffy on the halfway line, though the Bulls nearly took the lead moments later as Cormac Daly drifted in from the left and forced a fingertip save from the keeper.

After the break, Hudson saw a wicked cross flash across the face of goal before a low Munday drive was somehow tipped around the post by keeper Rogan Ravenhill, on loan from Barnsley.

While Duffy threatened for the hosts, the Bulls continued full of spirit until the opener came in the 65th minute. After a flurry of corners for the Silkmen, Duffy's shot bounced down off the crossbar and over the line off Richardson's back in what was a desperately unlucky goal for Hereford to concede.

Just after Kyle Howkins made way for Mikey Lane to provide additional firepower up front, Duffy got his second of the afternoon with a low strike. While Hereford pulled a goal back thanks to George Munday, Buckley-Ricketts sealed the win for Macclesfield as he carved open the Bulls' defence in the 89th minute.

Goalless at the break between Macclesfield and 10-man Bulls

It's goalless at half-time between Macclesfield and 10-man Hereford.

Keziah Martin, Freddie Willcox, George Munday and Harry Tustin have all gone close for the visitors, while the best chances for Macclesfield came from Paul Dawson whose headed effort was an easy save for Theo Richardson and Keenan Quansah blocked Isaac Buckley-Ricketts' effort.

As half-time approached, Macclesfield nearly broke the deadlock as the ball pinged around inside the penalty box, but two saves from Richardson denied them the opener.

But the Bulls were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time as Harrison Sohna was shown a straight red after an off-the-ball incident with Luke Duffy on the halfway line.

Hereford team news from Macclesfield

Here's the Hereford team to take on Macclesfield this afternoon:

Richardson, Skinner, Hudson, Tustin, Sohna, Quansah, Munday, Daly, Martin, Willcox, Howkins

Subs: Lewis, Preston, D'Ath, Lane, Williams, Donawa, James

This Weekend In 2004

Going back to March 2004, Hereford are flying high in the Conference and they played Shrewsbury at Edgar Street,

A look back:

Derby win sees United go top

Hereford United 2 - 1 Shrewsbury Town

Hereford United gained revenge for their defeat earlier this season against Shrewsbury Town and also returned to the top of the table. The first-half had ended equal but the Shrews had shaded it. They had more possesion but created few clear cut chances, albeit more than the Bulls could manage.

United couldn't have started this local derby better. David Brown found Jamie Pitman with a crisp pass, and Pitman chipped the ball over the Salop defence for Rob Purdie to run onto and superbly volley home into the far bottom corner after just three minutes. The lead, however, was short lived. Shrewsbury broke down their right wing and Ryan Lowe crossed along the ground after skinning Michael Rose for Lee Lawrence, on loan from Mancheser United, to slot past Matthew Baker.

Hereford hardly threatened again in the first half until injury time when Steve Guinan's shot needed the finger tips of Scott Howie to direct the ball over the bar, although after about half an hour Pitmans shot could well have won the Whites a penalty. The powerful effort hit a raised Shrewsbury arm but referee Mr. A. Green waved play on. The lively Luke Rogers beat the United defence only to see his shot bloked by the chest of impressive Baker. Duane Darby and Rogers again had chances before half time.

Luke Rogers With Andy Tretton - Pic from Andy Compton

 

The second half began like the first half, exciting, with both teams playing some good football. Shrewsbury had the first chance from Darby whose shot, bound for the top corner, was tipped around the post by Baker. Ryan Green almost scored a fluke a couple of minutes later when his cross-come-shot hit the top of the cross bar.

Scott Willis would have been dissapointed not to have given Hereford the lead after Brown had held the ball up well in the area after receiving a stunning long range pass from Tony James. Brown cut the ball back into the run of Willis who powered the ball just over from twelve yards.

United did get the goal they had been pushing for after nine minutes of the second half. Man of the match Pitman threaded a wonderful through ball in between two defenders and found Steve Guinan who had beaten the offside trap. His original effort was well saved by Howie, but the ball fell kindly to the Hereford hitman who netted his twenty-second Conference goal of the season from a yard out.

Jimmy Quinn's men aimed to pull level as quickly as they had done previously, and attacked the Hereford box from the kick off. Darby got in behind the solid Hereford defence, with Tom Smith deputising for Tamika Mkandawire, and appeared to be fouled by former Shrewsbury captain Andy Tretton. The referee blew his whistle and much to the delight of the Bulls fans, booked Darby for a dive. Darby caused more trouble for United and managed to get one on one with Baker but Smith and Baker combined well to clear the danger.

The game had the passion of a local derby, both in the terraces and on the pitch. The crowd, which was a little dissapointing, of 5850 were well up for this game and so were the players. Tackles started to fly in during the second half as the Shrews began to get frustrated resulting in bookings for Trevor Challis and Dave Ridler, who was lucky to stay on the field after grabbing onto Browns leg after the striker had turned him. Ridler appeared to be the last man and Brown would have surely been through on goal if he wasn't held. Andy Tretton and Michael Rose were booked for the Bulls.

Late on Shrewsbury desperately searched for an opening to claim an equaliser. Substitute Jody Banim had the best chance of the half after a cross arrived from the right. He side footed a volley which Baker saved brilliantly from point blank range.

Even the introduction of player manager Quinn late on couldn't force a goal for Shrewsbury, who were slightly unlucky not to get anything out of this game, although Hereford could have scored more than they managed. With Chester City not playing today the result means that Hereford United return to the top of the table since November, even if it is just for a few days.

 

Steve gets the decisive goal

Steve Guinan added another to his goal to his tally this afternoon with the winner for the Bulls in the local derby with Shrewsbury. And it was even sweeter that Guinan scored the goal as he used to play for the visitors.

Interviewed on BBC Hereford & Worcester, Guinan admitted that the team knew it would be a tough game.

"First half, to be fair to them, I think they came out on top. Second half down the hill with our fans behind us, I think we were on top and I think we proved that by getting the decisive goal."

With Rob Purdie scoring the first goal of the game after three minutes, it was the dream start.

"I don't think we could have got any better (start)," said Guinan. "I don't think Shrewsbury had had that many touches. It was a great finish from Rob, but unfortunately they came back and hit us on the break."

Talking about his goal nine minutes into the second-half, Guinan said: "I think I was a bit fortunate. I think it just sneaked off the keeper and came back to me. It's got us three points. It was vital we had the three points to catch Chester and it might affect them a little bit.

He also praised Hereford's goalkeeper Matt Baker who made a great save late in the game. "Matt made some grand saves all season, none better than the penalty at Chester in the last minute. He's kept us in games left, right and centre."

Meanwhile, Graham Turner said, "We played some good football in the second half after playing second fiddle for much of the first."

And Jimmy Quinn commented, "We had the chances to go away with at least a point. Now we've got to go to Barnet on Tuesday night and get something down there."

However he did comment on the official Shrewsbury Town website:" You can see Hereford are a confident team and you can see why they are (in) the position they are."

This Afternoon's National North League Fixtures

Here's the list:

Buxton v Bedford

Chester v Southport

Kings Lynn v Curzon Ashton

Leamington v Scarborough

Macclesfield v Hereford

Oxford City v Chorley

Peterborough Sports v Darlington

Radcliffe v Kidderminster

South Shields v Merthyr

Spennymoor v Alfreton

Telford v Marine

Worksop v AFC Fylde 

 

'No excuses, just go again' attitude for Bulls ahead of fourth game in eight days

George Munday at Alfreton

Aaron Downes says Hereford must “roll their sleeves up and get on with it” as they head to Macclesfield less than 48 hours after their draining defeat at Alfreton Town.

The Bulls are in the middle of a relentless run of fixtures, with Saturday’s trip their fourth game in eight days, but the Hereford boss is refusing to use fatigue as an excuse.

"We've got to get on with it," he said after Thursday's 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Alfreton.

"I'm a person who believes if you look for excuses, you'll find them."

He added: "That's not us. We've not done that since I've been in here and the boys have been great and they're still great. There's improvements we can make, especially from that first half an hour, 45 minutes, but you can see that they're a willing group.

"And again, I'll return back to it, I'll get them going, make sure Saturday we go up there and be competitive and that's all we can ask."

Downes insisted mindset will be key heading into another tough test.

"It's a lot of fixtures, but we knew that coming into it," he said. "We've just got to make sure roll our sleeves up and get on with it.

"Alfreton tonight are the same as us, they played Saturday, they played Tuesday, played tonight, and they put a lot of effort into the first half an hour and they got the rewards.

"They were tired at the end and we had the momentum, the impetus, but we've got to think positively going into the game because if we keep giving ourselves excuses, we'll find them."

Hereford showed that spirit in the second half at Alfreton, dominating large spells and pushing hard for an equaliser, and Downes wants to see that same aggression from the outset at Moss Rose.

“We’re going to be aggressive again,” he said. “That’s for you to decide, but it’s on me to make sure I don’t give you the chance to ask questions about momentum.”

Despite back-to-back defeats, the manager is keen to keep perspective, pointing to the strong run that has lifted the Bulls back into contention for survival.

Asked whether the back-to-back defeats against Fylde and Alfreton, off the back of three wins, had hampered momentum, Downes said: "No, it tos and fros.

"We've had a great run up until Tuesday night and it's my role to make sure that we keep the positivity and turn it around.

"But we're going to be aggressive again going up Saturday. That's for you to decide and me to make sure that I don't give you the opportunity to ask me that question."

Second Half Pictures From Alfreton

After a disappointing first half, Hereford came into the game in the second period.

A selection of pictures from the second half: