First Half Pictures Hereford v Oxford City

A selection of pictures from the first half of last night's game between Hereford and Oxford City.

 

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Munday Celebrates His Goal

Hereford took the lead in tonight's game against Oxford in just five minutes.

And it was on loan striker George Munday who got the goal.

Match report: Bitter blow at Edgar Street as Bulls lose grip on great escape hopes

George Munday celebrates his goal

Hereford's hopes of a great escape have taken a massive hit after falling to a mortifying 2-1 defeat in a game of two halves against Oxford at Edgar Street.

Failing to make the most of a dominant first half, two sloppy goals for the visitors in the second half and a sending off for Harrison Sohna mean their fate is now out of their hands and they'll be relying on other results to go their way if they are to avoid the drop.

Despite a beautiful George Munday goal after just five minutes, Hereford were the makers of their own downfall once again as they failed to extend their lead. After Sohna's second yellow for bringing down Zac McEachran as he burst towards goal, the Bulls lost control of the game. After Matty Taylor pounced on a loose ball in the box in the 73rd minute to equalise, Canice Carroll got the better of Freddy Willcox to head home a cross past a dithering Theo Richardson three minutes from time.

While the hope ahead of kick off at a soggy and cool Edgar Street had turned to dismay by the final whistle, Hereford went into the game knowing they needed a win to keep matters in their own hands. Making one change to the side that drew 2-2 at Bedford on Saturday, Aaron Downes started Aaron Skinner ahead of Keenan Quansah, with Joseph James partnering with Kyle Howkins in central defence.

Hereford started the crunch match against their fellow Enterprise National League North match strugglers aggressively as they looked to immediately stamp their authority. Inside five minutes, George Munday had bagged a well-deserved, much-needed and confidence-boosting goal, thanks to Aaron Skinner's tenacious break forward from his right wing-back position.

After he teed up Munday on the edge of the box, the Cambridge forward shrugged off their luminous green shirts as he turned and curled a stunning left-footed effort past Max Metcalfe.

Having taken the lead, the Bulls looked to add a second just seconds later, with Harrison Sohna's wicked corner from the right falling nicely at the back post, though it was hacked clear after being knocked down by the towering Howkins.

In front of the Blackfriars End, the Hoops couldn't take advantage of James's poor touch as Ewan Clark was denied by a vital Willcox block in the 11th minute. Then, just a minute later, Clark cut back for former Kidderminster Harriers forward Ashley Hemmings who also saw his effort blocked.

As Hereford returned to dominating the game, Mikey Lane - playing alongside Munday upfront - did well to second Cormac Daly on his way down the left, only for his cross to be scrambled clear. After Howkins and James had seen chances go inches wide of the target, and Harrison Sohna's rasping shot being charged down, the Bulls continue to commit bodies forward. Daly also continued to cause problems and in the 28th minute should have doubled his side's lead, if not for a defending sliding back and clearing his effort from the left off the line.

With half-time approaching, another James error saw McEachran once again free to break towards goal, but his shot from an awkward angle failed to find the target. The Bulls also had a spurious penalty claim waived away by referee Lewis Smith after Skinner fell to the floor under pressure as he burst towards goal. 

While another goal was crucial to give the Bulls some breathing space - and they had had chances to get it - they couldn't find a second before the break.

Half time: Hereford 1 - Oxford City 0

Just needing to continue where they left off, the Bulls quickly found themselves under pressure by one of the league's in-form sides. Struggling to retain possession, Sohna soon found himself in the referee's notebook - albeit for a 50/50 challenge in front of the dugouts, which should never have been punished with a booking.

But just three minutes after his first booking, Sohna was given his marching orders after naively bringing down McEachran from behind as he was left one-on-one with the keeper. As Downes hoicked Lane off for Quansah, the free kick from Sohna's foul was fired wide of the upright by Taylor as the Meadow End lit up with phone torches to distract the former Oxford United forward.

While James caught Metcalfe off guard with his cross-cum-shot, with the ball being tipped onto the roof of the net, the Bulls struggled to threaten the visitors in the second half. Despite causing some problems at the back, James redeemed himself as he denied Hemmings as he hacked his chance clear from the goalmouth with Richardson beaten.

As Oxford piled the pressure on, despite rarely finding the target, the equaliser did come midway through the half as the Lilywhites failed to deal with a cross which dropped to Taylor to convert.

Birmingham City youngster O'Shea Ellis could've then made it two moments later as his shot took a deflection before hitting the stanchion behind Richardson's goal, but Oxford kept forcing Hereford to defend deeply as they searched for a winner - which did come three minutes from time. While a corner was half-cleared by the Bulls, it was whipped back in from the right and Carroll was able to lose Willcox as he drifted to connect with it, heading past Richardson who seemed to think the chance was going wide.

Despite one last chance in the seventh minute of the seven added on, Hereford couldn't rescue a point as a free-kick from substitute Keziah Martin was too deep to cause too many problems.

Full time: Hereford 1 - Oxford City 2

Attendance: 2,645 (38 away)

Sponsors' man of the match: Aaron Skinner

Hereford will be kicking themselves that they have thrown away their best chance of saving themselves from relegation - by not winning more of their games in hand. Despite a first half where the team played well together, caused problems and looked creative as they attacked the Meadow End, it all fell to pieces after the break when Oxford came to life. The controversial sending off for Sohna after a poor first booking from the referee could have been the turning point, but the Bulls should have scored a second while on top and avoided conceding two sloppy goals.

Another deflating night. It's the hope that kills you.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner (Martin 77'), Hudson, Sohna, Lane (Quansah 53'), Munday (Williams 80'), Daly, James, Willcox, Tustin (D'Ath 77'), Howkins.

Subs: Lewis, Oppong, Hamilton.

Oxford City: Metcalfe, Ashby, Harper-Bailey (Johnson 35'), Ellis, McEachran (Westendorf 65'), Clark, Burroughs, Humphries, Hemmings (Bearne 66'), Carroll, Taylor (Scott 80').

Subs: Roddy, Potter, Humphrey-Ewers

REACTION | Aaron Downes - Hereford FC 1-2 Oxford City

Aaron Downes gives his post match reaction to tonights 2-1 defeat to Oxford City.

Click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

Enterprise National League North results and updated table

The following results have been recorded in the Enterprise National League North:

Alfreton Town (2) 2-2 (1) Buxton
Hereford (1) 1-2 (0) Oxford City
Marine (0) 1-3 (1) Merthyr Town
Radcliffe (0) 1-3 (2) Kidderminster Harriers
South Shields (3) 4-1 (1) Macclesfield

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

Hereford’s fate out of their hands after Oxford defeat

Hereford have failed to beat Oxford City at Edgar Street, meaning avoiding relegation is now no longer in their hands.

Aaron Downes’s side needed three points to keep matters in their own hands but will need to rely on other results going their way to avoid the drop after falling to a 2-1 defeat. 

The game got off to a perfect start after a fifth minute George Munday goal, with the Bulla dominating much of the first half. 

But after the break, Harrison Sohna was given his marching orders after two quick yellows, with Oxford equalising in the 73rd minute through Matty Taylor. 

With Hereford under pressure, Canice Carroll added a second three minutes from time. 

Hereford are now five points from safety with just one game in hand. 

Matchday - Half Time Draw 50/50 winning numbers vs Oxford City

Tonight's 50/50 Matchday Draw winning numbers 

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Hereford ahead at the break

A George Monday goal in the fifth minute sees Hereford 1-0 up at half-time in this evening’s National League North match at Edgar Street.

Right wing-back Aaron Skinner was the creator as Munday turned and curled the ball home.

While Oxford looked to hit back quickly with a flurry of blocked chances, the Bulls have dominated much of the half.

HUST Golden Goal Winning Time vs Oxford City

Tonight's Golden Goal winning time... 

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Hereford team news for Oxford City six-pointer

This evening's Hereford side to take on Oxford City at Edgar Street:

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Hudson, Sohna, Lane, Munday, Daly, James, Willcox, Tustin, Howkins.

Subs: Lewis, D'Ath, Williams, Oppong, Quansah, Martin, Hamilton

The Great Escape Starts Tonight

Brilliant from the London Bulls.

Five National North League Games This Evening

There are five National North League games this evening.

Alfreton v Buxton

Hereford v Oxford City

Marine v Merthyr

Radcliffe v Kidderminster

South Shields v Macclesfield 

Hereford 13/10 To Defeat Oxford

Hereford's Matt Preston Receives A Yellow Card At Oxford Earlier This Season

 The bookmakers are offering prices of around 13/10 for a Hereford victory over Oxford City tomorrow evening at Edgar Street.

With both clubs battling relegation there should be a good crowd for the game which kicks off at 7.45pm.

Currently Hereford are 21st in the National North League table with 45 points from 42 games, Oxford are 19th with 50 points from 43 games.

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

Last Saturday Hereford drew 2-2 at Bedford (17th) whilst Oxford drew 1-1 at Alfreton (22nd). 

Hereford's home form is won 7, drawn 3 and lost 9.

Oxford's away form is won 3, drawn 9 and lost 9. 

Recent form:

Hereford LLLWWD

Oxford WWWDWD

Hereford 13/10  Draw 13/5  Oxford 9/5 

Oxford City At Edgar Street In 1948

A look back to 1948 and a game between Hereford United and Oxford City.

On 14 November 1948 the fourth qualifying round of the FA cup threw up a home tie with amateurs Oxford City. In recognition of the importance of the occasion, the programme price was increased from 2d to 3d. The match turned out to be one of the very best ever seen at Edgar Street for sheer excitement, entertainment, and fluctuation of fortunes.

The first quarter of an hour gave very little indication of the thrills and spills that were about to come. Jock Sinclair put United in front after 18 minutes but City shrugged off this setback and stormed downfield for inside-left James to equalise only two minutes later. The rest of the half was a ding-dong battle with play flowing from end to end. Half-time arrived with no further goals.

Charlie Thompson restored United’s advantage four minutes into the second period, and home fans then expected the lead to be consolidated as the visitors would hopefully tire – however they did not tire and it was United who found themselves hanging on as Oxford City bravely took the battle to them. Wave after wave of attack was repelled by an overworked United defence and as the minutes ticked by it looked as if United might just be able to hang on to the lead.

However City had other ideas and mounted one final desperate attack, and with the last kick of normal time right-winger Nugent scrambled in a last-ditch, but thoroughly deserved, equaliser to force the game into extra time.

Despite conceding a late equaliser, United fans were still confident that the team would prove too strong for Oxford and so they settled down again expecting to see further goals for the home side. They soon got one – but at the wrong end of the pitch - Oxford had carried on where they left off, and left-winger Wheeler put them in front for the first time after only five minutes of the extra period.

This strike seemed to spur United on and they come close on several occasions. With only one minute of the half remaining, George Tranter came up front for yet another corner and magnificently nodded United level yet again.

The second period was full of action and there were goalmouth incidents galore at both ends, with no sign of the brave amateurs tiring, the tie was very evenly balanced. With the minutes ticking by a replay was looking more and more likely. United launched one last desperate and frenzied attack, the ball was crossed from the right, Charlie Thompson flicked a beautiful header over the keeper and the crowd began to celebrate it had “goal” written all over it but incredibly, just as the ball was about to flash under the crossbar and into the net, a defender flew across the face of the goal and produced a magnificent save to fingertip the ball over the bar. The referee awarded United a penalty.

Tension mounted as Thompson placed the ball on the spot for what must surely have been the last kick of the game. An eerie silence fell over the 7,500 crowd packed into Edgar Street. Would Charlie’s nerve hold, or would the tension prove too much for him? He ran up and let rip with a rasping drive. The keeper dived. Before he hit the deck the ball was smashed into the back of the net. Edgar Street erupted. What a game it was, and what a fantastic finish!

After the game Oxford sportingly congratulated their opponents and left the field to a standing ovation. They would long be remembered by the many new friends they had made in Hereford that day.

As told to me by friend Ron Parrott

John Cutler

“Tupsley Whites”

 

Massive one - yet again

Two cup finals a week at the moment, and here’s another.

Hereford FC host Oxford City on Tuesday evening, knowing that a win would give the club and supporters genuine optimism again about the chances of survival, rather than just hope.

The Bulls very badly need to go on another two-game winning run, and then ideally another one after that, because if they win their four remaining games, all at home, none particularly nasty looking, they can’t be relegated.

In last Saturday’s relegation battle, the comeback draw duplicated exactly what happened at Edgar Street earlier in the season between Hereford and Bedford. If this Tuesday’s relegation battle duplicates what happened when Oxford hosted Hereford earlier in the season, it won’t be much fun.

The Bulls dominated the early stages of that game, yet came away losing 3-0. A red card for Matt Preston in the first half was the turning point.

A Bulls win here would reduce the gap to Oxford to two points, with Hereford having a game in hand. The Hoops follow this with a home game against a flying Chester, and then travel to Darlington on the final day of the season for a game the Quakers may have to win to secure a play-off place. That looks significantly tougher on paper than what Hereford have left, although of course on grass is where it matters, or, increasingly, plastic.

A rejuvenated Aaron Skinner made a difference when coming on at the weekend as a substitute. I’ve got an odd and persistent feeling that he’ll score a very important goal at some point before the end of the season. Aaron Downes may opt to start with him here. He’ll also need to decide whether to go with Keziah Martin or Harry Tustin, and also whether Andy Williams should start ahead of either George Munday or Mikey Lane, with both youngsters having been used extensively recently. They and the Cheltenham loanees will have grown immeasurably over the course of their time at Edgar Street, as players and men, but going from having played very little men’s football to two or even three games a week is inevitably going to lead to at least a minor bit of rotation being needed.

Matt Preston missed out entirely on Saturday, so it seems likely that Howkins and Quansah will start as the central defenders, denying Preston the chance to make amends for his early bath in the game between these two earlier in the season, although I can’t imagine he did actually have a bath after getting sent off. That would have been odd.

The Hoops took a while to adapt to the rigours of the National League North last season as newly relegated arrivals, both on the pitch and off it given the travel involved as a southern club in a northern league. However, they rallied, adapted and ultimately comfortably avoided back-to-back relegations. Nevertheless they finished a distant 23 points behind tenth-placed Hereford. 

They haven’t kicked on from there though, and up until recently looked nailed on to be relegated. However they’ve rallied again, and are seven games unbeaten (I probably shouldn't mention seven-game runs of any sort here given what's still fresh and painful in the memory). That run must surely come to an end very soon - as soon as Tuesday with a bit of luck.

Their upturn has coincided with the arrival on loan of ex-Kidderminster wide man Ashley Hemmings. Now a Dagenham player, the 35-year-old actually went back to Harriers on loan earlier in the season but it didn’t work out. He’s now at Oxford and they’ve lost just once in his eight games for the club.

Along with Hemmings, Zac McEachran offers vast experience and has played over 350 times for the club. The Bulls will have to be very smart in dealing with these old stagers, who won’t be fazed by the occasion one bit.

Ex-Bull DJ Campton-Sturridge is having a good season in a struggling side, with ten goals. However, he was missing from the side that drew 1-1 at Alfreton on Saturday with a sore ankle, and is a doubt again here.

It’s encouraging that they failed to beat the Derbyshire side given that Alfreton played with ten men for most of the game. It’s also encouraging that they’ve won just three of 21 away games this season.

Hereford have spent much of the season playing two very different games of 45 minutes within whole 90-minute matches, but they’ll know that they can’t afford a single no-show 45 minutes, along the lines of that first half at Bedford, in the eight blocks of 45 minutes that remain available to them this season. A repeat of the South Shields performance and result would do nicely. 5-0 for goal difference and blood pressure purposes would be even better.

There should be another good crowd for this, and hopefully a noisy, encouraging atmosphere rather than a tense one.

Can’t lose this, can’t really draw it either…by my reckoning that only leaves one option.

COYW