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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.
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
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.
Hereford's first home game of the season took place at Edgar Street this afternoon.
Here are some pictures from before kick-off.
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| The moment Connor Kirby went down after clashing with Preston Bitemo |
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."
The 19 year old loanee from Notts County had only been on the pitch eight minutes when he scored.
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| Hereford boss Aaron Downes |
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.”
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| Harrison Iwunze's second-half goal was enough to secure three points over Marine |
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hereford vice-captain Kam Kandola has given his thoughts on this afternoon's 1-0 win over Marine.
It is the Bulls' first win of the new season, in the first home game, in which Kandola was selected as the sponsors' man of the match.
Press play to listen in full.
Hereford boss Aaron Downes has given his thoughts on this afternoon's 1-0 win over Marine.
It was the Bulls’ second game of the new season and three points sees them off the mark.
Press play to listen to the interview in full.
This afternoon’s results from the National League North.
Bedford 2 - Darlington 3
Brackley Town 1 - Hebburn Town 1
Chester 2 - King’s Lynn 0
Harborough 1 - Morecambe 0
Hednesford 3 - Scarborough 4
Hereford 1 - Marine 0
Macclesfield 2 - Radcliffe 1
South Shields 2 - Chorley 1
Southport 1 - Buxton 1
Spalding United 0 - Oxford City 1
Spennymoor 2 - Merthyr Town 1
Worksop Town 2 - AFC Telford United 1
The updated table can be found here: https://bullsnews.blogspot.com/p/league-table.html
Richardson, Skinner, Kandola, Merrett, Martin, Tustin, Cox, Spokes, James, Phillips, Howkins
Subs: Waldron, Williamson, Roberts, Iwunze, Lewis, Tolley, Jones
It's back to 2004 for today's look back.
Bulls keep league run going
Hereford United defeated Farnborough Town in the first game of the season 3-1 at Edgar Street this afternoon. 3,644 turned up to see Hereford continue their great run of results from the end of last season, which now stretches to an amazing twelve straight victories. Debuts were handed to Johnathan Gould, Mark Robinson, Craig Stanley, Adam Stansfield and Lee Mills who started on the subs bench. Ryan Green missed out through injury as did Danny Carey-Bertram.
Gould didn't impress his new fans straight away. In only the first minute a misunderstanding between Andy Tretton and him led to a rushed clearance and a corner for Boro. Stanley cleared for another corner but nothing was made of it. It took fourteen minutes for Hereford to get a decent shot away, Brown received a cross from Travis and hit a shot on the turn that was gathered easily by Chris Holloway in goal for Farnborough.
The 120 away fans were delighted in the twentieth minute when Tony James was penalised by the referee for a foul on Lloyd Blackman in the penalty area. Blackman stepped up only to see his spot kick palmed away by Gould much to the delight of the United fans. The penalty was the best chance of the half that failed to create many clear goalscoring opportunites for either side. Tamika Mkandawire headed over before Travis blazed a half volley over from the edge of the area as the first half ended 0-0.
The Bulls set the tone for the second half by netting within two minutes of the restart. Danny Williams swung in a free kick that fell to Pitman. He was tripped in the area by a defender and Hereford were awarded a penalty from which skipper Tony James made no mistake powering low to the 'keepers left. Four minutes later United doubled their lead following a superb move. David Brown found Stanley on the left with a neat pass from the halfway line. Stanley sprinted down the flank and delivered a brilliant cross for Simon Travis who powered a volley past the helpless Holloway from a tight angle.
Farnborough were unlucky not to grab one back as Tony Taggart volleyed inches over. Dean Austin made his first change replacing Paul Harkness with Chaaban. Blackburn then shot wide from twelve yards as Boro looked for a way back into the game, but Hereford's defence of Mkandawire James and man of the match Tretton looked too strong. Brown and Stansfield combined well to create and opening for Brown, but his low left footed shot was wide of the far post.
Rob Purdie was subbed on for Williams with just under fifteen minutes to go and this change was soon followed by the introduction of Mills, who has signed a one year deal at Edgar Street. Brown won the Bulls a corner with ten minutes to go after good work by Purdie, but Mkandawire headed over.
Mills put the result beyond doubt in the eight fourth minute with a powerful header from a Robinson free kick that delighted the home supporters but Farnborough did manage to grab a consolation goal in injury time when Blackburn got one on one with Gould and calmly tucked the ball into the bottom corner for 3-1.
Hereford performed well and look set to mount another challenge for promotion. The result will give the side plenty of confidence going into what may be a difficult game next Tuesday evening at Crawley Town who will still be on a high following their promotion and their 2-1 victory at Leigh RMI this afternoon.
HUFC: Gould, Travis, Tretton (motm), James (c), Robinson, Stanley, D Williams, Pitman, Stansfield, Brown. Subs: Mills, Scott, Smith, A Williams, Purdie
FTFC: Holloway , Charles , Townsend , Theo , Rooney , Mulhern , Holloway , Taggart , Hughes , Harkness , Blackman Subs: Osborn , Miles , Allen-Page , Chaaban , Belaid
Mills signs season-long deal
Lee Mills has signed a season long deal at Edgar Street. Although he only joined the club last Tuesday, Graham Turner has put his trust in him to do the business.
Mills repayed his new employers by scoring on his debut for the Bulls after coming on as a substitute.
Interviewed on BBC Hereford and Worcester, Mills said that things had been difficult for him since the problems at Telford.
"I've had quite a lot of teams enquire but nobody had come up with a firm offer or made me feel welcome.
"But Graham gave me a ring about two weeks ago and I left it for a while but as nothing had come in I thought there's worse places I could be than Hereford so I plumped for it.
"I'm glad to be here and hope things will improve for me.
"I've signed for a year. So I've got twelve months to get my fitness right. I want to see the season through with Hereford and hopefully get them back into the Football League."