Text at top (next game etc)

Next Game: Home Against Southport In The League On Saturday January 18th At 3.00pm ( assuming the floodlights are working )

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Remarkable Bulls recovery bags three points (what's the score Tony?)

It’s not often I feel inclined to mention off-field issues when reporting on an away match but today, an exception has to be made. Trailing by three goals at half-time, one of our kind saw little point in enduring another 45 minutes and duly retired to a nearby alehouse during the interval only to return at full-time to discover that an amazing comeback had earned his team all the points with a nineteen minute four goal burst.

The hosts had, with generous defending from the visitors, opened up what should have been a match-winning three-goal margin courtesy of a Leon McKenzie hat-trick but The Bulls struck back with a Stuart Fleetwood brace, an 18-yard curler from James McQuilkin and a winner from The Beast.

Temporary "gaffer" Jamie Pitman made just one change bringing in Kenny Lunt to replace the suspended Canham. Lunt slotted into an advanced midfield role with Bauza moving to the main striker position. Former Bulls Steve Guinan and Nat Wedderburn could only find places on the bench for The Cobblers.

In a bright opening, Valentine had to be alert to block an early effort from Josh Parker before Hereford broke down the left only for Bauza to be hauled to the ground as he looked to release Lunt into the box. Play swung from end to end with the hosts producing the better of the chances although a neat move down the right involving McQuilkin, Lunt and Green finished with home 'keeper, Chris Dunn, happy to hack the cross away for a throw-in. Parker went close with a shot from the edge of the box and Rose fired straight at Dunn following good work from McQuilkin before The Cobblers opened their account in the 24th minute. Colbeck conceded a free-kick on the hosts' left flank and after a short pass; the ball was hoisted into the Bulls' box. Some poor marking combined with a suspect attempt at a punch from Bartlett allowed McKenzie to nod home from just a few yards out.

Werling had been on the end of a couple of hefty challenges and left the field on 37 minutes to be replaced by Manset who immediately took up a position on the left. The Sixfield crowd were cheering again on 42 minutes. Kevin Thornton was given time in the box to get a shot off and Bartlett’s good block only fell to McKenzie who forced the ball home from close range. Then, what at the time felt like the killer goal came as McKenzie got his third in added time of the first period. McQuilkin inexplicably dinked a back-pass towards Bartlett with the hat-trick man standing between the two and although Barts got a hand to the ball he was unable to keep the shot.

HT Northampton 3 Bulls 0

Either Pitman's half time chat or the cucumber sandwiches certainly had the desired effect as Hereford turned the game on its head in the second half. Northampton again started the quicker as Parker went close but Manset, now playing more centrally, responded with a driving run at the home defence before finding Bauza but the Spaniard's effort was just wide. Steve Guinan replaced McKenzie on 49 minutes but it was the arrival of Stuart Fleetwood five minutes later that was to be the more telling replacement when he came on for Kenny Lunt. Manset appeared to be relishing the central role with Fleets working from the right and Bauza drifting in and out of the attack from his, now, slightly deeper role. Indeed, it was Bauza's intelligent through ball that found Fleetwood darting into the box and Bulls' striker fired his cross shot just inside the far post despite Dunn getting a limp hand to it. Fleets had been on the pitch just three minutes.

United were then denied a clear penalty as Manset was sent crashing to the ground by a home defender when through on goal. 'Keeper Dunn, although not involved in the incident collapsed to the ground and referee Deadman chose to concern himself more with the 'keeper’s writhing than with the blatant foul on the Bulls' striker. Manset went close with a couple of other surging runs and at the other end, Guinan was just short of getting on the end of a cross into the six-yard box but it was Bauza who again was the provider as Fleetwood struck again on 69 minutes. The former Swansea player broke into the box and clipped an audacious cross-legged centre to the far post where Fleetwood gratefully nodded over the line from three yards.

Just two minutes later, McQuilkin made amends for his first-half howler when he curled a delightful shot passed Dunn from just outside the box. At the other end, Tony James produced a fine block to deny Thornton and Colbeck did equally well to block an effort from Gilligan before the travelling Bulls fans erupted with delight as Manset capped the comeback with a quality finish that epitomised the new-found confidence. The ball arrived at the back post from the left and The Beast took the ball down, feigned to go one way and checked back before firing a right-footed shot into the far corner of the goal. The final ten minutes (plus 5 added) kept a remaining 321 on the edge of their seats but the half time chorus of "that’s why you’re going down" from the home fans was returned with interest as the game ended.

The nervy performance of the first period was replaced after the break by some extremely watchable football. Some of Bauza's play was a joy to watch and the first goal seemed to ignite the Fleetwood of old as he darted around causing panic in the Cobblers back division. Both fullbacks did their jobs well while Townsend and Tony James were probably glad to see the back of McKenzie as they settled to their tasks better after the break. Quilks topped off his usual industrious display with a fine goal while the steadying influence of Richard Rose' quiet holding role continued to give the team the shape and stability that had been lacking during the Davey period.

Attendance 4333 (322)

Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Townsend, James, Valentine, Colbeck, McQuilkin, Rose, Werling (Manset 37), Lunt (Fleetwood 55), Bauza. Subs unused: Heister (?), Kovacs, Weir, Evans, Thompson.

Northampton: Dunn, Johnson, Tozer, Holt, Davis, Osman (Wedderburn 61), Thornton, Gilligan, Parker (Rodgers 79), McKenzie (Guinan 49), McKay. Subs unused: Hall, Walker, Jacobs, Harris.

Apologies for the lateness of the report, we felt the need to return to The Malt Shovel for a few celebratory drinks. 'Twas a good day out.