The Bulls finished looking short of ideas, shape and determination as they went down to the first home goal scored at The EBB Stadium since the 10th December. Guy Madjo struck eight minutes into the second period to grab all three points for the hosts.
Hereford made several changes from the team that had put in a workmanlike performance to take a point off high-riding Cheltenham on Saturday. Delroy Facey was missing through illness and this provided an opportunity for Nathan Elder to start up front. He was joined by young Lyle Taylor with Yoann Arquin filling the left side berth to complete what was, allegedly, a 4-4-2 formation. Simon Clist took the left back role while Featherstone and Colbeck dropped to the bench.
The game started brightly albeit, probably too open for those in love with the coaching manual. With The Bulls attacking the East Bank, Arquin got in an early shot as he drifted in from the left but the ball was cleared for a fruitless corner. Purdie picked up the clearance but was two-handedly shoved off the ball without the referee appearing to notice and The Shots broke quickly down their left through Mekki. Purkiss got in the first of many challenges, as he was kept busy throughout the game.
As the half wore on, The Bulls were guilty of too many passes going astray but Taylor did manage a couple of threatening runs when he moved to the wide left slot. Elder lifted a shot over the bar and Bartlett had to rush out and head the ball clear as Madjo closed. Arquin turned a ball inside towards Elder but former Bull Darren Jones was swiftly across to deftly hoof the ball over the stand.
The Bulls should have taken the lead at the half-hour mark. Purkiss took a quick free kick on the right to Purdie who returned a perfectly weighted ball into the fullback’s path as he sped down the line to cross to the far post, which Taylor met with a firm header. The Ball was blocked on the goal-line and Arquin’s effort from just outside the six-yard box. Chances for the Bulls were few and far between as Jones and Bradley comfortably mopped up the aimless balls lobbed beyond the strikers. Barkhuizen went close with a 25-yarder but the half finished all square.
HT Shots 0 Bulls 0
Having done their best to match The Bulls’ first half inadequacies, Aldershot emerged for the second half in more determined mood but it was the visitors who threatened first. Elder and Taylor combined to present a chance for Will Evans but his shot was high over the bar and then six minutes after the break, Aldershot took the lead. Clist was barged off the ball as he attempted a clearance and in the resulting scramble, the ball fell to Madjo who poked the ball home from a couple of yards out. The Bulls will be disappointed not to have received the support of the referee’s assistant over the push on Clist as he had a perfect view of the foul.
His eyesight was soon restored however as he flagged furiously when Hylton tumbled in a race with Townsend. The pair chased a through ball and Towner arrived first and appeared to be in control of the situation until getting his ankles tapped by Hylton. With Townsend’s momentum impeded, Hylton got past and seemed to be tugged back by the Bulls’ defender. Linesman flagged, ref blew and Towner got a red for being last man. I don’t think there is much doubt that Towner committed a foul or that he was last man but the frustrating part was the failure of the assistant to spot the initial foul. Home rule?
Colbeck, Featherstone and Clucas all joined the fray but the occasional organisation that had been present disappeared completely as The Bulls were, like against Cheltenham, penned back in full chase and boot mode. One rare moment of optimism came when Will Evans blasted a free kick from 30 yards that keeper Warner did well to parry away. Apart from that, the half would probably have been better spent by returning to the La Fontaine Pub behind the away end as there was little from The Bulls to entertain the 1871 present that included just 117 from The Shire.
FT Shots 1 Bulls 0
Hereford: Bartlett, Purkiss, Townsend, Green, Clist, Barkhuizen (Clucas 78), Purdie, Evans, Arquin, Elder (Colbeck 59), Taylor (Featherstone 69). Subs not used: Cornell, McQuilkin.
Aldershot: Warner, Herd, Jones, Straker, Vincenti (Connolly 69). Bradley, Payne, Murphy (Morris 69), Mekki, Hylton, Madjo (Risser 80). Subs not used: Smith, Brown.
This was, frankly, a poor performance with few coming out of it with much credit. Barts had a decent game with one particular diving punch saving a certain goal. I thought the back line defended well but, once again, the distribution did little to releave the pressure. The midfield failed to get a grip on Shot’s playmaker Josh Payne and apart from the first, maybe, twenty minutes, the forwards really didn’t provide the movement and determination that was going to threaten the home defence. Elder simply didn’t take the chance that was offered to stake a place in the side. Arquin won a few challenges and then, frustratingly, gave the ball away while Taylor largely disappeared after the opening half an hour.
BN men of the match – McQuilkin and Cornell (for not contributing to the defeat).