Lacklustre Bulls bow out of Trophy

Three first half goals handed lower graded Chelmsford City an comfortable passage into the next round as the depleted Bulls turned in a poor performance against the Blue Square South opponents.

Martin Foyle was forced to ring the changes with The Bulls’ squad carrying a shed full of injuries.  Dan Hanford was given a start between the sticks and with Gallinagh injured and Joe Heath on four yellows Foyle opted for Graham in the right berth and Sam Clucas dragged back into a defensive left side role providing room for Michael Townsend to make a long awaited return alongside Stefan Stam.  The midfield shaped up with McQuilkin on the right, Hackney on the left with Pell, O’Keefe and Clist completing the set.  Phil Marsh started up top.

Phil Marsh - Pictures From Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal/Shropshire Newspapers

The Bulls kicked off attacking the Meadowend with Graham lifting a ball into the visitors box but the keeper was out to claim.  Chelmsford countered playing a diagonal ball that found the right-sided number 11 coming back from an offside position before both Marsh and O’Keefe were flagged offside by an assistant who appeared to be making judgements on the players position when receiving the ball rather than when it was passed.  Hackney’s corner failed to produce an effort on goal and O’Keefe appeared to suffer a dead-leg, which caused his withdrawal.  Phil Perry replaced him on 15 minutes as The Bulls switched to 4-4-2.  Then on 20 minutes the visitors took the lead.

Michael Townsend failed to deal with a straightforward interception and Edmans nipped in the round Dan Hanford and pass into the empty net.  Chelmsford could have added a second soon after but Slabber blasted over from 15 yards.  United looked well off the pace and far too many passes were failing to reach their intended destination whereas Chelmsford played simple football passing to unmarked players.

Dan Hanford was the busier of the two keepers

The second goal arrived on 26 minutes when a straightforward cross from the left was nodded in unchallenged by Edmans at the back post.  A third followed shortly after wards which, to be fair, was well worked but should still have been dealt with.  Again, the cross came from the left and players were not picked up in the box as the Chelmsford player was left to fire home as The Bulls’ makeshift team was too easily exposed.

Stefan stam captained the Bulls

The bewilderingly inept first half ended with Stefan Stam seeing his header from a corner scrambled to safety.

HT Bulls 0  Chelmsford 3

Martin Foyle tried to modify his limited options at half time moving Clist to fullback enabling Sam Clucas to resume his wide left attacking position and Hackney switched to the right for McQuilkin to take up a rare opportunity in central midfield.

The changes made for a more effective looking formation but the passing ineptitude, sadly, continued.  Perry’s flick on to Clucas produced a chance for Marsh but his effort was wildly off target before a move on the left involving McQuilkin and Clist saw Marsh step over the ball to allow a shot from Hackney that was just wide of the mark.  Chelmsford continued to play a simple game as they annoyingly chose to pass to their own players. 

Pell was unlucky when a thirty-yarder was tipped over by the keeper and Quilks moved the ball left and right before seeing his shot deflected wide.  Stam dinked a ball over the top to release Clucas but his first time effort went over as The Bulls, for the first time in the match, mounted some sort of concerted pressure.  Stefan Stam appeared to take a bang on the knee but continued following some painful limping.  Marley Watkins appeared in place of Hackney and Smikle replaced Marsh but all without any real change to The Bulls effectiveness.

The visitors made a couple of changes of their own as the game staggered to a conclusion in front of 1124 including 40 from beyond Birdlip.

FT Bulls 0  Chelmsford 3

Hereford: Hanford, Graham, Townsend, Stam, Clucas, McQuilkin, Pell, Clist, Hackney, O’Keefe, Marsh. Subs: Gallinagh, Watkins, Evans, Smikle, Perry.

Chelmsford Searle, Brindley, Miller, Haines, Palmer, Cook, Rainford, Cornhill, Corcoran, Slabber, Edmans. Subs: Bender, Craig, Hamilton, Welsh, Warren.

If nothing else, this game emphasised the lack of depth in Martin Foyle’s squad.  Townsend looked woefully short of match practice and awareness while Dan Hanford was lacking his early season confidence giving the defence a look of disarray.  We had little threat up top as neither Perry nor Marsh looked capable of holding the ball.  In fact, the only two players to come out having done close to what is expected of them were Pell and the increasingly impressive Stam.

A busy festive season beckons and Bulls’ fans will hope the MF can patch up and re-motivate his charges because this was far from acceptable.

---