Ben Chilman previews tomorrow’s game.
Hereford travel to Oxford City in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy this Saturday. This is a game where a draw may well be the worst result for both sides as a Tuesday night replay would help neither in their FA Cup preparations next week.
Hereford travel to Oxford City in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy this Saturday. This is a game where a draw may well be the worst result for both sides as a Tuesday night replay would help neither in their FA Cup preparations next week.
Last Saturday the Bulls returned to league action in some style with a rather convincing 5-0 win at home to Hitchin Town. New signing Tyrone Duffus scored two goals in an impressive debut with Lance Smith bagging a hat trick over the mid table side.
As well as a 5-0 win over Hitchin on Saturday there was another good result with Dorchester winning 4-1 against Kettering. The Bulls improved their goal difference over now 5th placed Kettering by 8 goals in just one afternoon. Football, it’s a funny old game!
Hereford played St Ives at Edgar Street on Tuesday night winning 4-0 thanks to Tyrone Duffus and Mike Symons scoring either side of a John Mills brace.
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| John Mills surrounded by Hereford players after his first goal |
Those two goals from Mills make him the league’s joint top scorer as things stand.
Things only got better for the Bulls as 3rd placed Slough were held to a 2-2 draw at Banbury later that evening. This result left Slough a point behind the Bulls having played a game less. The full league table can be found here (link).
Pete Beadle may have to alter the side ahead to this weekend’s tie due to the ever-changing injury list. The latest casualty was Duffus who appeared to pick up a slight knock and is likely to be rested ahead of next weekend. Fellow midfielders Dinsley and McGrath remain side lined.
New signing Eliot Richards will not be featuring this Saturday as he is cup tied. The 26-year-old is also still awaiting clearance after joining the Bulls from Merthyr. Cameron Pring is available this weekend but the loanee will be cup tied for next Saturday.
BN understands that Tyrone Duffus has also been ruled out after picking up a knock at Edgar Street on Tuesday. It's thought he could be out for up to six weeks.
The Bulls come into this round following the unwanted replay in this competition at Potters Bar. Pete Beadle mentioned this week how he’d like his side to win the game on the day but Oxford have recently hit a good run of form.
The National League South side climbed out to the relegation zone in mid-week thanks to a goalless draw which takes them too five games undefeated. That run includes a 1-0 win over league two side Colchester United in the FA Cup.
Oxford are also going to be making changes for this weekend ahead of their FA Cup tie against Notts County. Mark Jones’ side, who play on a 4G pitch, will be certainly taking the game seriously with good prize money available in the competition but may look to rest the odd few ahead of their big day next weekend.