Preview: Biggleswade Town vs Hereford

Mark Jones previews tonight's game:

Good news on all fronts to start this preview. Firstly, there's absolutely no danger of the match not going ahead as we're nowhere near Hitchin. Nope, we're a whole 15 miles away across the county line in Bedfordshire. Secondly, for the second Saturday in a row, the footballing gods were smiling on cider country at the weekend, with a last gasp Mike McGrath winner at Bishop's Stortford, and second-placed King's Lynn slipping up again, this time slightly more expectedly away at Slough. Thirdly, the fixture computer, which has clearly been hacked by the footballing gods, has delivered opposition this evening towards the bottom of the table but under no threat of relegation, and therefore with little to play for but pride.

Oh, and there's the small consideration that as a result Hereford FC could win the Southern League Championship with one more push to bring home the three points at Langford Road, Bigglewade tonight.

The news isn't quite so good for Biggleswade Town, not to be confused with either Biggleswade FC or Biggleswade United (exactly how big is this place?!). Having suffered the loss of all three club goalkeepers in quick succession, and with the transfer deadline been and gone, the Waders have fielded outfielder and club captain Craig Daniel in goal for the last five matches. Even more unbelievably, they've only lost two of them, and that was to high-flying Weymouth and Slough. It's thought that the situation will continue into tonight's game, which can of course only benefit the league leaders.

The Bulls go into the game not far off full strength, missing only newly crowned player of the season Ryan Green to suspension, and with perhaps a slight doubt about his obvious replacement Dara O'Shea, who came off with a niggle late in the Stortford game. If he doesn't start, Jack Deaman would be expected to come in to partner in-form Jordan Liburd. So, there are potential match winners all over the pitch and a bench as strong as its been all season, but the players wouldn't be human if they aren't feeling some nerves given what's at stake, so it may be important for the fans to remain patient.

In the reverse fixture, Keyon Reffell headed home in the 94th minute for a 1-0 win, following an earlier missed Lance Smith penalty, and a second half assault on the Meadow End after the visitors were reduced to ten men. Although a repeat result would be more than acceptable, leaving it til the 94th minute again could lead to some previously undiagnosed health issues among Herefordians.  

Hereford go into the game long odds-on favorites, reflecting a very real chance that the evening could be a special one for the travelling hordes, and fans across the world listening in nervously from far and wide. Let's hope the champagne corks will be popping at 9:45pm, to celebrate a quite superb effort from the club in 2017/18.