Eric reports from the Top Field
Twas a cool and wet night in Hitchin. But Greener is a wizard and he pinged it to the left and pinged it to the right, as skipper for the night. With his apprentice Liburd looking very assured, and Hitchin a little tired having played on Monday night; both O’Shea on the right and Bowen on the left took the chance to rampage forward at every opportunity for a performance worthy of champions. After seven minutes Bowen sent in the first of many crosses and Myrie-Williams header was held by Johnson just under the bar. Myrie-Williams was a threat all night with Hitchin’s defenders often standing back afraid of his combination of pace and skill. A shot from him after 11 minutes hit Smith, who controlled and turned in the box his shot being well saved. Hitchin were offering little more than long balls at this stage.
Green was pitched against fellow veteran Donnelly who for once got the better of Ryan after 17 minutes and had to foul him. Puddy saved the 25-yard free kick from Charlie Smith easily. Bowen and Myrie-Williams partnership on the left was prolific and a resultant cross saw Symons header held under the bar by Johnson.
Most of Hitchin’s best work was coming from Charlie Smith who took most of their dead balls and tried to be a midfield general despite Murphy and McGrath constantly challenging. A clever corner from C. Smith saw Captain Bickerstaff cleverly pull out and hit a shot from the edge of the box which hit the bar with Puddy beaten. The subsequent wicked corner was well cleared by Bowen.
Lance Smith was getting through lots of work giving none of the Hitchin defenders a moments peace. He was here, there and everywhere. Hereford’s momentum was enhanced by the excellent and quick distribution from Puddy throughout the game. Quickly firing the ball out he found Haysham who took the ball in his path and fed Smith whose surge up the right wing was stopped at the expense of a throw in near the corner. From the subsequent pressure Smith’s shot went wide.
On 29 minutes Bowen took the ball yet again from Myrie-Williams and crossed deep to the far post where Symons had the ball taken off him as he tried to get a shot away. Another slick throw found Bowen in space which he gobbled up all the way to the edge of the box where his near post shot was saved by Johnson.
Myrie-Williams and Bowen were combining at will and had total dominance. Jennison gave Bowen lots of space to put in a hard, arcing ball which Haysham rose at the near post to glance across the goal for a goal Hereford’s dominance deserved.
Hitchin fought back. Burns found Donnelly. The end of the season is when people dress up. With his pony tail, tattoos and physique Donnelly was compared in the crowd to a non-league Ibrahimovic. For his only moment of striking quality in the game he got through on the right and fired on goal, Puddy made an excellent low save. The half ended with a surging run from Myrie-Williams whose shot hit the post.
The referee indicated a minute’s extra time would be played but as the wind drove the hard rain blew his whistle after fifteen seconds. No one complained at the chance to warm up.
HT Hitchin 0 Hereford 1
Early in the second half Myrie-Williams crossed to Smith who headed it down and O’Shea shot wide. With Hereford on top O’Shea started advancing forward more. Hitchin brought on McNamara for Byrne at half time to play up front by himself. Donnelly went back to sit just in front of the defence and at times join them. Even with a back Hitchin could not staunch Hereford’s incessant attacking.
On 54 minutes a superb through ball by O’Shea found Symons whose shot was saved. Then Bowen crossed, and Symons shot wide. Hereford were applying sustained pressure and Hitchin were struggling to get out of their half. Finally, a cross found Symons in space to nod back across the box and Smith must score and did.
Pablo was taking most of Hereford’s dead balls and meeting the Purdie approved standard. Symons heading over his latest corner. Hitchin broke away an d their most dangerous player Smith put in a dangerous cross which Green did well to head away. The rain was incessant, and the pitch was holding up well but was slippery. A speculative ball was covered by Puddy, but he slipped down and as McNamara bound forward Puddy made a balletic recovery to get the ball away when seemingly about to be beaten. A poor ball by Murphy was intercepted and Vincent ran through only to shoot over the bar.
Myrie-Williams shot just wide before Puddy was quick off his line to save from McNamara. On 70 minutes Richards replaced Murphy and Pring came on for Smith. A quick passing move between Haysham and O’Shea gave McGrath s great chance to shoot and he was only just over the bar. On 79 minutes Hitchin struggled to clear their lines and Richards seized on the loose ball firing a thirty-yard cross field ball to Myrie-Williams who bore down on Johnson, feinted and passed into the empty net. A classy finish 3 0.
A big thank you to Hitchin cheap beer, cheap chips, a charming ground with super programme and club shops. Many places would have stuck a label on the postponed programme as it was only three weeks ago, but they went to the effort of producing a fresh updated programme. It’s a lovely place to watch football with wooden terracing and all the better to finally see Hereford win there.
Hitchin
Johnson, Syme, Olaniran, Byrne, Budden, Bickerstaff (C), Spring, Smith, Donnelly, Burns, Vincent. Subs McNamara, Charles, Tshikala, Barnes, Da Silva
Hereford
Puddy, O’Shea, Bowen, Murphy, Green (c), Liburd, Smith, McGrath, Myrie-Williams, Haysham, Symons. Subs Richards, Pring, Deaman, Mills, Horsell.
Referee W Chalmers
Attendance 346