So, Chorley away, and they don’t come bigger than this. Chelsea v Arsenal? Nah. The eyes and ears of the wider ‘football family’ (yuk) will be on Victory Park at 3pm tomorrow afternoon as the league leaders host divisional newcomers Hereford FC, in second place.
Tuesday evening saw the whole ground, apart from the Leamington 66 (ie the away support not the bus from Warwick), singing raucously as the Bulls turned around a half-time deficit to take the points. One of those special moments under the lights at Edgar Street. If you weren’t there and you live in Australia, fair enough, but if you weren’t there and you live in Putson, you really could make more effort next time - it’s so much better than the telly!
Admittedly Hereford didn’t enjoy their best half of football this season in the first 45 minutes, but there were strong performances all over the park after the break. Horsell, after arguably being at fault for the Leamington goal (assuming he wasn’t fouled), fielded a number of corners and free kicks soundly and confidently, both full backs got up and down energetically, and Ryan Green’s absence wasn’t as keenly felt as it was in the first half as Liburd and Smith grew into the game. In midfield Murphy looks increasingly assured, and played several Platiniesque passes that on another day would have resulted in a goal, and Richards and Macca were again superb.
Reffell’s return from injury, coming on as a second half substitute, gives further cause for optimism, and he’d presumably be considered as a starter tomorrow on the right flank.
And that brings us to the Jamie Bird issue! Not for the first time this season, he offered ‘something different’ in the handful of minutes he was given, and has surely now done enough for Beads to at least give him half an hour from the bench. Certainly, Bird and Reffell either side of Harry White looks to be a front line with goals in it to me.
Chorley are the only club in the division with a 100% record so far. Liam Watson, whose Southport charges lost 4-0 to the leaders on Tuesday, saw a great deal to be impressed by in Chorley’s performance. He also didn’t hold back in identifying the shortcomings of his own team, to be fair, in an unusually uncompromising assessment, and perhaps that’s telling. The Magpies are arguably yet to play a really strong side, with wins against Southport, York, Guiseley and Nuneaton. They have, however, yet to concede a goal. They finished sixth last term, not scoring many but keeping it very tight at the back, and it looks like they’re going to do the same this season, and be there or thereabouts.
Statistically, it becomes less and less likely that they’ll continue to win of course, so maybe tomorrow’s the day!
Without wishing to sound too negative, I’d suggest that a point from this one would be generally warmly welcomed. This would leave the Bulls on 11 points from the back-to-back opening five matches; a wonderful start. There’s then a welcome midweek break before the next home match against in-form Bradford PA.
Having said that, another win would be rather nice.
Finally, despite reports to the contrary, the town of Chorley apparently isn’t averse to welcoming visiting football fans, which must be a relief to Chorley FC!
COYW