Tomorrow sees Hereford FC travel up to Bradford for the 'second leg' of a match which at Edgar Street was pivotal, when the days were brighter and longer, in forcing home the fact that the Bulls as they were then were nowhere near competitive enough for the National League North.
It ended 1-2, but that was
misleading, with Harry White's last minute penalty barely papering over the cracks of what was something of a mismatch. The visitors were infinitely stronger, more mobile and altogether
more threatening than the hosts. It’s no surprise, therefore, to see them now
second in the league, and unbeaten in eight.
Hereford’s win on Saturday against Billericay in the Trophy, building on a run of recently encouraging results, may have suggested that the club is finally travelling in the right direction, but tomorrow’s match really will be an interesting measure of where we’re at and where we may end up at the end of April.
Hereford’s win on Saturday against Billericay in the Trophy, building on a run of recently encouraging results, may have suggested that the club is finally travelling in the right direction, but tomorrow’s match really will be an interesting measure of where we’re at and where we may end up at the end of April.
It is of course a huge relief
that we’re not getting done 3-0 every week anymore, but it must be remembered
that recent success has been mostly in the Trophy, with the sole league victory
of the now established Harris/Richards tenancy coming narrowly against Alfreton, a team who got
trounced in the following game 7-1 at home.
Mike Symons should again lead the
line, and again bring out the best in the enthusiastic terriers around him:
Lloyd, Finn and TOE. It was suggested earlier this week that the Beast’s three
MOM awards on the bounce was probably a record, but I’m sure Gavin Williams
used to win it every week for months at one stage, admittedly when the
competition among his teammates wasn’t that strong, Paul Parry excepted. My dad at this point would say that PP didn't get more MOMs because they never gave him the ball when he was in acres of space in front of the Len Weston terrace, but there we are. No doubt Ron Parrott can put me straight on all of this.
Without wishing to sound like a
stuck record, the goal conceded on Saturday was again avoidable, although the
central defenders are looking more settled and more of a partnership. From memory
Bradford looked to have considerable height and strength up top so again the
back line will be tested, if not battered. The key thing will be to withstand the battering and batter back. Perhaps 35-year-old 'new signing' Josh Gowling can add some defensive nous as Ryan Green's 38-year-old defensive nous departs, and I say that advisedly: Greener clearly came out of the womb defending, so that's 38 years' experience gone.
With Gowling's arrival would Marc Richards dare to set up as a 5-3-2 in order not to lose, reflecting a tactical attitude espoused, or at least hinted at, by Tim Harris soon after he was brought in by the board? If so I think that would be a big old shame. In this division, given our resources, we should be able to do well, to look to win every match, rather than look to finish a place above where we currently are in 20th position. I know Richards made those sort of noises when appointed, but that wasn't what most people witnessed when he tried and failed to defend a one-goal lead against Alty rather than pushing for a second goal.
All will be revealed tomorrow of course, but if we're running scared of Bradford PA we may as well pack it in and get relegated now, with all due respect to our hosts. Footballing expectations are higher on the Wye than they are on the Severn, or at least the Gloucester stretch of it, as I'm sure every single one of the many turquoise cagoules are acutely aware.
With Gowling's arrival would Marc Richards dare to set up as a 5-3-2 in order not to lose, reflecting a tactical attitude espoused, or at least hinted at, by Tim Harris soon after he was brought in by the board? If so I think that would be a big old shame. In this division, given our resources, we should be able to do well, to look to win every match, rather than look to finish a place above where we currently are in 20th position. I know Richards made those sort of noises when appointed, but that wasn't what most people witnessed when he tried and failed to defend a one-goal lead against Alty rather than pushing for a second goal.
All will be revealed tomorrow of course, but if we're running scared of Bradford PA we may as well pack it in and get relegated now, with all due respect to our hosts. Footballing expectations are higher on the Wye than they are on the Severn, or at least the Gloucester stretch of it, as I'm sure every single one of the many turquoise cagoules are acutely aware.
The movement leading up to the
second goal on Saturday would trouble any team in this division, and was a
prime example of the players playing to their strengths, ie with the ball on
the floor and turning defences at pace. It may seem obvious, but it wasn’t too
long ago that long balls were being hoofed up in the vague direction of George
Lloyd or James Roberts, and before them Harry White, in the hope that they
would get the better of a central defender with the merged physical attributes
of a basketball player and a prop forward. It was frustrating to watch, to say
the least, and a bit brainless coaching-wise, but with Symons’ return there is
now some incision and threat.
In midfield, it was sad if not
slightly predictable given his recent track record to see James Wesolowski limp off after 15
minutes against Billericay, but replacements abound, with Calvin Dinsley
recently looking like a man with something to prove and Eliot Richards no doubt
keen for the opportunity to restart a season that started very promisingly for
him personally before the sky fell in on the club collectively when it decided to self-immolate.
A win tomorrow will make the festive fixtures against Kiddy look very exciting in terms of crowd, atmosphere and potential performances and results. Sections of the ground are already reportedly sold out for the Boxing Day home game. It would also go some way towards making the last few months feel like a bad dream, although the league table and its goal difference column will of course disabuse anyone of that notion for a while yet.
Finally, a really, really heartfelt thank you for everything you've done for HUFC/HFC over a number of years Ryan Green. My wife isn't too bothered about all this load of old guff generally, but one thing she does fondly remember is Greener taking his shirt off at Leicester. Must have been the sheer emotion of winning the match in extra time.
Bring on the testimonial.
Bring on the testimonial.
COYW