Corner turned? The heady heights of 18th place have been reached. Nosebleed territory. Another win last Saturday against pre-season promotion fancies Chester, and a much more encouraging performance than in the previous game against Kidderminster, give cause for optimism ahead of the 'return leg' of the latter game at Aggborough tomorrow, kick off 3pm.
The recent upturn should result in a large following making the short trip to Worcestershire, with the prospect of 1400 Bulls fans in celebratory, if slightly hungover, mood on the South Stand terrace (400 seats have also been made available). It promises to be noisy, and maybe good for sucking a goal or two in for the visitors. Yet another win and 2019 could be truly spectacular (a Wembley trip at the end of the season is still a possibility of course), or at least a good deal calmer than it was looking like being just a few weeks ago.
The 4-4-2 on Saturday seemed to work wonders, and Marc Richards must be tempted to stick with it. Whether he can continue to resist the temptation of bringing a now fully-fit looking Eliot Richards in and resting Tommy O'Sullivan after a hectic festive programme of games remains to be seen.
Josh Gowling and Mike Symons will again offer calmness, assurance and experience to the team at either end of the pitch, which the younger players seem to thrive on. Jordan Cullinane-Liburd particularly seems to be rediscovering the sort of form that brought him the captaincy earlier in the season now he has the presence alongside him of Gowling. The latter will have the added incentive of playing against his former club.
Harriers have had a contrasting holiday experience to that enjoyed by the Bulls, losing at Edgar Street and then at Edgeley Park against Stockport. They looked really good in the first half at Hereford however, and will be in need of points to resurrect their play-off push. They'll also be keen for revenge after a match they really shouldn't have lost against the Bulls, and also have it in mind that they'll want to win a local derby at home. Multiple reasons why it will be tough then, but an in-form Hereford should always cause any Kiddy team headaches, particularly with a large and vocal following. Kiddy have won just one of their last five, slipping out of the play-off positions in the process. They're also low on numbers due to a combination of injuries and sickness.
While Hereford's home record has been exemplary recently, they've only won one league match away this season, which was in fact the first one, against Curzon Ashton, so it's long overdue!
With second-placed Chorley visiting Edgar Street on Saturday, the tough games continue to come thick and fast, but while a fixture sequence of Kidderminster-Chester-Kidderminster-Chorley would have elicited feelings of utter horror in Bulls fans not so long ago, there is now a renewed sense of optimism.
See you all there for what will hopefully be one of those lovely away days when everything goes right and you remember, when everyone's singing the same song literally and metaphorically, and the goosebumps form, why it's all worth the effort.
Happy new year to everyone.
COYW
While Hereford's home record has been exemplary recently, they've only won one league match away this season, which was in fact the first one, against Curzon Ashton, so it's long overdue!
With second-placed Chorley visiting Edgar Street on Saturday, the tough games continue to come thick and fast, but while a fixture sequence of Kidderminster-Chester-Kidderminster-Chorley would have elicited feelings of utter horror in Bulls fans not so long ago, there is now a renewed sense of optimism.
See you all there for what will hopefully be one of those lovely away days when everything goes right and you remember, when everyone's singing the same song literally and metaphorically, and the goosebumps form, why it's all worth the effort.
Happy new year to everyone.
COYW