Back home for the first time in ages tomorrow, 3pm Edgar Street, as Hereford FC host Darlington. Really bizarrely the Bulls are yet again playing another struggling team in the Quakers, which seems like something approaching the hundredth opportunity in a row that Hereford have had the chance to beat a club around them in the table, and to date have consistently seemingly considered a point in those games to be sufficient. That mindset has left one of the bigger clubs in the National League North still in danger of becoming the biggest club in the Southern League Premier.
So why have we had so many back-to-back potential points-harvesting games against our relegation rivals? Is everyone in the division apart from Stockport struggling? Is that possible? No. Afraid not. It's simply that the fixture computer tried to do us a favour and the nettle repeatedly wasn't grasped. As a result, points need to be taken from a tough run-in, and those multiple opportunities missed recently could come back to bite the bottom of a club that has somehow failed to beat Ashton, FC United and Nuneaton this season in six attempts in the league. I haven't checked but that's probably unique in the division among clubs outside of that bottom three. The six-point gap separating Hereford from Ashton could soon disappear when the Bulls embark on that tricky run-in, unless results improve against the better teams awaiting on the horizon.
Undoubtedly it was unfortunate to concede in the 90th minute against FCUM last week, but one or two supporters will question whether it was tactically astute to sit gradually deeper and deeper as the second half progressed in trying to defend a one-goal lead against lowly FC United, a tactic that singularly failed at home against Altrincham earlier in the season.
Furthermore, one or two supporters may have found it difficult to follow Marc Richards' logic after the match in suggesting that Broadhurst Park was 'a tough place to come and pick up points', with Manchester 'boasting' a W 1 D 6 L 9 home league record, and being more-or-less nailed-on relegated before Easter, but I suppose again one must suspend all logic and dismiss all that as water under the bridge, and we go again hoping that the players have "bought into what we're saying" finally to such an extent that a football match can be won.
So, anyway, Darlo may be struggling but at least they're 'proper', and it'll be nice to host a club so familiar from so many fiercely fought battles to finish 17th in Division 4 over the years. Yes, OK, play-offs once yada yada, blah blah, but the less said about that the better.
The reverse fixture saw something of a familiar story, with Hereford taking a 2-0 lead before capitulating late in the game and coming away with just a point. Historically, apart from a 5-1 Bulls win in 2007, this Edgar Street fixture has been freakishly low-scoring, with a 1-0 home win a common outcome.
Tomorrow's hosts could bring new striker Cameron Ebutt into the action at some point during the match, although a start on the bench is presumably likely, with that bench also hosting an insurance policy at last in the form of new sub goalie Jahquil Hill following international clearance.
The reverse fixture saw something of a familiar story, with Hereford taking a 2-0 lead before capitulating late in the game and coming away with just a point. Historically, apart from a 5-1 Bulls win in 2007, this Edgar Street fixture has been freakishly low-scoring, with a 1-0 home win a common outcome.
Tomorrow's hosts could bring new striker Cameron Ebutt into the action at some point during the match, although a start on the bench is presumably likely, with that bench also hosting an insurance policy at last in the form of new sub goalie Jahquil Hill following international clearance.
The Quakers have slipped into trouble recently (sitting just a point above Hereford) by winning one game in their last eight, scoring just five goals in the process, so that goalscoring record, combined with the Bulls' seemingly effortless knack of scoring when they want, means that despite what history tells us this one's clearly going to end 5-5, and is therefore not to be missed. Bumper crowd assured.
COYW