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| Josh Gowling Pictured In 2009 |
Given that Josh Gowling will be in charge for Hereford in their game against Curzon Ashton tomorrow, BN looks back to November 2008 when the defender came to Edgar Street on loan from Carlisle.
His first game in a Bulls shirt was a behind closed doors friendly on December 1st against Bristol Rovers. His real debut came at Colchester the following Saturday.
Thursday November 27th 2008:
Gowling Joins On Loan
Carlisle defender Josh Gowling has joined the Bulls on loan until January, the club have announced.
The
former Bournemouth central defender was the subject of speculation that
he was a Bulls target in the summer, but opted to join Carlisle over
the likes of Walsall. But the move north has not worked out and he has
started just three League matches for the Cumbrians, making a nine
minute appearance at Edgar Street as a late sub as the Bulls won 1-0 in
October.
Previously
he spent three years at Bournemouth, partnering Karl Broadhurst on
several occasions. He will be seen as a direct replacement for Bruno
N'Gotty, whose loan spell officially expires today.
Carlisle boss Greg Abbott told their official site: "Again,
this will give the player the opportunity to get some regular first
team football under his belt. That wasn't quite happening for Josh here
with us at the moment, so this move will provide that opening for him."
Saturday December 6th:
Bulls claim priceless away win
Hereford
United picked up their first away points of the season with a 2-1
victory over Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
First-half goals from Steve Guinan and Lionel Ainsworth meant the
visitors were into the break with a comfortable lead; in the second
interval, Plymouth loanee Jermaine Easter pulled a goal back but The
Bulls held on despite some late-pressure from the U’s.
After
twelve days without a match, a number of changes were made to the
starting line-up. Recently loan signings Chris Weale and Joshua Gowling
were introduced with Matt Murray having left due to injury, and Karl
Broadhurst suspended. Lionel Ainsworth recovered from injury to take
Simon Johnson’s right-wing berth and up top, Nick Chadwick was replaced
by Steve Guinan. Colchester had a wealth of experience in their side
with James Walker starting in between the sticks, whilst David Perkins,
once of Morecambe, started in central midfield.
On a
well-kept pitch at Colchester’s new ground, both sides came out of the
traps early and created opportunities. Kris Taylor sliced a half-volley
from 20 yards harmlessly wide whilst Mark Yeates twisted and turned on
the left-wing before shooting over. Easter picked up on a loose pass to
drive towards goal but he couldn’t test Weale, dragging his shot well
wide. Ben Smith shot wide after a corner was headed out to him whilst
Yeates controlled after Weale had punched the ball out when challenging
Clive Platt, but the tricky winger’s lob went over. Yeates continued to
be the home side’s main threat, showing fine close-control when up
against Taylor and Matty Done; on one occasion, he cut inside both of
them before hanging a cross towards the back-post where Platt rose but
the former MK Dons man couldn’t hit the target with his header.
Just
shy of the thirty minute mark, The Bulls sprang a surprise by taking
the lead; their first goal away from home in the league in over 3
months. Ainsworth took a corner from the left and Gowling challenged
with a Colchester defender allowing the ball to break nicely for Guinan
who smashed in from 12 yards out. Following on from the goal, the game
became a little scrappy before Hereford added a second ten minutes after
getting the first. This time Toumani Diagouraga won a header in the
home side’s half and it broke nicely to Ainsworth, who had used his pace
to get behind the back-line before tucking his shot past the despairing
Walker. Colchester almost got right back into the game when Yeates
placed a shot from 25 yards inches past Weale’s left-hand post whilst
moments later Perkins played a one-two with Johnnie Jackson but his
left-foot strike failed to trouble Weale. In first-half injury time,
Easter sliced an acrobatically effort harmlessly wide after good work
from that man Yeates once again.
The home side
started the second-half with attacking intent with Yeates again looking
threatening; this time on the left-wing he toyed with Richard Jackson
before firing a dangerous shot just past the far post. Ainsworth sliced a
volley over the bar after Taylor had broken forward on the over-lap of
Done before crossing into the danger area. Pat Baldwin’s back-post
header from a Yeates corner was easily held by Weale, before Paul
Lambert opted for changes, with surprisingly Yeates and Perkins making
way for Anthony Wordsworth and Kemal Izzet. Hereford should have put the
game out of sight mid-way through the second-half, Ainsworth crossed
and Guinan battled leaving the ball to break to Smith who picked up six
yards out and one on one, but he shot straight at Walker. It was a
golden opportunity for Smith and he really should have taken it.
Instead, Colchester got back into the game with Easter grabbing their
goal.
Before this, Platt had controlled, fending of
Gowling in the process, before turning to shoot goal wards but Weale was
equal to it. The Bristol City loanee could do little about Easter’s
strike though; Marc Tierney had smashed a strike harmlessly towards goal
which Platt managed to control, setting up Easter in the process who
drilled home first-time from 20 yards. Platt went close after beating
two challenges to meet a corner but his header dropped wide of the near
post. Hereford were defending well and playing on the counter-attack
with Ainsworth looking threatening; he picked the ball up just inside
the home team’s half before a direct run towards goal saw him beat too
allowing him to toe-poke goal wards but a slight deflection of the
defender took it out for a corner.
A deep cross from
right-back Baldwin found left-back Tierney in the box but his
unchallenged head was too far out to truly test Weale. With Hereford’s
wingers tiring after running themselves into the ground, Sam Gwynne and
Johnson were bought on with both Ainsworth and Done receiving good
ovations from the away support. The U’s best two opportunities to
equalise fell within a minute of each other, firstly sub Wordsworth
turned Taylor before shooting goal wards left-footed forcing Weale into a
diving parry to push the ball behind. From the corner that followed,
Baldwin rose highest to head goal wards but he was denied by R. Jackson
on the post. Lambert bought on a striker in Scott Vernon for defender
Paul Reid late on with the experienced front man holding up for Tierney
to strike wide in what was the last notable action of the game. The
Bulls saw the match out in the added four minutes and sent the
travelling army home truly pleased for the first time this season.
It
was a massive match for Hereford and to gain the three points is a
massive boost to Turner and co. Loan signings Weale and Gowling settled
in well to the team with the former looking assured in goal. In the
middle of the park, Smith had an excellent game, leading by example once
again; what he may not have in fitness, he makes up in terms of
hard-work. Next up for Hereford is the visit of Hartlepool to Edgar
Street next Saturday; The Bulls need to build on today’s win by
following it up with another three points.
Hereford: Weale, Jackson, Gowling, Beckwith, Taylor, Ainsworth, Diagouraga, Smith, Done, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Samson, Rose, Gwynne, Johnson, Chadwick.
Colchester: Walker, Baldwin, Coyne, Reid, Tierney, Yeates, Perkins, Hammond, Jackson, Platt, Easter.
Subs: Gerken, White, Izzet, Wordsworth, Vernon.