Well wasn’t that brilliant! OK,
there was little in the win (yes win) against Kidderminster to suggest that the
last three months have just been an unfortunate blip and that everything will
now be fine, but nevertheless it gave a lovely feelgood effect all round.
Standout performances from Stephen Dawson, Danny Greenslade, Alex Bray and
particularly Victor Sodeinde shouldn’t distract from the fact that all of the
players seemed to want to play for one another, suggesting that the dressing
room is still as one, and up for the fight. If Russell Slade can find a way to
bring in another couple of Victors all bets are off regarding a renewed push
for promotion. There’s a BetVictor joke in there I’m sure, but it’s buried too
deep for me to find it. What a breath of fresh air he is, and what a
Turneresque use of the loan market on Slade’s part.
Incidentally, one to look at as
a potential new striker is perhaps that Harriers defender after the way he
finished off the move for the second goal with such aplomb.
The Bulls make the long trip to
full-time Gateshead on Saturday searching for a follow-up win. With Gateshead
situated just south of Reykjavik, if you’re looking to go you should probably
plan to leave yesterday.
In the match between these
clubs earlier in the season, it was impossible not to feel sorry for the Heed
right back as he gifted Hereford a late winner. The thought of him then facing
hours and hours on the team coach being glared at by the rest of the team was a
grim one. So, although the attempt at doing the double over Leamington at
Christmas went a bit wrong, that 2-1 win in September gives the Bulls an
opportunity to have another go, this time against Gateshead.
Saturday's hosts sit 11th in the
table, just three points above the Bulls but having played three games fewer.
Indeed, if they were to win the games they’ve also got in hand over the current
play-off teams, they’d comfortably be in that mix. Their Christmas didn’t quite go
to plan, having picked up just a point in two matches against lowly Blyth, shipping six goals in the process. The 3-3 draw last time out featured
a goal for each team in injury time. They did however beat Spennymoor in
between those matches.
There seem to have been several
occasions this season when Hereford have come up against teams hitting form,
and have paid a hefty price. This time, the opposition’s morale can’t be too
high following those Blyth matches, and an early Hereford goal could see some
heads drop among the home side following the concession of that 93rd
minute Spartans equaliser on New Year’s Day.
Young Brandon Powell performed
admirably on his debut in goal on Saturday given that he must have been feeling
pretty nervous, and it’s not known whether Brandon Hall will be back in for
this one following illness, so a second opportunity to impress potentially beckons.
It’s true that away form this
season has been worse than awful, but some attacking threats are now emerging,
as are reasons to be cheerful (1, 2, 3), not least that after this the Bulls
face Bradford, Kettering, Curzon and Alfreton, all of whom, not to put too fine
a point on it, are rubbish. The league table could make for significantly
better reading by early February.
Onwards and upwards. There’s a
100% win record to protect and extend in 2020.
Finally, RIP Chris Barker. Sad
news indeed.
COYW