The Start Of The Second Half
Yesterday was the first time Hereford FC supporters had been able to watch their team in a League game at Edgar Street since February 29th.
And whilst one can never be certain, it does seem as though having supporters, albeit probably only around 600, in the ground spurred on the Bulls to a well deserved victory over AFC Fylde.
The sun shone, in fact I had forgotten how it can get in ones eyes looking towards the Blackfriars End on a December Saturday afternoon, and the pitch looked immaculate no doubt partly because there have only been four home games this season to date.
This game was a 'test' to see if the club could cope with all the Covid-19 regulations currently in place. They are designed to keep everyone as safe as posible.
As far as I could tell everything seemed to work well.
After picking up season tickets, supporters were guided to seats. There were plenty of signs everywhere reminding supporters of the rules. Stewards appeared well prepared.
The game started, Hereford seemed to lose the toss and were made to play down the slope in the first half. The team were playing in black and white. Most of the players were familiar. And there was a drummer in the Meadow End to help with the atmosphere.
It wasn't long before a few comments about the linesman running below Block B were heard. Back to normal.
Then Fylde scored. And it was their David Perkins who scored it. It took a deflection and Hereford keeper Brandon Hall, who was chosen ahead of regular Paul White, could do little about it.
Perkins, who used to look similar to Hereford's Jamie Pitman, seems to have been about for years. He used to play for Morecambe back in the early part of this century along with Jim Bentley the Fylde manager currently recovering from heart problems.
I think the first time I saw Perkins play was at Morecambe on January 25th 2003. How many other players would have played against the Bulls starting in 2003 and still playing in 2020? It's some record.
Despite Fylde taking the lead, Hereford looked the more likely to score next. And they did so. Lenell John-Lewis found the back of the net from, what looked like, a very tight angle. It was no more than the Bulls deserved.
Half time came which seemed to last an age with nothing going on on the pitch, no bars open, not even the refreshment kiosks. Understandable. But it wasn't the afternoon to be stood or sat quietly.
Fifteen minutes or so into the second period, John-Lewis doubled Hereford 's lead. The move started when McQuilken lofted the ball from right to left and eventually it found the Shop.
Supporters were enjoying this. Hereford were in front. Fylde stepped up a gear. But Hall with a little help from Jamie Grimes and Kennedy Digie was up to everything thrown at him.
Just one disappointment, Digie had to come off with an injury late in the game.
The final whistle after five minutes of added time came, supporters cheered, well maybe clapped loudly, and the players responded.
Supporters had been told that there might be a slight delay leaving the stadium. For once nobody seemed to mind.
We had seen a good game and the better team had won. Three points for the Bulls.
It was good to be back at Edgar Street.