Optimists would see a victory
as being smashing as usual, but a defeat as OK too as the club bank account
can then be mothballed for a while ready for next season, with the National
League North campaign now officially over. However, pessimists would see a win
as a loss, because the squad would have to continue to be paid while the Trophy
run continues, probably leaving the club out of pocket as the prize money on
offer is what Gareth Bale spends on nostril hair crimping each week, and a loss
as a loss because...it’s a loss. Good grief, who writes this stuff? Ah, me.
A glut of new players recently joined the Bulls squad, a squad that has grown in confidence and competitiveness as the season progressed, finishing it nine games unbeaten.
Michael Bakare and Ryan McLean give Josh Gowling new attacking options, along with fellow newcomer Joey Butlin. With Tom Owen Evans and Kyle Finn continuing their good form, there’s hopefully enough threat in the attacking third to cause the Shots a few headaches. Additionally, if the hosts concede free kicks more or less anywhere in their own half they’re at risk of falling victim to a Camwell zinger, which isn't to be confused with a Camberwell Carrot.
Bakare scored on debut last time out against Brackley in an impressive 2-0 win, and McLean looks like a player who could get supporters out of their seats next season (unless of course they’re already standing up on the terraces – they’d presumably just stay standing rather than suddenly having an urge to sit on the concrete in excitement) with his pace and attacking intent.
It’ll be interesting to see what they can do against a team higher up the pyramid, and if they show potential it’s yet more evidence that the Gowling-Burr partnership can spot a player from a lower division who has the scope to cut the mustard higher up – an ability in a coach worth its weight in gold. Admittedly at 34, Bakare’s days of ‘showing potential’ are probably behind him, but in McLean and young George Forsyth the club have a couple of players who could play an important part next season in pushing the club up towards the top of the table. It could be a big year for the Bulls if a nucleus of staff and players can be persuaded to stay, and be built on.
The Bulls go into this one
close to full strength, although defender Dan Jones has left the club for family
reasons. If his domestic situation allows in August, I’m sure most supporters
would love to see him back at the club. The left-back's ex-defensive colleagues will be keen to show the same dogged determination to keep clean sheets against theoretically tougher opponents on Saturday as has regularly been the case recently in that nine-game unbeaten run.
A week ago Aldershot were bumbling along experiencing a thoroughly humdrum season, but seven goals and two wins, against Wrexham and then Maidenhead, have suddenly given them hope of a leap into the play-offs in the second half of the season. Yes, they've still got half a season to cram in somehow.
They’re currently
just two points behind Wrexham, who occupy that final play-off position. With that in mind, it could be that the Trophy is something of a side-attraction to the club, especially with a tough league match at Notts County next up. If so, one or two first-teamers could be rested perhaps. However, a quarter-final's a quarter final, so the Bulls could find themselves facing the recently free-scoring-win-machine first XI after all.
Josh Rees’s hat-trick last time out against Maidenhead put him on seven goals for the season. Defender Giles Phillips rejoined the club in midweek on a one-month loan deal from Wycombe Wanderers, a club currently finding themselves in the wrong division, much like Hereford United did in 1976/77. Manager Danny Searle carries the ‘National League manager of the week’ curse into this one, for those of you so desperate to find positives you’re happy to believe that old garbage.
The real, living and breathing positives are, of course, the HFC players. There’s nothing to lose here, so the players can play with freedom and for contracts, knowing that they’re two wins from Wembley. Historically this is just the sort of game a team playing in black and white representing the city of Hereford would do well in. Just wish we could all go.
I refuse to bullieve that this will be the last game of 2020/21, so I won't do the traditional 'thanks for reading this column, see you in August' end-of-season thing here, but the sentiment is there, like, just in case.
COYW