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| Hereford Supporters Applaude Dan Smith's Goal |
Son of Eric watched Hereford draw 1-1 with Leamington this afternoon at Edgar Street.
There were no queues for fuel at Texaco on Commercial Road, the only panic buying was the long queue of passionate Bulls fans getting tickets to cheer their team off the bottom of the table. Officially autumn has begun but this was a balmy, muggy day more like the end of summer with the pitch immaculate and the programme worth buying for the excellent photographs from Andy Walkden.
Hereford lined up with Hall in goal, Hodgkiss captain at right back loanee Andoh making his league debut alongside Haines and Fini also making his first league start at left back. In midfield Pollock sat in front of the back four with Lloyd on the left and Pinchard on the right. Up front Smith was flanked by McLean and Storey. For Leamington Simeon Maye and Kelsey Mooney returned to Edgar Street. Worryingly Hereford could only muster three outfield substitutes.
The crowd was a disappointing 1179 with 54 away fans and many gaps in the seats. Hereford started strongly carrying on the momentum from the first win of the season on Tuesday and trying to keep the crisp passing going. Pinchard and Storey were especially prominent with Storey forcing a sharp save from Weaver and the Whites looking the more likely side. A Pinchard corner found Pollock whose strike was hit well but too central and Weaver saved it.
Leamington’s blue and yellow kit was reminiscent of the Wimbledon of old and their rough-house physical approach was straight out of the Crazy Gang approach to pushing every rule and breaking it if you can get away with it. Short players do not need to apply to play for Leamington and Haines and Smith were both targeted with cynical fouls. Leamington relished the physical challenge from dead balls and Mooney put the ball into the net from an offside position after a high ball in had been won by Turner. Morrison tussled with Smith and when they fell lay on top of Smith to prevent him breaking free and then appeared to hit Smith off the ball. However, he had done so on the blind side of both the referee and assistant, and despite vigorous protestations no action was taken.
Haines Gets An Arm In His Back
Moments Later Smith Seems Annoyed With The Referee
Twice dead balls into the box had been won by Turner with Andoh misjudging the flight on one occasion. Hereford’s defence did not look secure with the aerial assault. The referee gave a foul for a challenge from Lloyd which looked fortunate for Leamington. Parker crossed into the box with Andoh and Haines jostling with the Leamington centre backs and the dangerous Turner marked. However, Leamington had worked out the Hereford defence leaving captain Edwards one on one and five inches taller than Hodgkiss to head past the stranded Hall. This season most of the goals Hereford have conceded have been due to individual errors but this was a goal lost unnecessarily to poor defensive organisation as Hodgkiss stood no chance of challenging the taller player who effectively had a free header on the edge of the six-yard box.
A ball was played up the left by Leamington and captain Edwards challenged hard against Haines catching the back of his head and body making a sickening noise. Amazingly the assistant referee who was right in line and close by did not even flag. The referee did come and book Edwards, but this was a hard dangerous, reckless challenge which left a player heading to hospital and a red card was required.
Haines was down for ten minutes delaying the game and when stretchered off had the indignity of Edwards feigning concern. This was not a mistimed challenge; it was the logical consequence of the deliberately physical approach of the Brakes. The Meadow End roundly booed Edwards for his cynicism. Kouyhar came on for Haines with Pollock dropping back into defence.
Leamington came out early for the second half and by the centre spot referee Tom Kirk and Leamington Captain Edwards enjoyed a friendly conversation with much laughter. With Haines on his way to hospital it showed poor judgement and limited emotional intelligence for the referee to be engaging in this way with the player who had caused such a serious injury. Edwards manipulation of referee Kirk highlighted the immaturity of the official who should have been keeping a professional distance with no Hereford players on the pitch and such serious recent actions and a players career possibly ended only minutes before.
Leamington started the half brighter with Morley crossing to Mooney whose shot was saved by Hall. Soon after Meredith surged down the right and mishit a deep cross which almost caught out Hall as it bounced off the top of the crossbar. Pollock was booked for a tactical foul, but the magic words of captain Edwards appeared to have spun a Harry Potter style spell on referee Kirk who allowed Meredith, Anderson and others to cynically chop and block Bulls players without penalty.
Storey went off and Hulbert came on which made several spectators wonder whether Miles was carrying a knock as he had played well.
Storey Was Subbed As He Had A Hamstring Issue
McLean was less effective with
Leamington’s defence working out that Ryan’s left foot is far weaker
than his right. They doubled up every time to stop him coming inside
from the left wing and showed him the outside. When McLean did get
crosses in, they were weak and ineffectual. Ryan worked hard but often
got caught out too high up the pitch and not covering enough
defensively. He appears a better defender when working on the right with
Hodgkiss who barks out a stream of guidance. Debutant Fini was
effective going forward but overall Hereford’s left side was the weaker
flank defensively.
Kouhyar grew increasingly influential cheered on by a group of friends in the Merton stand with his close control and tricky footwork earning the respect of Leamington. He repeatedly probed forward towards Smith and Hulbert who quickly made an impact. Pinchard was also threatening to open up the Brakes defence. Kouhyar cleverly found Smith on the edge of the box and his low hard drive was deflected for a corner.
Hereford were on top, but Leamington broke away with Mooney feeding Anderson who charged down the right, cutting in and shooting on target only for an excellent recovery by Fini to block the shot for a corner. Leamington increasingly wasted time and keeper Weaver always ensured he took more than six seconds to release the ball knowing referee Kirk was having a bad game. Mooney still has an inconsistent first touch and did not look the same player without the quality of John-Lewis alongside him. However, he has learnt to feign injury well and to lie down with Smith on one occasion trying to pull him back up to his feet. When substituted Mooney deliberately tried to walk the long way across the pitch and when directed by Kirk after Hereford protestations to take the shortest exit, ambled away as slowly as possible. Manager Holleran may well be putting on a pantomime at Christmas with his team of performers.
Burr and Gowling tried to point out to the referee that he was being conned.
A piqued Kirk made it clear that he knew what he was doing. He was the only person in the ground who held this view, and the spoiling tactics of Leamington tarnished the game and the entertainment which had been paid for. The assistant referee on the Merton stand side missed several incidents and was especially negligent in not seeing how Haines was taken out of the game.
Shamelessly Anderson going down claiming he had a head knock when Hereford threatened. The referee had to stop play but he was soon up and this cynical exploitation when Haines was seriously injured, and had been prostate for a dozen minutes left a bad taste in the mouth.
Keeper Brandon Hall Charged Down The Field To Complain To The Referee
Captain Edwards was taken off with many jeers as Gittings came on and
Hancox came on for Fini who had made an assured debut. Hereford had
their tails up and finally yet more sweet feet from Kouhyar and a
clipped
cross presented Smith with a gorgeous ball which he powerfully
flicked into the corner of the net for a very impressive finish.
Hereford pressed hard in time added on but could not secure the win they deserved.
This was an unsatisfactory match. The young referee was far too interested in ingratiating himself with players rather than stopping timewasting and penalising cynical fouls. Leamington should have had a handful of players booked and Edwards was lucky to stay on the pitch. It could be said that Hereford should wise up to these tactics but with minimal enforcement it is hard to know what they can do. Leamington’s goal was avoidable, but Hereford are struggling to put together a consistent defensive line up so slips like this are inevitable with the lack of continuity.
Fini made a fine debut and Andoh looks a quality find for the middle of the defence. Pollock did well when filling in at the back. Pinchard showed quality, one carry of the ball forward on the break in the first half was especially impressive with him scanning passing options all the time he sped forward. Kouhyar made the goal, and it is hard to know what he must do to earn a regular starting place as to this observer the team always look far more threatening when he is on the pitch. Lloyd is the under the radar midfielder who gets through lots of work. The referee was shocking and when Leamington realised how weak and ineffectual, he was they manipulated him mercilessly with play acting that will give them the opportunity for future careers as pantomime villains.
Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss, Haines, Mclean, Storey, Andoh, Lloyd, Pollock, Smith, Fini, Pinchard.
Subs: Hancox, Liburd-Haines, Hulbert, Kouyhar
Att: 1179