Son of Eric watched Hereford play Gateshead at Edgar Street yesterday afternoon. Here's his report on the game.
Hereford’s first home league game for over a month saw a very disappointing attendance of only 1484 for the visit of the division’s top scorers Gateshead, about 25 making the 500-mile round trip. Hereford lined up with Hall with the captain's armband in goal and a newly created defence of Gillella, Egan, Pollock, and Revan. Only Pollock was not making a home debut, by contrast Gateshead’s back four was unchanged.
In midfield Forsyth making a welcome return after his injury problems sat, with Lloyd more forward left side and Vincent to the right. Up front Gordon dropped to the bench. At Brackley he was often fed the ball with a little time and space and did not seem to be able to capitalise on the opportunities created. Storey replaced him with Owen-Evans on the left and McLean on the right. This was one of the youngest teams to line up for Hereford FC.
Gateshead quickly took control, looking a confident, well drilled side challenging for promotion. They were fluid and tried the sort of little skills and flicks that comes from a winning mentality. Captain Olley particularly caught the eye floating around the attacking areas. Forsyth sat very tightly in front of the defence and Vincent also put defensive responsibilities first. Hereford were doing more to avoid conceding and looking to break quickly and use Storey’s speed.
Miles got free and rampaged down the left, but a well-timed Hunter challenge stopped him. Gateshead continued to press but the thrown together defence held a good line and Hall held longer range strikes on goal. Gateshead were building well from the back and goalkeeper Chapman was firing long passes with laser like precision. As Gateshead tried to play out Storey nicked the ball from centre back Bailey in the centre circle, and he was away and bearing down on goal. Unfortunately, he took a heavy touch as he approached the penalty box. Chapman raced out and just booted the ball away when Miles should have scored with better control.
Owen-Evans was working hard especially when Hereford broke. He put in a corner which debutant Egan headed on target, but which was saved.
Revan was combining well with TOE on the left and got forward well.
Gateshead continued to look the more likely stretching Hereford and at times outclassing the home team with the quality of their possession and dynamic movement, Langstaff becoming especially prominent and getting strikes in on goal.
McLean latched on to a clearance and was away and flying but he was taken out with a tactical foul. Referee Holmes ignored this which deserved a booking and made great play that he had played the advantage going back for what was barely a foul when the ball had originally been won in a challenge. Gateshead played with a lot of width and Campbell cut in from the left and fired a good, but routine shot which Hall spilled, Langstaff stabbing home the loose ball. Referee Holmes said there was a foul, but it was hard to see one and Hereford were fortunate to go in level.
Hereford came out well going toe to toe with Gateshead. Langstaff embarrassed Pollock for pace and crossed to loanee debutant Charters who opted to try and curl his shot just inside post, thankfully just pushing it wide. New boy Revan looked good going forward and grew into his defensive role, earning a yellow card for a block on the edge of the box. Scott then put the ball in the net when offside. This was Hereford’s best phase of the game but as soon as they tried to play more expansively Gateshead were creating more chances.
Gateshead worked the ball on the edge of Hereford’s box just left of centre. Charters tried a shot which was blocked but as soon as it came to Hunter, he arrowed it into the side netting leaving Hall with no chance.
Pollock as the senior pro had done well organising the defence and showed what needed to be done with a strong late tackle which rightly earned a booking. Hereford were fading and Gateshead were taking more and more control, at times just passing the ball around in their half to tire Hereford and take down the clock. Charters was taken off and Jacob came on. Gateshead won a free kick on the right near the box. The ball was struck low towards the near post and Lloyd blocked it but did not clear it and before he could get it away Scott nipped in to fire in from close range. Hereford brought on Kouhyar for Forsyth, Gateshead took off Scott and replaced him with Blackett.
Hereford huffed and puffed but the better team were in control. Ismail came on for Gillela as Hereford tried all they could with Gordon for McLean the last throw of the dice. Tom had a corner which Chapman dropped but no six-yard poacher was on hand. At the end Ismail danced around defenders and teed up Storey who should have got his header on target and scored, instead putting it wide. You sensed though that even if Hereford had got a goal back, Gateshead had another gear they could engage.
It is hard to argue with Gowling’s scouting report that this is the best team he has seen in the division. I especially liked that although Gateshead play the game unlike some other teams at the top there is a lack of niggly gamesmanship and a desire to outplay with men on the flanks throughout. On this showing Hereford will do well to sneak into the last play off place. Hereford’s lack of goals is a serious concern. How on earth the Non-League Paper reported that Boston were considering appointing Gowling as manager because of Hereford’s attacking play is beyond me, only two teams have scored less in the division. The reporter cannot have seen Hereford play much this season. At times this game was an attack against defence training session with the home team hanging on.
Considering it was thrown together in a few days the defence did remarkably well. The ability to organise defensive blocks is necessary but insufficient. It is a base for a team and the front six were all Gowling’s picks at the beginning of this season. Some of these players are not regularly playing to their full potential. Unless somehow a greater goal threat can be found Hereford seem likely to be the team finishing in the bottom half of the division with the biggest budget.
Hereford: Hall, Egan, McLean, Forsythia, Owen-Evans, Storey, Lloyd, Pollock, Vincent, Revan, Gillela.
Subs: Ismail, Raison, Kouhyar, Gordon, Fitzgerald