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| Tom Owen Evans |
Harwood Bull reports from Curzon Ashton.
The question before this game was - are the Bulls realistic play off contenders? I think based on what we saw tonight they aren’t quite there yet. There was some very good football played at times but without a real cutting edge. By contrast the home side scored three very well taken goals, the second of which was an absolute cracker. Curzon Ashton (“The Nash”) also defended well and despite some promising approach play Hereford rarely looked like scoring.
The Bulls fielded the same side that started against Chester. On-loan keeper Sondergaard kept Brandon Hall on the bench, which must be for reasons unconnected with goalkeeping ability. While he didn’t make any obvious mistakes he didn’t command his area, and Hall must be wondering what he’s done wrong. Jamie Egan continued to deputise for “The Chief” alongside Pollock in the back four and looked solid. Full backs Hodgkiss and young Revan got up and down the flanks tirelessly and the skipper was constantly bellowing orders out and organising his defence. Patten and Vincent were in the holding role, Tom, Ryan & Maz in front of them and Miles Storey as the lone striker.
The Referee Didn't Spot Everything?
The game was patchy to start with,
there were some good passing moves from both sides interspersed with
periods when the ball bounced back and forth aimlessly. Both sides
played with energy and commitment and looked to move the ball quickly.
The home team created most of the opportunities with crosses from the
right side and the number 11, Peers was a constant threat.
Maziar Kouhyar A Hereford Free Kick Comes To Nothing
There
was an unusual happening in the 31st minute when the floodlights in one
corner of the ground went out. The two teams stood around chatting for a
few minutes until another 50p piece was found and the lights came back
on.
Players Take A Break Whilst The Floodlights Are Repaired
Just before the break a powerful header out of defence by
Egan cleared the Curzon back four, giving Storey a chance to show his
pace. He got to the ball despite attempts to hold him back but he was
forced wide and his powerful effort crashed into the side netting.
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| Miles Storey's Shot Hit The Side Netting |
Half time: Curzon Ashton 0 Hereford FC 0
The second half started at a fast pace and in the 49th minute The Nash took the lead. A neat ball was played into the feet of Peers who turned his marker and slotted home for a proper striker’s goal. The Bulls play was inconsistent, at times playing their way out of defence with some slick interplay, at others giving the ball away needlessly. On the hour Hereford had a chance to equalise, but Pollock's header from a corner was straight at the keeper.
Pinchard replace McLean in the 65th minute. Yellow cards were picked up by Hodgkiss and Egan in quick succession, and then came the outstanding moment of the game. Mahon, the home team’s captain received the ball in a wide position on the right. He showed some great skills to weave his way past a couple of Hereford players, burst into space and then curved an outstanding shot into the top corner. You simply had to applaud.
Hereford kept trying to find a way back into the game but the Curzon defence held solidly. Kouhyar dribbled into the Curzon penalty area several times but couldn’t get the ball through to a teammate. Revan made a terrific run from his own half but when having got himself into a shooting position miskicked horribly, failing to make contact with the ball.
Touray replaced Patten near the end but had little chance to affect the game. Haines replaced Pollock for reasons I can’t fathom. Pollock’s face was not a picture of happiness when coming off.
With the game already beyond the Bulls, they lost control on the halfway line and the ball was moved infield to give the Curzon striker a clear run on goal and he finished easily.
Full time: Curzon Ashton 3 Hereford FC 0
Hereford line up:
Hereford: Sondergaard, Hodgkiss, Egan, Pollock (Haines), Revan, Patten (Touray), Vincent, McLean (Pinchard), Kouhyar, Owen-Evans, Storey
Subs not used: Hall , Gillela
On this showing a play off place looks to be a little beyond Hereford. You can’t fault the team for industry and effort, and there’s a fair amount of skill there too, but I fear we will come up short. The missing piece I think is a true central striker. Storey’s pace and power are a real asset but he’s not a centre forward. It’s not his game to be holding the ball up and laying it off, and Touray’s apparent lack of fitness suggests he’s not the answer either.
We’ll have to soldier on with what we have in the meantime, “take each game as it comes” and see where we end up.