Son of Eric watched Hereford at Kidderminster last night.
On a mild, dry, windy evening Aggborough was rocking. A crowd of 3.912 arrived in good time and the Bulls fans sang songs praising Jarrod Bowen’s virility. The Kidderminster fans replied that they appreciated the ovine care Herefordshire farmers took to supply wool for their shagpile carpet industry. Kidderminster disappointingly despite their FA Cup riches did not produce an insert for their programme, a small courtesy with minimal cost which Hereford rightly do. They also squeezed the 686 Hereford fans into one small corner of the away end maximising the chances of Covid being spread. At a time when football needs to attract back fans who have found alternative ways to spend Saturday afternoons in the last three years this again seemed a penny-pinching approach.
Hereford’s defence was unchanged with Hall, Hodgkiss (c), Pollock, Pearce, and Revan. In midfield Lloyd picked up a back injury on Saturday so Keenan Patten started, with Vincent and the attacking foursome McLean, Owen-Evans, Kouhyar supporting Touray. It was pleasing to see Harry Pinchard on the bench after his long injury.
The game started at full pelt with both sides looking lively. Hereford arrived top of the form table and both teams appeared to be at a similar level as they probed each other. Kidderminster started to find joy on the right-hand side inside forward channel. Patten was keen to impress and covering a lot of ground but at times leaving a gap for Revan, Kouhyar and Pearce to address. A ball through found Morgan-Smith and as he headed towards the box Pearce half wrestled and then fell to win a free kick, old fox defending but a warning.
Sterling intercepted a Kouhyar free kick and raced down the right shooting across Hall who saved easily. Kiddy captain Austin was finding too much space and a fine ball through to Morgan-Smith in the box saw the big striker turn and fire just wide of the post. Right back Penny had a fine game and was causing trouble down the right, beating Revan he crossed and when the ball fell to Hemmings, he just missed the target. Pearce talked to Patten recognising the need for better defending.
A ball to Morgan-Smith in the middle of the field was intercepted by Pearce who had the chance to clear the ball, but he did not have the ball quite under control and Morgan-Smith’s pressing disconcerted the Chief, but he was outmuscled, and Morgan-Smith appeared to be about to break free, Pearce stopped that but clearly fouled the centre forward and the straight red was the correct decision. Hereford brought on Egan for Patten, Pollock switching to the left centre back role.
Hemmings fired the free kick into the wall, and it was deflected for a corner. The ball was whipped into the near post and Hall was partly blocked off, unable to claim it he flapped at it, Hodgkiss instinctively kicked the ball away. It fell to Austin just outside the box on the left side. He beautifully chest trapped the ball and fired a top spinning volley hard across the goal. Hall who had been sucked to the near post watched praying the ball would go wide but it hit the back corner of the net, a brilliant technically difficult goal from one of the cleverest and most talented players in the division who Hereford allowed to find far too much space throughout the game.
Hereford hit back immediately with a trademark brilliant run by McLean down the right beating three Kidderminster players. Every time they thought they had come and closed him down he knocked the ball past them, turned on the turbochargers and it was see you later. Reaching the by-line, he looked up and passed across the six-yard box to Kouhyar who put the ball over the bar when it was easier to score. That was the Hereford highlight of the game.
Kidderminster looked dangerous every time they went forward and a superb interchange between Morgan-Smith and Austen left Amari by the penalty spot and Hall utterly exposed, 2-0. The final pass from Austin was a thing of beauty delicately and softly hit so as it came across the striker, he could choose his spot with plenty of time. Hereford were struggling to get organised, and Penny again exposed them rushing down the right the full back whipped a hard ball across to Morgan-Smith. With three defenders around him, Hereford appeared prepared, but he controlled the ball, swivelled, and struck giving Hall no chance.
Just over half an hour and game over, Kidderminster still had charge of the game, but they moved down a gear. Hereford got the ball forward but were unable to create a chance. At half time the ineffectual Touray was replaced by Storey. Kidderminster rested Redmond bringing on Bajrami.
Storey improved Hereford’s prospects almost setting up Vincent and later when through stabbed the ball wide. His work rate was at the level we have become to expect and Touray must have some hidden talents to keep starting ahead of Miles. Hodgkiss and McLean both got down the right but it was almost as if the teams had agreed to keep the score the same, the game dropping in intensity.
Hall went walkabout with the ball and taking it outside the box he was tackled fairly by Morgan-Smith who passed the ball into the net but the special rules for keepers allowed Brandon to avoid embarrassment with a foul given. With five minutes left Kouhyar was replaced by Pinchard, and Harry looked to be in fine fettle, some good news on a bad night for Hereford. Harriers took off Sterling for White and the magnificent Morgan-Smith for Foulkes.
Storey's Shot - One Of Very Few In The Second Half
Sometimes
you only realise how important people are when they are not there, and
the Bulls missed Lloyd tonight. He is their most consistent player and
underappreciated because he does so much good work for others. He also
can make life difficult for the opposing team’s best players. Player of
the season so far and this match highlighted that.
If one player turned this season around it was the Chief and he has made Pollock a much-improved player. Pearce lost Hereford the game, he had a chance to hit the ball to row Z and then could have given Hall a chance to save rather than getting red carded. It is one thing to be imperious against the likes of Farsley and Guiseley. However, against two of the top three, Brackley and Kidderminster he has been unnecessarily red carded, which sees him miss more vital games whilst suspended.
Hereford need to protect Hall better at corners. He was blocked off in the lead up to the momentum changing first goal, and the same happened repeatedly against Boston. Revan is very talented, but he needs defensive assistance and Penny had the beating of him.
It is good to see Egan has signed on loan for another month, but the financial weakness of Hereford could be seen in Kidderminster’s loan centre back Preston. He had a majestic game and when late on Storey almost broke free he matched Miles for pace which few can do and scythed in with a top-class tackle. He is on loan from Solihull, aged only 26 he had over 100 Football League appearances before him. Jamie is a youth team player. The contrast in finance is stark.
Hereford dug in well in the second half none more so than Ryan McLean my man of the match for his defensive work and creating the sitter which could have seen Hereford take a point against the impressive attacking talents of Kidderminster.