Son of Eric reports from Edgar Street:
Fifty years after the greatest day in Hereford football history there was a buzz about Edgar Street. The impressive souvenir programme sold out twenty minutes before kick-off and many fans were doubly disappointed missing the dulcet tones of Simon Wright laid low with Covid and unable to purchase a Giantkillers Talking Bull. The nostalgia and the play off possibilities boosted the crowd to 2019. There was a minute’s silence for two super fans. Doris Rogers who was a season ticket holder for over 70 years and Peter Hill former Chairman whose ability to keep Hereford comfortably a Football League club looks even more notable as the years go by. I was always impressed with how dedicated he was to attending far away matches and representing the club. It is the special nature of football that it can make somewhere like Rochdale a place that Peter always looked forward fondly to visiting.
As the game started news came through that West Ham had won at Kidderminster, showing yet again how impressive the Giantkillers of half a century ago were. The Meadow End burst into “Jarrod Bowen, he’s one of our own!” Hereford were unchanged with Hall, Hodgkiss (c), Pollock, Pearce, Revan; Vincent, Lloyd; Kouhyar, Owen-Evans, McLean; Gordon. New signing Patten taking a place on the bench with Egan, Touray, Storey and Gillela.
Hereford kicked off and laid the ball back to Pollock to put the ball up the left flank to a cluster of players, but his pass soared over them and into touch as a strong westerly wind caught the ball. In Hereford’s first attack the ball was worked down the left and into Tom on the edge of the box, he took the ball and with a delicious right foot John Mills style chop unbalanced the Boston defence and then rifled a rasping, rising strike with his left foot into the right-hand top corner, yet another quality finish from top scorer Owen-Evans.
Hereford adapted better to the wind and Boston were struggling to pick up the front four as they switched positions. A free kick was won and swung in by Kouhyar, Pollock headed down to Pearce, but he did not catch the ball fully and Dewhirst saved easily.
Boston won a corner which Leesley took. Boston blocked off Hall and Duxbury rose at the far post for a free header which he sent just over the bar.
Right wing back Ferguson was being constantly exposed. Kouhyar beat him with a glorious Cruyff turn and strode forward reaching the by-line and heading towards the box. Ferguson struggling to regain his dignity ran back and perhaps angry at being embarrassed jumped into Maz, fouling him and giving away a free kick rightly earning a booking.
Kouhyar was the most influential player on the pitch and Boston were unable to cope with him. Just outside the Hereford box he won possession and as Boston tackled back, he dug in and rode the challenge, he then burst away and appeared to have slightly overhit the ball as he dribbled forward. Vincent came to help with the loose ball but with the echo of a Radford “get out of my way lad” he brushed aside the need for assistance taking back control, scanning and then hitting the sweetest, neatest pass you ever did see. Maz the magician dissected the centre backs and laid the ball at such a perfect pace that Ryan McLean just naturally outpaced the last defender and took the ball to the box. As Dewhirst came out Ryan calmly hit hard, low and true into the far netting.
Boston’s defence was wide open. Hereford were constantly exposing the wing backs in the Boston 3-4-1-2 set up. Gordon had his best game yet for Hereford occupying the centre backs and retaining possession one moment, then pulling wide to ask questions of whether a centre back went wide, or the wing back retreated. His graft made the space for Kouhyar, Owen-Evans and Mclean to probe and punish the Pilgrims.
Boston’s new manager Cox saved Ferguson further difficulties taking him off and bringing Grant on, switching to a back four.
Boston again threatened from a Leesley corner with Preston heading just over the bar and the half finished with Garner just heading over from a Byrne corner. Hereford were struggling with the set pieces and Pollock told Revan to stop getting sucked in. Overall, this was excellent football by Hereford, and they deservedly went in with a two goal advantage.
Hereford started brightly with Lloyd shooting across goal and just past the far post. Boston though were resisting Hereford better and getting more into the game. Byrne took a free kick from just outside the box but was well over the bar. Di Maio then won a fifty-fifty and knocking the ball to the edge of the box Elliott showed the skill of a striker in form taking the ball on the turn and rifling a low shot beyond Hall for his twentieth goal of the season.
Elliott then shot straight at Hall and Di Maio fired over the bar as Boston looked the more likely. Hereford broke and with Revan about to get away Preston tactically fouled him and was booked.
To try and get back control Gowling took off Kouhyar and Mclean, replacing them with Touray and Storey. Revan played a good long pass down the left to Storey who outpaced the backline and shot hard and low, but Dewhirst had quickly come off his line and blocked it.
Pearce was booked for a foul on Leesley. Hereford were hanging on with Hall saving from Di Maio and an agonising wait as a flick on from a long throw rolled across the box and past the far post. Egan came on for Gordon to bolster the defence. Boston pressed but Hereford hung on for a victory which pushes them close to the play offs.
Hereford’s first half performance was again excellent, but for the third match in a row they lost the second half and there must be a concern that they cannot sustain the quality of ninety minute performance they showed against Kidderminster. Hereford’s goal difference is now better than Boston’s. The last two play off places look wide open and some more goals when on top may make all the difference at the end of the season.