Consistently Inconsistent

Ben Pollock - A Man For All Seasons

Son of Eric watched Hereford drop three points against Alfreton at Edgar Street yesterday afternoon.

Before the game one of the most loyal Hereford supporters with many decades of dedication was explaining what to expect to a newer visitor. He summarised Hereford’s season as consistently inconsistent. This wise observer feared after last week’s convincing victory that the Bulls would not sustain their goal burst at Blyth. On a cool day with a little breeze Hall came back from Covid in goal with the first-choice defence of captain Jared, Pearce, Pollock, and Revan. Haines and Patten were in front of the defence with Pinchard, Owen-Evans and McLean behind Touray. On the bench were Egan, Lloyd, Vincent, Klukowski, and Wright.

The game started poorly in front of 1706 with 41 visitors, Alfreton looking slightly the better but reflecting a team with only one win in their last ten games. Touray was getting little joy, tightly marked, and not winning the 50/50 physical challenges. 

A Useful Cross From Revan But Touray Fails To Connect

Alfreton took the lead out of the blue. Top scoring midfielder Hobson tried a speculative shot from 35 yards out on the left. He did not hit it that cleanly and Hall went down, looking to have the ball comfortably covered. Maybe the ball moved in the air. As it came towards him, Brandon realised he had gone down too soon, but still had time to recover and he stretched out his left hand. It appeared he could at least parry the ball out, but he seemed to have a weak hand with all his momentum going the other way and only deflected the ball into the centre of the goal. Pollock and Pearce commiserated with Hall over the error and Alfreton went into ultra-gamesmanship mode.

Immediate time wasting and referee Sykes at times pointed out he knew what they were up too but did nothing which had any impact. An extra minute of added time, wow that will show them who is boss! Keeper Willis has innovated a technique to ensure that the paltry attendances at Alfreton get even worse. Whenever he took any slightly bouncing ball or any ball going at more than ten miles an hour the massive momentum of clutching the ball meant he toppled over like a drunk in slow motion, falling forwards but still clutching the ball. He then slowly gathered himself, getting up as if he had a back problem. Superb timewasting, awful entertainment. Alfreton even invented the need for a drinks break half way through the half on the basis the sun was shining and referee Sykes did nothing. The temperature was barely in double figures.

Hereford have taken a total of three out of a possible eighteen points from the awkward squad of Southport, Leamington, and Alfreton this season. To get out of this division requires more nous than the Bulls have shown.

When Hall tried to distribute the ball quickly, Sutton put a dangerous foot in his way which should have been penalised, but Sykes was easily outwitted by the hucksters. Hereford tried to play their way back into the game, but several players were below par. Haines long passing was variable and Patten’s was poor. Many times, they tried to pick out McLean unmarked on the left but under hit their passes so that with the number of interceptions he made right back Clackstone could be challenging for the National League North Team of the Week. 

Hereford's best chance of the half fell to Tom after good work by Mclean but his sharp shot from near the touchline on the left inside of the are was well saved by Willis.

A Chance For Owen-Evans After A Cross From Pinchard

With time added on for timewasting Hereford had a free kick in their own half towards the halfway line. Pollock was going to take it but then chasing the game it was decided Hall would hoist it in so Pollock and Pearce could go forward. Brandon hit it deep, but captain Rhead headed it away and Southwell knocked a classy pass to Ceesay on the left who surged over the halfway line without a challenge from Hodgkiss and almost stumbling as he reached the box with Hall advancing and stabbed the ball past him into the net to double the lead. 

If ever the situation cried out for a tactical foul near the halfway line this was the occasion. Other teams in the play-off positions are shrewder. Ceesay troubled Hereford at Alfreton and he had shown his pace earlier in the half, so he was the obvious danger man who was not picked up. A very poor goal to concede.

Touray has looked reasonable against sides at the bottom of the division like Blyth and Farsley but as soon as he comes up against resolute and tighter defending his impact is limited. Of the 47 different players this season he has made one of the more modest contributions and he was pulled at half time with Wright coming on for his home debut. Patten was brought off with a welcome return for Lloyd after injury.

Andre Wright Holds Up The Ball For Hereford

Willis urgently called for attention so that medical staff could go and assist someone who was taken unwell at the back of the Meadow End and there was a short break in play. Even pantomime villains can redeem themselves and the Meadow End warmly acknowledged his prompt actions. Wright improved Hereford’s option up front and hit a fine long shot which Willis did well to save at full stretch. Willis then saved another long shot from Lloyd who was improving Hereford’s play in the middle of the park. Most of Hereford’s best creative play came through Pinchard. At times he carried the ball well across the field, but other players did not make the runs for him to release them.

Harry took three corners in a row. Each time he hit an outswinger. Twice Haines headed it against a defender for another corner and on the third occasion Luke headed it on target, but Willis saved. 

Defender Sutton like his captain Rhead is a veteran troublemaker and he was finally booked for a nasty foul on Pollock. Ceesay was taken off and Preston came on as Alfreton sought to hold on rather than increase their lead. Hereford took off McLean and brought on Egan moving to three at the back with Hodgkiss and Revan pushing forward as Hereford finally changed to chase the game.

Hereford always look a better team with Egan on the pitch and he may be worth trying in the middle of the park. He made an immediate impact running down the right exchanging passes with Hodgkiss. Like a top-class winger he beat the full back and crossed across the six-yard line with the ball ever so slightly curling away from the keeper. Lloyd showing his game intelligence arrived late at the far post for a tap in. It was so good to see Ryan back with a goal, he has been badly missed.

Alfreton brought on Butterfield for Wilde. Captain Rhead was in his element with a weak referee wasting time and falling over to try and gain a foul when Pearce or Pollock were by him. Several times the referee did not give the foul but did not make the logical connection that this was diving and warranted a yellow card. In his favour Rhead helped organise the Alfreton defence and made several vital headers when Hereford dropped the ball into the area.

This was a puzzling performance from Hereford. Alfreton had little to play for, Hereford needed to win and to improve their goal difference yet at no stage was there a sense that the Bulls were really going for it. Gowling can set up a good defence and midfield, but he and surprisingly former striker Burr have failed to establish potency up front. 14 of Hereford’s 43 goals have come against the bottom three sides. In cricket terms they are “flat track bullies.”

In his programme notes Jon Hale wrote:

“It will come as no surprise when I say that we do not have one of the biggest budgets in the division”

This is a carefully phrased statement. Brackley and Fylde clearly have generous benefactors as their performances and budgets bear no relation to their crowds. York get 1000 more than Hereford at each home game. Kidderminster’s cup run has given them loads of money. Of the remaining clubs Hereford have the biggest crowds which at this level remains the biggest source of income and they still have a commercial appeal and reach beyond at least half the teams in this division for whom this is their natural level at best. Chester, Boston and Darlington have similar crowds and, in many ways, a similar history. Hereford’s budget is easily in the top half of the table and almost certainly in the top third. Football academic Stefan Szymanski has established that budget is the most important factor in relation to where a team finishes. In the last three seasons Hereford have finished 17th, 16th, 12th This season will probably be the best yet with a top ten place a possibility.

Teams which can’t score more than a goal a game do not get promoted. Wright who was an improvement on Touray was the 13th player to be played up front this season. Hereford need at least 5 wins from their remaining 7 games to make the play offs, probably more, it is a very hard ask for a team which struggle to consistently score goals against well organised sides. Owen-Evans with 11 goals from 32 starts has carried the scoring responsibilities. No other offensive player can be satisfied with their goals per game ratio.

Pinchard tried to play football and had a good game, but he seemed to be one thought ahead of some of his colleagues. Hereford is the home of “who dares wins” but too many offensive players did not dare to win. Lloyd improved the team as he always does with his welcome return in the second half which Hereford “won”.

The team were jeered off at half time and full time. The players and management team came out at the end to applaud the crowd, and some fans stayed to support the team, but many left in disappointment. Some of the players stayed in the middle of the pitch and went through the motions. It was striking to see Ben Pollock. He went to the Meadow End and engaged with the fans, patiently he posed for selfie after selfie with youngsters, all the time with a smile on his face. His transformation from adequate defensive midfielder to outstanding tough tackling centre back has been one of the joys of the season. He is the young player of the season by a country mile and has an attitude and consistency which mark him out. Veteran strikers John-Lewis and Rhead have paid him the compliment in recent games of targeting Pearce as they quickly recognise how little change they will get out of Ben.

Managers often say you learn more about players in defeat in victory. Crowds surely learn too, and with a slightly hostile undercurrent, just like any gnarled centre back Ben met the challenge face on. A player to build a defence around for the future. A man for all seasons.