Superb Sondergaard

Son of Eric watched Hereford's last game of the season at Gateshead.

Gateshead was transformed. Normally only the big athletics stand is open. Hereford fans take up one block on the left and Gateshead dot and dash across three of four blocks and the rest of the international athletics stadium is empty. With Gateshead champions and neither Newcastle nor Sunderland playing a sunny day invited hordes to attend with lengthy queues outside. Gateshead join Bardon Hill, Brocton and Wigan Athletic in achieving the distinction of recording their best attendance against Hereford. 4,129 that is three thousand more than the previous best attendance of the season boosted by an impressive 99 from Hereford for a game without significance.

Gowling dropped Hall for Sondergaard. Dropped is less used these days with rotation the modern euphemism but Gowling has regularly tried alternatives to Brandon. Notably Paul White now at promoted Peterborough Sports. Brandon is an excellent shot stopper at this level, but he has made several howlers this season. As the game develops managers seek Brazilian style footwork if possible. Is it a coincidence that Liverpool and Manchester City both have an extra footballer in goal? Gateshead’s keeper had very impressive ball striking abilities so just like Guardiola let Joe Hart go I will be very surprised if Hall is at Edgar Street next season, but he will almost certainly be playing at a similar level as his very many fine saves have demonstrated.

Andreas Sondergaard

At right back skipper Jared Hodgkiss has driven the team on and has an engine and enthusiasm that many younger players could emulate. Hopefully he will be back next season. At left back Seb Revan is far too good to be at Hereford other than on loan, all next season please Villa would be good for his development! Similarly, it is hard to see Egan being allowed to come from Bristol Rovers although their promotion may help if he needs games in a familiar environment. Ben Pollock should receive a longer contract; he’s improved immensely but continues to work on areas like defensive heading. At the end of the match amongst the champions celebrations Ben went and talked one on one to several Hereford fans giving generously of his time as he always does.

In midfield Luke Haines has been in and out of form but his ability to play in several positions, amazing fortitude and long throw may mean he is worth considering. His two poorest performances have come against the top two sides. Lloyd is my unsung hero, and I would sign him for a couple of seasons at least whilst he played mostly in midfield, he was also a quality left back. Harry Pinchard and Ryan McLean are exciting skilful players, and it demonstrates much wisdom from Gowling and Burr that both were signed to two-year contracts last year and are available next season.

It was sad that this almost certainly will be Tom Owen-Evans last game for Hereford FC. He has been a joy to watch not just a scorer of a great number of goals but great goals too. The lob at Fylde my goal of the season for him this year but there are many other favourites to pick from. His goal scoring record and assists will have attracted attention and his fighting attitude will have impressed any scout. He could avoid talking himself into the book a little, but many higher-level clubs will surely make him offers Hereford cannot compete with. In any all-time Hereford FC team Tom would surely find a place. Thanks for all the memories.

Storey is an exciting player who sets pulses racing and his nasty injury at Guiseley with hindsight was one of the key reasons the club did not make the play offs.

Hereford started brightly and matched the Heed. They looked more relaxed without the pressure of possible promotion and both Storey and Owen-Evans got in shots which just missed the target. 

No One Could Get On The End Of Owen-Evans's Cross

Another Cross From Owen-Evans Went Straight To The Keeper

Gateshead played out from the back all the time with the footwork of on loan goalkeeper Marschall especially impressive. He would pass to centre backs Hunter or Storey even if it meant them coming deep into their own box. Storey and Owen-Evans both came and pressed, and this distribution stretched out the Hereford team, then one of the trio would often ping a quality long ball further up the field. For the first ten minutes they focused on their right side. Then Marschall sent a low driven ball towards Charters wide on the left by the halfway line. He headed the ball in field and a little forward to Ward who headed it forward to the inside left channel into the path of Langstaff.

He controlled the ball drove through and scored easily. Langstaff is a very impressive player. He worked across Hereford’s backline and none of them looked comfortable with his fluidity and eye for space. It was hard to see how Hereford could have stopped this impressive well worked goal which would have graced a higher standard than the National League North.

Gateshead now moved up a gear and appeared to be able to cut through the Hereford defence like a knife through butter. The sharp movement and confident control worked through the Hereford midfield with ease and Haines particularly saw the game passing him by. The Heed hit the post and the bar, and then Langstaff continued his personal battle with Sondergaard forcing a fine save by Anders. Charters stumbled when challenging McLean and appeared to pull a muscle. He was rolled off the pitch and then substituted for Wombwell, but the change did not disrupt the champions rhythm.

Bailey and Egan were booked for fouls with the referee having a solid game. Gateshead fashioned a series of opportunities with the most impressive a mazy run by Longstaff which brought out another very good save from Sondergaard. By half time Gateshead were comfortably on top. Gowling addressed this by taking off Egan. He moved Haines whose poor passing against Brackley had continued and moved Luke to centre back bringing on Patten whose form has gradually improved during his loan spell.

Seb Revan Heads A Good Harry Pinchard Cross Towards Goal

Sondergaard continuing his fine form rushing out to dive bravely at the feet of a Gateshead forward. Gateshead took off Greenfield and replaced him with Blackett. Hereford brought on Wright for McLean with Storey moving to the wing. Storey soon made an impact crossing to Patten whose shot was tipped over by Marschall. Whilst the play was more even you sensed that Gateshead were playing within themselves and going down the right, they upped the tempo and a ball in appeared to get a deflection to Langstaff who was in a disgraceful amount of space between Haines and Pollock. Needing no invitation, he strode into the box eyed his afternoon foe who came out and planted himself and then stabbed the ball across Sondergaard into the net, a cool striker’s finish.

Miles was getting some joy down the left and he turned inside to feed Revan who confidently took the ball into the box and fired inside the near post. A deserved goal for Seb who has been threatening to score for weeks, even sweeter that goalkeeper Marschall is on loan from Seb’s club Aston Villa.

Seeking a point Gowling took off Pinchard and brought on Njie for his National League debut for the last 8 minutes. Njie has been with the club for 8 months and whilst there will always be a need for squad players can Hereford afford to pay a player 8 months’ money for 8 minutes play and some unused substitute appearances? There are different ways to boost a budget.

The result was close, but the teams were not. Only a superb performance by Sondergaard kept the score respectable. Macaulay Longstaff is an outstanding talent and Gateshead will do well to hang on to him. He has that striker’s wisdom like Steve “Chalkie” White seeming to always find the position of maximum discomfort for the defence. The champions played with confidence and have good players throughout the team, they should stay up. What an impressive job their manage Williamson has done. This was not as comprehensive as Gateshead’s victory at Edgar Street, but they are an impressive side and on loan keeper Marschall has a bright future in the game. Hereford would be more convenient for an Aston Villa loanee next season!

Sondergaard will enjoy watching this match again he made save after save, although his footwork was variable and “created” one of Gateshead’s chances. Hereford finish in their highest position yet 12th. There’s been significant progress this season and much promise for the future with the way Gowling improves players. My thanks to all of you for reading and putting up with the errors amongst my ramblings. As Neil Young sang, “I have been wrong before and I will be there again”. Josh Gowling has forgotten more about football than I will ever know but my personal highlight was seeing Maz Kouhyar make his July debut at Westfields. I entitled the report Phwoar Kouhyar and finished it saying:

“Pollock looked better at centre back than does in midfield and Kouhyar looked the kind of playmaker the team needs. Sign him up!”

If only.