Early Optimism Evaporates

Driving in the Shire summer was starting to turn to autumn with less harvesters and more tractors ploughing in. Hereford needed a win after the Banbury defeat and Josh rang the changes with three changes in the starting eleven:

Wade; Latty-Fairwweather, Haines (c), Lilly, Evans; Hanson, Lloyd; McLean, Pinchard, Barnett, Amadi-Holloway.

Subs: Pendley, Osideko, Campbell, Storey, Thompson-Sommers.

Captain Hodgkiss dropped out of the squad altogether, Haines wearing the arm band. Storey dropped to the bench with Amadi-Holloway starting for the first time. Thompson-Sommers was benched with Hanson earning his first start. Campbell took the spare substitute space with Jared joining the analysts high up in the Len Weston. There were 2,728 attending with 223 away fans

Gloucester arrived with several old Bulls. After the toss, the sides switched ends Brandon Hall received a very warm welcome from three sides of the ground as he took his place between the posts in front of the Meadow End.

Hereford started the better of the two sides and gradually took the upper hand so it was no surprise when they took the lead. Hall conceded a corner which Pinchard hit deep from the left. Barnett's first header was not cleared, Haines challenged for the loose ball and with the ball bouncing Amadi-Holloway turned and struck the ball on the volley high into the net giving Hall no chance. A sharp quality finish.

Hereford failed to capitalise and Gloucester came back into the game. They looked to exploit Hereford's lack of pace at the back. Captain O'Sullivan returning to the Street played almost as a quarter back just in front of the back four and took advantage of Hereford not pressing as much as they normally do, Storey's energy was particularly missed. Right back James crossed to striker Mitford who missed the target with his header.

A cross from the right was not caught by Wade under pressure from Mitford and the ball dropped to Haines but he failed to clear it and McClure poked the ball home. Brad complained to referee Martin that he had been fouled but the goal was given. It was one of those where you have seen them given but there appeared to be an opportunity to deal with the loose ball before the Tigers scored.

Gloucester's football was fairly direct but they seemed the more likely and Hereford were not pressing like they have done, and rarely won ball high up the field. Right back James had a clash with Barnett and went down clutching his head, play went on at the other end and eventually play was brought back for the apparently critical head injury. However, it quickly seemed that James was fine and that he had feigned his injury. Recovering he raced twenty yards to angrily remonstrate with Barnett. A miraculous recovery. Barnett held his ground and James tried to stick his face in Barnett's face almost as if he was going to butt him. James appeared to be a totally out of order claiming an injury that was fake. The rest of the players had used the opportunity for a drinks break, as had the referee so he totally missed James misbehaviour. 

Phillips was booked for a challenge on Tyrone who kept on taking the battle to Gloucester giving as good as he got physically and verbally, he truly is a warrior. After the match Josh said at age 35 Hodgkiss could not manage two matches in three days, Tyrone is a very fit 36! Gloucester had more chances but the best in the rest of the half fell to McLean who hit a clever lob volley from distance which appeared to be dipping over Hall but Brandon arched backwards and pushed the ball over the bar.

Early in the second half McClure appeared to foul Lloyd and released Mitford through the inside right channel. His first touch was poor and for a moment Wade thought about coming but held his ground. Mitford's second touch again offered Brad a chance but seeing Haines racing back he played the percentages. As striker Mitford came into the box Wade advanced and Haines slid in alongside to make a challenge. Mitford hit a shot which caught Haines' leg and looped up and over for a lucky finish with the Tigers taking the lead.

Gloucester again attacked down the right and the Bulls initially repulsed it. The ball was blocked and deflected across the box to the unmarked Mitford. The ball was half behind him and bouncing high. Tre adjusted his body and channelled his inner Marco Van Basten swivelled stretching, twisting and unleashing a venomous sidewinder of a shot with immense power. It looked like it had goal written all over it as it headed to the top left corner.

Brad had moved from the left of his goal and coming back across threw himself at full length to make one of the best saves seen at Edgar Street in a very long time. In doing so he seemed to land awkwardly or even possibly catch the post. He was clearly in agony and received treatment for nine minutes. He should not have continued but with no substitute goalkeeper on the bench he bravely soldiered on. Every time he caught the ball he winced. He held his left arm straight down awkwardly for the rest of the match and when he ran it did not move. Brad made several saves clearly at the price of a lot of pain. Hero is too often used in football but in putting his need for treatment second and the team first, Brad was heroic.

Amadi-Holloway took his goal well, won several aerial challenges and showed strength on the ground but clearly a player this good is at Hereford for a reason and he still does not look fully match fit. At times he was quiet on the right wing and just after the hour he was substituted with Storey coming on. Gloucester tried crowding Wade at every corner and dead ball the Bulls coalescing around him like worker bees defending their queen and this worked despite Wade's limited mobility in his right arm.

Barnett robbed former Bull Leadbitter who had a poor game. Tyrone fed Miles but Storey danced around too many defenders with Hall out of position and by the time he got an effort in it was blocked away. Thompson-Sommers came on for Lloyd, and Pendley came on for Latty-Fairweather. Then came the key moment of the match. Hereford still had a chance to grab an equaliser. A hopeful ball down the left was easily within Lilly's compass. He had the chance to comfortably clear for a throw in. Instead despite knowing that he had an injured goalkeeper he tried to control the ball and turn. Understandable with the desire to go searching for a goal, but a high risk decision and with a poor touch Guyana international Mitford was upon Zak, and just like at Banbury on Saturday Zak stumbled and fell, Mitford drawing Wade and slotting past him to give the Tigers a two goal cushion with ten minutes left.

Gloucester took time out of the game with King on for Morgan and then Tomlinson came on for Phillips. Hereford got the ball around the box, but lacked a cutting edge. Man of the match was Wade with his heroic decision to play through the pain and to risk further injury.

Hereford started promisingly and Gloucester were no great shakes, but they were better organised, happy to stay deep and play longer balls through and expose Hereford's lack of pace at the back. From being a pressing team, Hereford have changed to two big men up front. However, Amadi-Holloway was in and out of the game and the rest of the players were unable to take the positions needed to pick up flicks and lay-offs. Hanson often lost possession with weak passing, frequently he won the ball back but he did not drive the team forward.

The decision to not have a substitute keeper looked unwise. Would a fully fit Wade have saved the third goal to keep the Bulls in the game for a longer period? It is at least possible as Wade has been in good form. On the bench having Campbell who is a fringe player who has been unable to force his way into the team seemed superfluous. Gowling has gambled on no keeper on the bench many times, today the gamble failed.

For the third team in six games Hereford conceded three goals. Teams are playing in behind the Hereford backline knowing that if they do it enough times goals will come. Last season the defence was the most consistent part of the team. The Bulls urgently need to tighten up at the back.