Hereford Turn The Screw

On a classic summer day with blue skies white clouds and a light breeze Hereford entertained Buxton for the first time ever. Hereford were unchanged from their midweek win at Chester with Wade; Hodgkiss (c), Haines, Lilly, Evans; Thompson-Sommers, Lloyd; McLean, Pinchard, Storey; Barnett.

There was no reserve keeper on the bench with Amadi-Holloway, Hanson, Pendley, Klukowski and Latty-Fairweather in front of another healthy crowd of 2,225 with 45 from Derbyshire. There was a minute silence for promising young Hereford footballer Kacper Biela who died whilst on holiday. 

Hereford started the better pressing high up and playing a high line with Wade at times offering the ability to be a sweeper keeper. Midway through the half Buxton tried a long shot having noticed how far forward Brad stands but it came to nothing. From front to back Hereford were on the front foot.

Hereford's first chance from Pinchard saw him shoot from the edge of the box, keeper Richardson getting down low to his right and tipping the ball just around the post for a corner which came to nothing. The combative Moult tussled in midfield and then reacted, if referee Lamport was unsure Moult's verbals ensured he talked himself into the book. 

A fine flowing move down the left saw Evans feed to Barnett who drew defenders to him and then laid the ball back out to Storey who got further forward on the wing and pulled the ball back to Tyrone who turned and shot hitting the post, with Buxton clearing the rebound for a Pinchard corner which came to nothing.

Buxton then started to get the better of the play midway through the half. A cross to midfielder Hardy saw him first have an air shot with his right foot and then react to slice wide with his left foot when with a calmer approach he should have hit the target. Buxton tried to target Hodgkiss with long balls in behind to the sharp, lively Clarke.

Thompson-Sommers was booked for a foul. Buxton won a free kick 25 yards out which centre back and captain Newton roasted, Wade did well to tip it around for a corner. Hardy then connected better with a shot which was comfortably saved by Wade. At half time either side could have nicked a lead but level was about right.

In the second half as at Chester the Bulls went up a level and Buxton faded, by the end some of their players looked a little jaded. It was a warmer afternoon with a drinks break and some Hereford players looked shattered but they lasted longer and stronger. 

Good work from Pinchard found Barnett free in the box and he stabbed his shot towards the far corner, beating the keeper but as the ball was about to cross the line Newton made an amazing recovery to clear the ball. Referee Lamport was inconsistent when Pinchard kicked the ball into the net after the whistle had gone and booked him for timewasting. A Buxton player had done the same thing in the first half with no sanction. Barnett was a handful and drew a foul from Moult. The referee had warned Moult after his booking just before half time and clearly gave Moult a final warning. 

The value of Hereford's two speedsters was shown when Barnett played the ball through to McLean. He was clearly onside as Buxton had dropped deep to allow for the pace of Miles on the wing. Surging into the box Ryan was about to shoot when Levi Andoh made a superb saving tackle. Having played for Hereford last season on loan from Ipswich, this was his debut for Buxton in familiar surroundings. 

Thompson-Sommers had his quietest game so far for the Bulls and was substituted for Hanson. The Bulls won a corner taken by Pinchard. Harry's dead balls had been disappointing often failing to beat the first man, but this time he clipped it in sweetly and it skimmed off a head in the centre of the box. Haines pulled out to the back of the box in a disgraceful amount of space and shot. This time a low hard stab, which was deflected into the far corner. After Chester, Hereford fans had been calling on Luke "The Hammer" Haines to shoot from anywhere and everywhere. The lead fully reflected how the half had gone. 

Buxton manager Vermiglio could have taken off several lacklustre players and opted to swap Moult and Diego for Tasdemir and Gilchrist to try and get back into the game. The Bulls remained dominant, a corner was half cleared and Lloyd had his first shot blocked and his second deflected for yet another corner. Buxton finally got into the box and with Gilchrist well placed Evans recovered to make an excellent tackle. This was Jack's best game for the Bulls.

Buxton brought off Greaves for Clarke. Ty Barnett was the sponsors man of the match and when he leaves the pitch Edgar Street rises in appreciation. It's not hard to become a fans favourite, work hard, battle hard, show some skills and knowing he was about to be substituted with the Bulls leading, he wandered over to the left wing so another few seconds were taken off the clock. A master. Storey was also withdrawn after another hard working performance, Latty-Fairweather and Amadi-Holloway (the longest named pair of substitutes in Hereford history?) coming on.

Latty-Fairweather looked lively down the right reinvigorating Hereford against the tiring Bucks. A cross from the right was nodded down by Amadi-Holloway to Pinchard in space on the edge of the box and he hit the ball low and hard with a deflection seeing it into the net. Buxton did not look like getting back into the match and Hereford cruised to three points.

For the second time in a week Hereford appeared to be able to up their physicality after half-time and by the end they looked far fitter than Buxton. The strength and conditioning training of former Bulls striker Danny Carey-Bertram is clearly having a major impact. Several players had good games today the defence looked solid and played a lot of football from the back, patiently at times pulling the press out from Buxton before trying to play through or around. Pinchard again played better after the interval. Lloyd did all those little things that go unnoticed but make all the difference.

Hanson has the same characteristics and from setting up Luke's goal on Tuesday night he again made the team look more solid and both goals came after he came into the game. Were Hereford that superior? Buxton manager Vermiglio in his post match interview said Hereford won the physical battles and turned the screw.

Praise indeed, it is torture to play against this fast, skilful, hard working Hereford side. Give yourself a Bank Holiday treat and come and watch them.