Super Luke Is Fantastic, Chester Are Atrocious

OK Chester weren't that bad but they did try to cheat! Luke Haines' sumptuous screamer which clinched the match late on is the sort of goal that you want to see again and again from as many angles as possible. A goal to celebrate alongside the first win of the season. The scorcher needs to be lauded watch it when you can!

Hereford's first eleven was unchanged with Wade; Hodgkiss (c), Haines, Lilly, Evans; Thompson-Sommers, Lloyd; McLean, Pinchard, Storey; Barnett. On the bench were Amadi-Holloway, Hanson, Pendley, Klukowski, Latty-Fairweather.

A refreshing summer evening with several different types of cloud in the sky was ideal for football with no need for drinks breaks in front of 2,237 fans. Luke Haines was robbed by striker Dudley just by the half way line in the first minute and as the Chester striker threatened to break free, Haines fouled him. Although it was the first minute referee Baines did not hesitate to book the Bull. The game ebbed and flowed before Lloyd picked out a glorious ball between the centre backs into the path of McLean. Ryan broke free but Everton loanee Tyrer was quickly off his line and forced him wide when he appeared to have an opportunity to fire in a shot. Ryan passed to Storey and Miles effort was deflected for a corner.

Chester then got on top and troubled the Hereford defence, a diagonal ball from Willoughby set Dudley free but Brad was quickly off his line, made himself large and saved with his foot at the expense of a corner. Chester were at times pushing four players up against the Hereford backline. Bermudan winger Hall targetted Hodgkiss and with a five inch height advantage the Blues kept putting long balls towards him. Haines at times read the danger and came across to head away but this left gaps in the middle. On the right Chester's man of the match Coates overlapped from full back and also defended well. Hereford got more joy down the right in both halves. Reserve left back Heywood had a poor game and over hit one corner so far it almost landed at the far corner flag.

Jack Evans struggled to find his range and a badly under hit pass left Thompson-Sommers stretching and he gave away a foul in a dangerous place, receiving a clear warning from the referee. Chester captain Weeks curled in a delicious ball behind the defensive line finding Hall free at the far post and thankfully he headed wide when anything on target would surely have scored.

Evans redoubled his efforts getting touch tight on Willoughby. He then pushed Willoughby slightly and the Chester player fell over theatrically and rolled around mysteriously clutching his calf. Referee Baines came over and laughed at the effort to get Jack booked, but a booking for the simulation was more appropriate than the knowing smile. Willoughby received stick from the Bulls fans for the rest of the game.

Good work from Hodgkiss on the right found McLean in space and he fired off a shot but it was at a comfortable height and too close to Tyrer who saved easily. Quick passing from Chester fed Dudley about to break through on the half way line and Thompson-Sommers read the danger and tactically fouled, having been warned earlier he was booked. 

From the free kick Chester worked the ball up the left and Weeks then cut back inside and curled a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the post. A minute later Willoughby broke the Hereford offside trap and speedster Hall ran free and charged into the left of the box. Hodgkiss raced back and jockeyed him but did not dive in and Hall had too heavy a touch. Going towards the touchline he fell to the floor. Referee Baines came over and clearly indicated that there was no foul, so Hall had dived. Again, the referee made the right decision that a Chester player had simulated, but Baines bottled the booking which should have been given. It was disappointing to see new Chester manager Calum McIntyre has a culture where his forward players crudely try to deceive the man in black. In his post match interview when asked if there was a penalty he did a Wenger and said he did not see it and would like to look at the video!

Ryan McLean Ensures The Linesman Flags For A Corner

At half time Chester were unlucky to not be ahead, they had the better of the play and the best chances. Their cute physicality was winning the right to play more with Pinchard having an uncharacteristically quiet half. 

Josh must have said something at half time as Hereford came out more combative and started to win the majority of the 50-50s. Pinchard became increasingly influential, finding more space as players tired. Chester took off the lively Dudley and his replacement Stephenson was less effective. Lloyd went off for Hanson and then Barnett was replaced by Amadi-Holloway. Tyrone has quickly become a fans favourite with most of the 350 Bulls fans rising to applaud him off. Barnett is such an effective defender at one stage when Hereford were under the cosh he popped up at right back, and Hereford look so much more secure with his presence at corners.

Losing the two experienced players Hereford struggled to reorganise and Chester had their best period of the half starting to get on top again. Coates produced his best pass of the evening to put in Willoughby but Wade again was smartly out and saved well. Chester took off Devine and brought on Lynch.

McLean wriggled free on the left, cut inside and fired into the side netting. Substitute Lynch hit a hopeful shot from distance which appeared to catch Wade a little by surprise but he quickly reacted to tip over. Willoughby then appeared to be on the verge of breaking free so Lilly tactically fouled him. That was the third shrewd foul at the expensive of a booking for a Hereford player, a level of game intelligence which was not apparent early on last season.

The game appeared to be heading towards stalemate. Storey combined well with Hodgkiss on the right, Miles then cut inside Heywood and approaching the box fired off a shot. A Chester defender blocked it and the ball ballooned up and looped towards the far top corner. It was just dropping in, but Tyrer back pedalled quickly and desperately flailing just pawed the ball away to his right.

The ball did not go out trickling along the line, McLean seized on it and the ball was recycled. Chester reorganised expecting the cross but Hereford worked the ball back across to an advancing Luke Haines. As it came to him thirty or was it thirty five yards out, let's add to the Luke legend of laser shots, you knew what he was going to do but the purity of the technique produces awe. He strode on to the ball and took back that hammer of a right foot and launched his howitzer through the crowded box and high into the back of the right net. A goal worthy of winning any game with no chance for the keeper.

Chester poured forward and at every dead ball all ten outfield Hereford players came back so when they half cleared there was nobody to break free. Several Bulls fans queried whether McLean would be better as an outlet with his limited defensive heading. Star man Coates put in a dangerous cross and Chester had two strikes the second going wide. Keeper Tyrer came up for a corner and Pendley came on for Pinchard to help in defence.

Redemption for Luke from an own goal on Saturday to the goal scoring hero, considering he was on a booking for over ninety minutes his was a fine game. Amadi-Holloway did nothing of note in the short time he was on the pitch. Thompson-Sommers had a fine game and became stronger as the game went on. He reminds me a little of Gavin Mahon in his excellent engine and game intelligence beyond his years. He played one superb diagonal ball between two Chester players through to McLean which was inch perfect and only a brave player would have tried. Some of his passing is so crisp and sharp it slightly tested some of his team mates control. In the second half when a Chester attacker broke free on the left, Kane appeared from nowhere seemingly making up immense ground winning the ball cleanly and coming away with it. It is to be hoped he has a multi-season contract.

Brad Wade Kept A Clean Sheet

Man of the match was Wade. He made several sharp saves, but his positioning and ability to come out quickly improves the side. His distribution was top class, passing out to begin with and then when Hereford pushed up pinging quality balls up the flanks. There was one quick throw out to Storey which immediately turned the game around and saw Hereford rampaging into their opponents half. When Hereford needed to take a little pace off the game he slowed the game down. Those games at Guiseley have clearly taught taught him some of the nous needed in National League North. Former fans favourite Ollie Kearns had a goalkeeping brother Mick at Walsall who once said his trick was to be able to run so slowly that he could walk quicker and referees did not call him out. Brad must have been looked at some vintage videos with his high stepping slow motion sprints. Hereford could easily have lost this game and Brad's stops allowed them to take the three points.

Walking away two Chester fans were discussing how Hereford had had the better of the second half with their crisp passing and extra physicality. Outplayed and outmuscled that's the way in the NL North!