An overview on U18 Community progress by Simon Wright
This was Radio Hereford’s third U18 visit to Lye Town FC. The first was a dispiriting 5-0 defeat, the second an 8-0 victory with debutant Harrison Summers scoring a late hat trick. This time, who knew?
The Hereford squad were a little short in numbers due to holidays, suspensions and illness. Still, 12 players rolled up which is one more than at Dudley Town. Our six ever presents were all counted in which provided a familiar structure and happily with nearly all of them not yet 17, they will be with us next season as well.
Wide man Charlie Jenkins put Hereford ahead after ten minutes. One of those swirling free kicks which somehow eludes the massed ranks in the goalmouth and finds the net. Lye tried to up their game but found a Hereford team in determined mood all over the pitch. In goal, Atkinson was in top form, alert to all danger, perhaps buoyed up by being involved in the warm-up for the Blyth Spartans game.
An early injury meant a second ever outing for substitute Jacob Martin, who happily slotted into the back line like a veteran alongside Will Morris in his third game. Hereford were keeping possession (as best they could on a badly sprung trampoline of a pitch) and consistently made accurate passes. The Fliers were all too often being grounded.
Teddy Mee added a second after 31 minutes, a peach of a goal, curving the ball around the goalkeeper into the top right-hand corner from outside the box. Any first teamer would be proud of that effort. “Who scored? Mee!” was dusted off again by the broadcasters. Hard to imagine that Teddy used to play rugby for Luctonians.
All over the pitch, young Hereford were excelling, working hard for each other. Full back Jackson Thomas in his second game (thanks to the Welsh FA for the delay) and a winger by instinct, subdued Lye’s dangerous No 10 Walters so much that he was taken off. Rory Thompson, Adam Lewis and Cameron Davies charged forward at every opportunity. In one memorable run, sixth form college student Lewis ran half the length of the pitch, taking on four opponents and secured a corner. Both Davies and the well-built Arthur Bell battled with great determination for 90 minutes in a soggy midfield area. In their frustration, the home midfield regularly brought down Davies.
Although Lye did their best to break through and threw young men forward, they could do no better in the second half than hitting the side netting. With their sharp and regular counter attacks, Hereford were unlucky not to score again, especially Mee who’d held off two defenders only to see his shot tipped around the post. But 2-0 it finished. Mee is now the team top scorer with 2 goals. Early days.
Next Game: Home to Stourport Swifts FC at Wellington FC on November 2 at 19.45. Radio Hereford FC aren’t covering this game. Hopefully HFC Community Twitter will provide updates
Hereford team: Atkinson, Jackson Thomas, Lewis, Morris, Bennett, Thompson, Jenkins, Davies, Johnston, Bell, Mee: Rolling Sub Martin