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| Jack Holmes On His Debut For Hereford |
It felt like the last day of summer even though we’re now in autumn. An encouraging crowd of 1904 attended with 17 from north of Newcastle. Budgetary needs saw players go out so players could come in and before 10 games have been played over 20 different players have been selected. Debutant Visser was the fourth different keeper in five games.
Captain Hodgkiss is one of the few definite starters at right back. Latty-Fairweather continued at left back. Luke Haines had his third partner in central defence with Thompson starting his first game.
Lloyd is another of the few deemed a fairly certain starter in defensive midfield with Hanson. Up front it was change again. New boy Jack Holmes went into the hole. Pinchard moved out to the left with McLean on the right and Barnett up front completing the half of the team which could be considered regulars.
On the bench were Lilly, Amadi-Holloway, Storey, Klukowski and Caton. The first half was very open with Blyth creating the better opportunities and Visser showing his virtues. Hereford created for McLean but the ball would not quite run. Hereford had a little more of the game but it was marginal, Pinchard getting joy down the left with his sweet feet. However, Hereford struggled to outwit Blyth’s offside trap.
Gradually the game got stuck in midfield and there was a lack of quality with heavy touches and misplaced passes. Hereford finally broke the deadlock when quick work by Lloyd fed Latty-Fairweather an inviting pass he cut inside towards the left corner of the box and unleashed a vicious dipping, swerving shot which seemed to catch keeper Mitchell (an Annan Athletic legend) by surprise. The shot was going in but easily savable and the movement on the ball seemed to mean that he had got there too soon and instead of pushing it round the post for a corner he palmed it towards the penalty spot.
Jack Holmes was on his toes, indeed this was just like TOE and stroked home. What joy it was to see Hereford score a tap in.
Hereford got on top but we’re still disjointed, Pinchard broke well down the left but his inviting cross was voided by referee Scholes’s whistle with both McLean and Barnett over running and being far too easily offside.
Haines was booked on the edge of half time for a tactical foul on Main when he knew he could not win the race. Early in the second half Luke hit a shot high and wide which was in keeping with the variable quality on offer. Blyth looked the more likely and Hereford needed fresh legs it seemed to liven things up. Blyth changed their options with Evans on for Richardson and then Scott on for Main. Finally with less than twenty minutes left Storey came on for Barnett. With the tough, physical prospect of Leamington on Tuesday full use of the squad seemed sensible.
Blyth were pushing more and more for an equaliser leaving more space at the back. Long balls were troubling the Northumbrians and McLean had two good opportunities. Visser was releasing the ball quickly and creating more chances than some of the midfielders. A long kick down the right. Ryan took the ball on but had a defender and the keeper to deal with. It seemed a harder opportunity than the two he had just spurned. Yet Ryan loves to take a ball on with his turbochargers , draw the keeper and slide across into the far side netting. Sometimes he makes it look so easy and this was the highest quality moment of the game.
Josh decided that was game over taking off McLean for Caton. Amadi-Holloway then replaced Pinchard. Aaron soon proved a handful with his strength and shrewd laying off of the ball. Blyth did not wise up to the danger and the big man played his role to perfection rolling the defence and laying the ball down the right wing to Holmes who ran on and crossed to the far side for Caton in a very comfortable amount of time and space to sweep home.
Blyth were gone. A sweeping move saw Caton down the left present Miles with a straight forward scoring opportunity which he so badly miscued it went for a throw in. Another for the collection of Miles’s memorable misses. Storey for the second time in a week saw his introduction of vim and vigour help to create goals.
By the end Hereford should have won by more than three goals. An optimist would say that with three debutants and constant changes the team showed they could come together. However, Hereford are Blyth’s bogey team with the Bulls almost always winning and usually scoring three. Blyth did not have the physical presence, nous or nastiness of so many in the National League North. They were gentlemen and scholars of the game allowing smaller players like Holmes, Pinchard and McLean to show their skills.
I like Blyth it is a great away day and they try to play football the right way but they were the poorest team the Bulls have played so far and the difference in the quality of players meant the Bulls should at least have gone nap. Just like last season goal difference is already in need of improvement. Of the new players Visser made good saves and in the second half he was instrumental in deconstructing Blyth’s offside trap. Thompson was fine but he will be better judged after the lummocks of Leamington on Tuesday. Jack Holmes showed the confidence and brio of a player used to playing winning football.
Jack’s goal was simple, his assist better and his progressive play with some neat control and lay offs earning him the man of the match. Can Jack, Harry and Ryan do the dance of the diddymen against the giants of this division? If they can some fine football could be seen.