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So, although it’s an away draw and a bit of a scuzzy trip, given the level of the opposition it’s still a good opportunity to get through to the final ‘non-league’ round before Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday enter the fray.
After a busy week on National League North duty, during which time not a lot has been conclusively proved in terms of the Bulls’ rate of progress, the squad is reeling somewhat after picking up a number of injuries and illnesses before and during the Leamington game.
Jared Hodgkiss could be out for a while with something that sounded worryingly kneeish. With that presumably leaving Thierry Latty Fairweather and Jack Evans, two big hits so far this season, as the full backs, the captain’s absence may not be so keenly felt.
More worryingly in terms of a lack of cover, and also in that he was looking like another good Josh Gowling acquisition, new centre back Jordan Thompson also came off on Tuesday. His injury didn’t sound as serious as the skipper’s, but if he has to sit this one out several solutions exist. Zak Lilly could slot back in if he’s recovered from illness, Orrin Pendley could be brought back from Coalville, where he’s been sent to save some money, Mark Derricott could be brought in to make his debut, allowing him to get up and running against ‘lesser’ opponents, or Aaron Amadi-Holloway could fill in again as he did for the last ten minutes against Leamington. If the latter option is chosen, it’s not immediately obvious why AAH would get through 90 minutes as a defender when he can’t as an attacker. I suppose you don’t have to run about as much. Of those options, I’d personally love to see young Mark given a go alongside Luke Haines, who will presumably take the armband here.
In midfield, Jethro Hanson continues to become more and more assertive and influential, and you’d like to think that this will allow the likes of Ryan Lloyd and Harry Pinchard the freedom to break through the lines of their lower-graded opponents, for Ryan McLean to fly round the outside of them, and for Jack Holmes to do that insane dribbly thing he does to make them dizzy.
The lone attacker will presumably be Big Ty again unless he drops into defence and AAH plays up top, although this will be three games in eight days for the Edgar Street Lion, so he might be panting a bit.
Dino Visser should continue in goal, and has looked quite accomplished so far, although if I were him I wouldn’t walk under any ladders at the moment given that being Hereford FC’s goalkeeper is currently a bit like being Spinal Tap’s drummer in terms of ill-fatedness.
Three Bridges only seem to have played four league matches this season, with the majority of their games so far being in the Cup or the Trophy. They’ve won two at home and lost two away, leaving them in 12th place.
Their tight Jubilee Field ground has a capacity of 1500, which works out at about 500 people per bridge by my calculations, and is the sort of place that suits an upset. The BBC’s cameras will presumably be all over it like vultures.
For a bit of context, this is the furthest the club has ever been in the FA Cup. They beat higher-graded Lewes 4-0 in a replay in the previous round. You’d have to imagine then that they’ll be very, very up for it.
Youngster Cam Lawson, who was described encouragingly as ‘a middle-aged lesbian’ on Google until I realised I was looking at the wrong person, scored a couple in that game, with top scorer and centre forward Kieron Pamment also grabbing one, with six of his eight goals this season coming in the Cup. Captain and central midfielder Brannon O’Neill, now in his fifth season with the club, will be attempting to stem the tide of total football from the big-name visitors.
Scenes of ‘unbridled joy’ were reported at the Jubilee Field after that Lewes rout, and that sort of thing’s always followed by coming down to earth with a bump, so supporters can surely travel optimistically. However, with a midfielder and centre forward conceivably playing as central defenders, it would be foolish to assume it’ll be cigars and flip-flops territory.
It’s Boston away next, and after a slow start they’re now flying under new manager Ian Culverhouse’s experienced tutelage. In preparation for that stiff test, any sort of win here will do as long as it isn’t accompanied by further injury or illness.
COYW