Edgar Street was a-buzz. Long queues and some even not getting in on time with the desire to secure a FA Cup ticket and to take advantage of the £5 child and adult ticket. The seats were very full with many a youngster seeing the magic of half term football under the lights with 3,240 providing a vibrant atmosphere with the dozen from the Coasters enjoying the opportunity to see a crowd. The high pitched excitement of youth reminds you why you fell in love with the Bulls decades ago.
Another game, another keeper with Dale Eve coming in perhaps to have a run of games up to the Portsmouth match? Captain Jared, Pendley, Amadi-Holloway, and Evans defended. The H-block of Haines and Hanson, behind Holmes, Pinchard and Storey with Tyrone up front. Saturday’s keeper Tyler dropped to the bench with Thompson-Summers, Derricott, Campbell and Caton. Ryan McLean not making the squad with a hamstring strain from the plastic at Bradford.
Hereford started off playing very deeply and Fylde dominated playing a crisp passing game with lots of neat triangles. Hereford were more 4-5-1 than 4-2-3-1. Fylde danger man Haughton cut in from the left parallel to the box and he was challenged by Haines. There didn’t seem much in it but Haughton stopped, asked referee Maskrey for a foul and he was awarded a free kick in a prime position. He forced a dipping shot against the left hand post with Eve beaten, but thankfully the ball ran away from the Fylde players.
Hereford were struggling to get a foothold in the game. A long ball from Pendley down the right almost freed Storey but he was unable to nick the ball between defender and keeper Neal. Hereford were being pressed and a Fylde goal seemed a matter of time. On twenty minutes Eve went to release the ball quickly and Hodgkin barked at him to take his time and slow the game. Hereford needed a breather, they had been doing a lot of chasing. Then out of nothing Hereford took the lead. A simple ball back to centre back Davis was missed, Tyrone pressed and won the ball heading into the box. Davis dived in when he had Neal coming out to help and Tyrone went down for a clear penalty.
Davis was booked. Barnett got up saw Neal dive left and rolled the ball to the other side.
Fylde continued to dominate regarding the goal as a blip. Haughton was finding space all over the pitch and you wondered whether he should be man marked. Thankfully his shots went just wide. However, he continued to try and referee the game and the man in black objected to his moaning and booked him for dissent.
Hereford were showing Fylde great respect playing very deep and giving up a lot of possession. It was as if they were rehearsing for what they might encounter from Portsmouth. The few times they broke they did not have enough supporting players and things broke down. Barnett worked relentlessly but was an isolated figure. Eve dealt well with crosses. The way his arms go up and he stretches to claim high crosses is impressive, like some power action toy with super extension powers.
Haughton broke into the box and under a minimal challenge from Hodgkiss dived with a slow motion stumble. The referee waved away the claim for a penalty and should have booked Haughton again but bottled the decision which would have resulted in a red card.
Perhaps this was on referee Maskrey’s mind when right back Barrett fouled Barnett as he tried to turn. It was worthy of a booking but it could have been a final warning. Hereford were very fortunate to be ahead at the break. They had been outplayed and rarely threatened against the crispest and sharpest passing seen at Edgar Street this season.
Fylde continued to have the better of the game and all their pressure told. Striker Whitehead had looked one of the lesser players in Fylde’s team but he got off a shot which Eve had covered. However, it took a wicked deflection as Amadi-Holloway tried to block it and Eve adjusted got to it but could not quite keep it out and it seemed most likely that the Coasters would go on to win.
Josh though made a clever tactical change. He took off Holmes who had been in and out of the game and brought on Thompson-Sommers. The team went to a back three with Haines taking the central role and Hodgkiss and especially Evans got forward. Thompson-Sommers was impressive finding space and some clever passes which echoed his excellent form at the beginning of the season. Evans was in combative form and when having held the shirt of a Fylde player he added a stab at the ball which clipped them, Jack was booked.
Jack was causing Barrett problems down the left and crossed into the middle of the box. The ball was half cleared by centre back and captain Whitmore but fell to Barnett unmarked ten yards out. He swivelled and smashed it against the trailing legs of the diving Neal. It should have been passed into the net and was a bad miss. Fylde responded with Haughton again firing just wide.
Barnett switched possession across the pitch to Evans heading into the box but he could not quite control it and Barrett nicked it away. Jack was having none of that and won the ball back, but now he was being shepherded towards the touch line and going nowhere. Brainless Barrett came up tight behind Evans and touched Jack’s back. Jack said thank you for the opportunity to fall forward and win the foul. National League North nous. Brainless Barrett forgot he was on a booking, forgot he had just committed a foul, forgot about his team and in anger whacked the ball down the line. Maskrey brought out his yellow card and youngster Barrett was so childish. It was like he was saying you are not going to tell my mum are you?
Innocent Jack jogged away ignoring the trouble. Barrett refused to leave the field, refused to leave via the nearest touch line and dawdled petulantly across the pitch like a primary school pupil, showing no respect for his captain nor manager. Fylde had the better players, but Hereford were a team of men.
The free kick came to nothing but Brainless Barrett had energised the Meadow End as Hereford attacked it. The Bulls pushed on and recycled the ball to Pinchard who was desperately tackled as he went to shoot. The ball came to Haines on the half way line and he fed Hodgkiss who was clear on the right and curled in such an inviting ball. The disorganised man down defence had both Barnett and Pendley unmarked. Orrin had the best opportunity and he soared and flicked his header magnificently in textbook manner down and just inside the far post. When Pendley rises it is a majestic sight and with three goals in four games Predator Pendley poached another goal. The best striker at the club? Certainly the best finisher on chances converted.
Edgar Street erupted and Fylde wilted, bringing on Ligendza for Charman. Hereford played some intelligent keep ball. Barnett who had yet again put another hard grafting, intelligent performance was clattered in the centre circle and it looked nasty as he hobbled off to a standing ovation, but after the game he was posing for selfies with fans underneath Block A so seemed to be fine. Caton came on. Fylde brought on Rowe for Whitehead. Storey could not resist the temptation for a shot and when he should have put it in the car park only just curled it past the far top corner.
A magnificent victory the best entertainment of the season so far. Full time moneybags Fylde threw this game away through their poor mentality. Even when on top in the first half left winger Walker was forever moaning at his team mates that they did not pass to him, or if they did put the ball was not where he wanted it. When Walker got the ball apart from one dangerous cross where Amadi-Holloway and Pendley sandwiched Whitehead his output was poor. A better whinger than a winger and he was substituted early in the second half when Rowley came on. The behaviour of Barrett illustrated the ill discipline that permeates Fylde’s team.
Afterwards manager Taylor looked shell shocked and bewildered at how his team had lost. It is not difficult to analyse why. Hereford showed great respect and defended deep. They took their only real chance and covered each other’s backs. Their players did not moan at each other. Gowling out managed Taylor when he went to three at the back and flooded midfield. Taylor did not react and the game went away. The part timers of Hereford looked fitter at the end than the full time Lancastrians. The better disciplined Bulls did not pick up bookings for dissent nor kicking the ball away.
The sponsors gave man of the match to Barnett and he had another fine game. For me though Amadi-Holloway is a sensational centre back. He’s dominant in the air, has close control to get out of tight spots and fine passing to move the ball with ease. For someone who has not played as a centre back his positional understanding is excellent. All those years of trying to read defenders runs means he knows where to be and what to do.
The biggest crowd in the National League North this season were richly entertained.