On the bench Barnett got a well earned rest, Campbell, Derricott, and Holmes joined keeper Osment. Peterborough Sports brought 14 fans in the crowd of 1,644. The Turbines started brightly and remained on the front foot throughout the game always looking the more likely as Hereford laboured. Neat triangles on the right with Sembie-Ferris and Williams Lowe prominent saw the men in blue getting forward and firing in crosses.
Referee Rogers impressed. Too often officials in this division allow fouls to go unpunished early on to let the game flow or keep players on the pitch. Rogers booked the Turbines’ Bazeley for a tactical clip on McLean. He then booked Pinchard for a high challenge. Both offences could have been let go but his correct application of the rules kept the game flowing with the Cambridgeshire men playing the better.
Hereford were disjointed and offering little. Sports played in some long balls behind the Bulls high line which caught out the back four. Keeper Crook found Jones who killed the ball beautifully and it was only a superb lunging challenge from Pendley which saw the situation rescued. Wade’s handling was not to his usual standard getting away a couple of times with saves when a Peterborough predator might have pounced.
Hereford responded with a long ball to Storey, Miles firing over when he should have hit the target. A fine move from Peterborough saw them all set to score and with the ball arcing in Amadi-Holloway lunged acrobatically as the ball seemed set to cross the goal line. He hit the ball athletically over the bar from an almost impossible angle. Aaron again impressed for the Bulls.
Many Bulls had a poor half. Caton failed to take the chance to impress with several miscued passes, a corner which failed to beat the first man and he was replaced with Barnett at half time. Hereford then had their best chance. Hanson won the ball on the edge of the box, he nicked the ball and jinked past two defenders looking all set for a Ricky Villa he decided to pull back his shot to the near post side, but Crook read it and made a fine save with his legs. Jethro kept winning possession passing it simply only to see a teammate give it away and he was back to work again clearing up others errors.
However Sports pressed better and saw crosses fly across the Bulls box inviting a finish. On the hour McLean was replaced with Holmes. The Bulls were regularly losing possession. Barnett uncharacteristically was casual up front and the ball worked towards the Blackfriars end. Hanson won possession back but then I think he played a back pass to Wade who was pressed hard and quick by McCammon. Brad opted to kick the ball but it hit McCammon and he stabbed the ball home. Just like at Kettering an unnecessary back pass saw the Bulls concede.
The Bulls attacked and Barnett fed Pinchard who near the penalty spot opted for power over placement and shot over when he should have scored.
Peterborough put their block together well but played the game in a good spirit and did not opt for the gamesmanship which so often spoils games. Holmes failed to make an impact and was rightly booked for a late tackle.
Hereford I think failed to force a corner for the whole of the second half and relied on Luke’s long throws to get into the box. Derricott came on for Amadi-Holloway. Hereford’s last good chance came courtesy of Barnett. Played through between the Sports centre backs they squeezed to narrow Tyrone down and getting the necessary nick from captain Johnson he went down to win a free kick in a prime central position. Johnson was booked for the tactical foul. Pinchard strode up but fired comfortably over.
The sponsors man of the match was Rowe. He started trying to attack but quickly found his hands full and mostly concentrated on defensive duties. Jack Evans rampaging was sorely missed. Similarly the organisation and cohesion Hodgkiss brings saw a far less cohesive team. His constant barking and bringing together was not replicated. In the second half especially Sports were shouting and sorting each other out. Hereford were a bit Simon and Garfunkel with the Sound of Silence.
Sports like Telford and Kettering were content to press so that often Hereford’s only out ball was a long punt from Pendley who they were content to leave in possession. It created a goal at Curzon but teams seem to realise that a ball down the inside right channel is coming and prepare for it and easily regain possession.
Maybe it is the curse of Josh winning manager of the month for October as there have been no fireworks in November. It is worrying that two war horses Amadi-Holloway and Barnett both at times seem to tire. If either got injured the Bulls would be in trouble as they have been two of the best players so far this season.
Amadi-Holloway is a favourite of mine and a driving run up the pitch in the first half showed more enterprise in a moment than some of his colleagues did in the whole half. It was almost as if he became frustrated with the dross he observed in front of him. The best player on the pitch was Sembie-Ferris a constant danger down the right and he created many opportunities. Too many players Gowling has brought to the club seem unable to turn in consistent performances and an inability to work the keeper enough.
At the end there was widespread booing and much shrugging. Supporters who usually stay whatever to applaud the team for their efforts opted to slip away. Kettering was bad. Telford were by far the poorest team I have seen this season and the grinding, horrible victory the worst since the Bulls won at Gloucester and it was so bad Richards was sacked. Gowling has one of the best budgets in the division with the biggest average crowds but the way he talks it appears that he has always maxed out the credit card on the budget. With the club making six figure losses in recent seasons it is hard to see how more players can be brought in. The worry is that this performance was not a blip but part of the consistent inconsistency of good players who cannot regularly deliver and get a nosebleed whenever the possibility of getting involved with the promotion places appears.
The game will be quickly forgotten but a little history was made as I think this was the first time the Bulls have lined up with black players in all the defensive positions.