A salute to the dawn raiders. The thirty, maybe forty Bulls fans who woke their families up as they got up to head to a crowd of 898 in Norfolk. Hardcore. Amadi-Holloway was still ill and Pinchard was unwell. The Bulls lined up with Eve, Melhado, Haines (c), Thompson, Evans; Hanson; Holmes, Thompson-Sommers, Rus, Storey; Barnett. On the bench were Pendley, Campbell, Rowe, Dinanga, Latty-Fairweather. Kings Lynn fans complained they had four injuries, Hereford fans explained they had a whole team unavailable.
Melhado started well crossing to Barnett whose header was cleared. Hereford looked dangerous down the right with Holmes, KTS and Delhado combining well. Kings Lynn were miscuing after their big cup game against Stevenage they had a form hangover. The slight figure of Rus showed good control and a Waddlesque preparedness to run with the ball at defenders. Clattered early on referee Bancroft bottled booking. Rus gave back a little but was tackled strongly throughout and won fouls.
From the free kick Holmes put it on target but P Jones saved. The game was being mostly played in the Kings Lynn half and KTS yet again won possession. He crossed and it was half cleared with A Jones mis-timing his header. He got under it and the ball ballooned up high in the sky dropping to Barnett just outside the six yard box. Ty killed it and kicked hard across Jones to score. Barnett was in an amazing amount of space, a combination of his game intelligence and a Lynn side who were off the pace.
Lynn kissed a golden chance goodbye on twenty minutes. A precise ball down the inside right channel from Barrett saw the Bulls defence exposed and Eve dashed out to narrow the angle. A superb recovery from Thompson saw him stretch and clear the ball but it ran across to Hargreaves’s who with two thirds of the net wide open, under little pressure, just needed to side foot and score. Pulling it wide left epitomised the Linnets not being at the races.
When Aaron Jones took out Rus running at his defence. He was booked, but he should have been carded for his first foul on Rus. Thompson-Sommers was winning lots of ball in midfield and he was booked for a tactical foul on Scott. KTS winning the ball high up was helping Hereford and the Bulls went in deserving their lead.
Linnets manger Widdrington changed it around at half time. A Jones normally a full back had been poor and he reverted to right back. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain was switched from right back to midfield. A manager addressing his selection error and Lynn looked better. Kings Lynn clearly fired up came and gave it a good go but the Bulls weathered the storm. Widdrington went for fresh legs putting Charles on up front and taking off Callan-McFaddan.
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| Chance For Holmes But He Skied It |
The Bulls did not recognise the danger. Captain Clunan saw a lack of Bulls focus. Calling Barrett for a short corner which was not picked up by the defence. A quick one-two and Barrett fired across towards the near post with Charles ghosting in unchallenged to convert with what I think was his first touch. The crowd lifted and the match swung. Lynn now looked the most likely and Eve made an excellent save with the Blues convinced the ball had crossed the line but Dale somehow clawed it back. Pendley came on for Holmes and soon after Latty-Fairweather played at right back with Melhado off.
Hereford broke well through Storey and with Evans having bust a lung it was a pity Miles over hit a pass which should have seen a far post tap in. Most of the game was being played in Hereford’s half and a volley from Hargreaves on the right into a crowd of bodies was diverted in by Thompson.
Dinanga came on for Rus. Oxlade-Chamberlain was carded for a tactical foul. Lynn took time with Walker replacing Barrett and efficiently saw out the game.
A frustrating day. Lynn were off colour and the Bulls could have won and should have at least got a draw. Many positives. Holmes probably had his best half for the Bulls. A threat down the right he also tucked in as Hereford switched between three and four at the back. His defensive work augurs well. He was more tightly marked in the second half a mark of respect. He also seemed to tire badly scuffing a simple chance laid on by Tyrone in the middle of the box.
James Melhado impressed. At times he was marking man mountain Gold Omotayo six foot four of centre forward. Although James was slighter he handled the bigger man more comfortably than some of the centre backs Josh has signed. His pace for recovery and attacker brought to mind Kyle Walker. If the man called Delhado wants to sign, the Bulls should say yes.
A pity that Thompson conceded an own goal this was probably his best game. Good defensive work, and probing passing.
A month ago Hereford would not have scored their goal. Thompson-Sommers won the ball higher up the field consistently and it was high press which forced the defensive error. He faded a little towards the end but had been particularly influential in the first half.
Why would you want to stay at home for Portugal v Switzerland on Tuesday night. Come and see the exciting Marcus Rus. Great balance and feet, he reminded me a little of young Kevin Sheedy. He will entertain you.
Hereford showed poor game management. Cruising in the first half an on top they failed to get a second goal whilst on top. There was some impressively managed time wasting but this was the high risk option. Against Telford clinging to a single goal saw McLean sent off and forced to miss three games during an injury crisis. An unforced error. It was over confident to think that a single goal would be enough against Lynn. The idea they would be as poor in the second half as they were in the first was naive.
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| Jack Evans With A Shot Late In The Game |
Shooting. Lots of efforts, high, wide and handsome the Bulls need to work the keeper more.
Lynn’s first goal turned the game. Delhado shepherded out the ball as it seemed to have come off a blue shirt. Haines appealed to the referee rather than getting Delhado and Holmes organised. The Linnets saw this and took advantage of the failure to play to the whistle.
Kings Lynn were poor in the first half. Manager Widdrington impressively turned them around. Players like Scott had been poor but improved with constant encouragement. By the end they were comfortably on top and this ability to pull themselves together when below par must see them strongly favoured for automatic promotion.
Talking to Linnets fans they said the club did not have enough money to compete in the National League. A warning to Hereford that if they do get promoted they will need a war chest to compete.