Bright Bulls Fade to Defeat

On a mild, dry, bright day Hereford welcomed Banbury whose fans probably have the worst reputation in the division. They were met with an increased police presence. The Bulls kept the same defence Visser, Andoh, Pendley, Amadi-Holloway, Evans, captain Lloyd was the base of the diamond KTS on the right and McLean on the left. Jarvis made his home debut just behind new loanee Oppong.

Colin Oppong

On the bench were Hodgkiss, Lilly, Hanson, Klukowski and Holmes. Jethro has had a good run in the team but a fully fit Lloyd has to be first choice. The crowd was 1,713 with 88 from Oxfordshire.

Both sides played good football and the Bulls gradually got on top. New boy Oppong looked lively and Banbury defenders took turns to grapple with him and pull his shirt. He made several good runs on the right one resulted in him stumbling under a challenge as he entered the box, with no penalty awarded. 

Banbury won a central free kick which the returning Gordon struck sweetly. It dipped over the wall heading down low just inside the post. Visser impressively clutched the ball. 

Banbury looked happy with a point taking their time with every foul giving an opportunity to stay down and waste seconds. Referee Gavillucci was letting a lot go. The game flowed more but there were some chunky challenges which should have been carded.

McLean won a foul deep on the left. Pinchard crossed to the back post and Oppong tangled with a defender the ball dropping on the edge of the six yard box. Amadi-Holloway struck quickly and fired home. The Bulls fully deserving their lead. 

Jarvis was not as influential as at Buxton. However, he made one silky run slipping the ball past defenders and as he approached the box struck across the keeper, only to shoot narrowly wide of the far post.

The returning Hickman had a torrid time as Pinchard, Jarvis, and Evans repeatedly combined on the left. Manager Whing took him off before half time. He recognised his team was being over run and Hickman was being outplayed, switching his defence to five at the back. Whing realised that he needed to stop the second goal the Bulls play deserved.

At half time the worry was whether Hereford could play as well again in the second half. Yet it was unfounded and the Bulls were bright and in control. Evans was marauding down the left and turning sharply back inside he fooled Stevens who came in late and heavily on Jack’s ankle. Jack cried out in agony, fell to the floor and cried he was clearly in serious pain. After lengthy treatment he hobbled around the Len Weston and Meadow End receiving strong applause for a crowd favourite. Blocks A and B rose to the man who must surely be young player of the year and in with a strong chance of player of the year.

Referee Gavillucci was heavily responsible for this nasty, unnecessary injury. He had declined earlier opportunities to book and even when he advised Banbury he knew what they were doing he took no action. Allowing late, heavy challenges could have caused a career ending injury. Once behind Banbury stopped their timewasting. Hopefully Hereford will give Gavillucci a poor mark.

Hodgkiss came on taking the armband off Lloyd and playing at left back. Banbury brought Babos on and the game changed. Banbury flooded midfield going to three at the back. They had five and sometimes six players across the middle and started to force the Bulls back. They overloaded on the left with KTS and Andoh regularly trying to combat three attackers. A cross from the left was not cleared and fell to Babos who poked it home as Amadi-Holloway desperately tried to block.

Banbury had control. Youngster Johnson was bossing the centre of the park. Carrying the ball forward at speed and pinging early crisp balls to the flanks the Stockport loanee was Fodenesque. Another raid down the wing was stopped at the expense of a foul. Stevens clipped the ball and veteran defender Langmead headed home, the game having turned on its head in five minutes.

The Bulls laboured. The Meadow End had been in good voice. Growing restless many but not all of the singers called for Gowling to go. Holmes came on for Jarvis. Jarvis made a fine debut at Buxton but showed less flashes against Banbury. He has a superb touch and clever movement which promises much when he is fully fit. Debutant Oppong faded in the second half and it shows the gulf between reserve football and National League North. Overall Banbury looked fitter. Banbury went back to time-wasting mode with AcQuaye booked for throwing the ball away.

Pinchard’s corner from the left was not cleared and it fell to Pendley. He was facing away from goal yet somehow trapped the ball between his legs and somehow shuffled the ball over the line to equalise. Another clever piece of magical finishing from Poacher Pendley. 

The game was back on with the lively AcQuaye more influential down the left as the game went on. He surged forward and fed Gordon who fired in low at the near post.

Visser had it covered and could easily have pushed it out for a corner, but he tried to catch it and failed to do spilling the ball back out for Langmead to slot into the empty net. Visser has played well and one of his strengths is catching shots that might be pushed away but here his strength was a weakness. He has been in fine form and this was an unfortunate blip. Gowling brought on Lilly for Pinchard. Zak went to the back and Amadi-Holloway went up front. The Bulls tried but lost. Last week they completed their first double, this week they were on the other end as Banbury completed the double against Hereford for the first time in their history.

The sponsors man of the match was Pendley another fine goal and he marshalled Gordon well throughout. The best player on the pitch was Golding the Irish youth international on loan from Oxford United. He showed flexibility playing in midfield, as a wing back and at right back at different stages of the game. He carried the ball forward well with one notable long carry of possession. He forced Hereford’s attackers on to their weaker feet and defended well.

Hereford should not have lost this game they were the better team for most of the game but could not score the goals their play deserved. When Whing changed things Gowling did not react quickly enough and allowed the Puritans back into the game. His post match interview blamed his players yet he does not acknowledge his own errors. Supporters were surprised when Hodgkiss came on. Most expected Lloyd to go to left back a position he was played exceptionally well in previously to keep the balance of the team. Hanson would have gone to the base of the diamond.

Captain Jared looked fit but when the Bulls were attacking several times he was forced back to get the ball on to his right foot and cross, allowing vital seconds for the Banbury defence to reorganise. When he did try to cross with his left foot the results were disappointing. A square peg in a round hole.This was a highly entertaining match with much good football from the Bulls that they should have got at least a point from.