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| Latty-Fairweather Scores For Hereford |
On a cold night it’s a bitter wind blowing from the Meadow End Hereford entertained Chester with 1,639 tempted away from free football on the telly. There was a minute’s applause commemorating the life of John Motson.
A disappointing 148 travelling south. Chester are flying. If the Bulls had similar form there would be twice or probably three times Whites fans travelling in reverse.
Hereford went unchanged for three wins in a row. Visser, Andoh, Pendley, Amadi-Holloway, Latty-Fairweather; Hanson, Lloyd (c); McLean, Thompson-Sommers, Holmes; Barnett. On the bench were Pinchard, Storey, Klukowski, Campbell and new signing Livermore. Chester opened brightly and took control of the game. They passed crisply, pressed hard and created the best early chances.
Caton got down the left and shot across Visser who saved but pushed out to top scorer Willoughby who shot wide when it seemed easier to score.
Hereford went back to “normal” mode. Pleasing football, advancing into the last third but a lack of penetration and an inability to get strikes on target.
Latty- Fairweather Might Have Scored With Just The Keeper To Beat
Chester looked sharper, fresher and better organised. Epitomised by Leo Sayer lookalike Iwan Murray the smallest player to grace Edgar Street this season. Yet he pressed, ran hard and passed precisely on the left side of midfield. A pass from him fed Morgan who beat Latty-Fairweather and squared to Willoughby who fired over from close range, a shocking miss. The referee gave offside but this appeared to be a misjudgement by the linesman.
On the half hour a clash of heads between Hughes and Amadi-Holloway saw a lengthy break. Aaron having to leave the pitch for treatment.
Lloyd temporarily dropping back to centre back. Warrior Aaron returned with a bandaged head. Chester continued to have the better of the game. The Bulls finished the half with shots from Latty-Fairweather and Andoh going wide.
The Bulls were fortunate to go in level at half time. Hereford played well in the first two thirds of the pitch but Chester demonstrated the way to turn possession into chances. Chester came back out and mixed things up with more longer balls to try and unlock the Bulls defence.
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| Jack Holmes Tried His Luck From 18 Yards Out |
They then returned to their passing game working down the right Captain Weeks getting to the byline and crossing deep for an unmarked Caton beyond the far post to head back across and in. Yet again Weeks impressed getting the best of the game in the middle of the park and giving Lloyd especially a difficult evening.
Klukowski changed things bringing Storey and Pinchard on for Barnett and Holmes. This seemed a little unfair on Holmes. He produced one impressive junking run into the box and his stabbed shot only just went wide. The Bulls were struggling to get strikes on target. A free kick won 45 yards out created a beautiful goal. KTS paused about taking the kick. Pinchard ran out from the left towards KTS pulling defenders with him. Latty-Fairweather snuck further forward on the left For the second time in three games KTS clipped a precise dead ball into the box.
Latty-Fairweather stretched out his long leg and sublimely controlled the ball. He jinked inside the defender and on the half volley venomously vented his energy on the ball which scorched just inside the far post. An outstanding goal.
Chester brought on Lynch for Hughes. Chester won a corner and Weeks who sent in a series of sweet dead balls did it again. From a good way out Williams headed on to the bar possibly with a deflection. The ball dropped down and Willoughby was first to react and stab home.
Hereford laboured on but Storey was caught offside and the final ball was too often misplaced. As added time started Livermore came on for Hanson. Chester replaced Willoughby with Thomas. By National League North standards Chester did little time wasting and although referee Read might have booked keeper Tyler he chose to not so. Overall the man in black had a fine game.
Amadi-Holloway was selected as man of the match and that was a fine choice. He and Pendley handled danger man Willoughby well forcing him to run the channels. Both Andoh and especially Latty-Fairweather found him troubling. The Bulls did well to keep this a close match against the impressive yellows. The difference between the sides was Willoughby who like John Mills was in the right place at the right time for his twenty fourth goal of the season. Josh Gowling signed over a dozen strikers and none of them achieved the one in two or better which makes teams win close games like tonight. Whoever is manager going forward the Bulls are long overdue a prolific striker.