No Fun in the Sun

At last a glorious sunny day, short sleeve weather. Visser had a severe dead leg so Eve returned in goal. The defence was unchanged Hodgkiss (c), Amadi-Holloway, Lilly, and Lawton. Lloyd rotated with Jarvis again coming in to sit with Haines. McLean, Pinchard and Storey behind Barnett. Jarvis, Egan, Hanson, Pendley and Thompson-Sommers were on the bench. Leamington had a bumper Bank Holiday crowd of 968 boosted by 271 from the Shire.

Chance For Miles Storey Was Easily Gathered By The Tall Leamington Keeper

Leamington came out the livelier in the relegation clash and Edwards headed just wide from a corner. The Bulls came into the game and a glorious looping cross to the back post found Barnett who headed for the top corner, Cann leaping to tip around the post. 

Pinchard’s near post corner was flicked on by Amadi-Holloway across the six yard box. Despite there being many Bulls in the box, nobody reacted and there was no-one to tap in at the far post. It’s routines like this which frustrate and explain why Hereford are struggling to score. Clearly in training the team have practised this routine, so why on match day is no player able to take advantage of Harry and Aaron’s perfect execution? It is not as if there was a player lunging and just missing out. Yan will know and must be as frustrated as the fans became during the course of the game.

Leamington were their usual physical selves and started to probe more down the right. Lawton was being isolated and the Brakes won a throw in high on the right. Hereford set up to expect a long throw in but the Brakes fooled the Bulls, Meredith dropping the ball to Perry who tapped back to Meredith who got to the byline unchallenged by Lawton and Lloyd. He pinged a sweet ball towards the penalty spot and former Bulls loanee Hulbert pulled off to find a vast amount of space and glance home giving Eve no chance. Lilly who was marking Hulbert fell over.

Barnett chased a long punt and almost broke free but was squeezed out by the defenders and goalkeeper. 

Storey Was Given A Yellow Card For This Challenge

Miles had an attempt which went over the bar. The Bulls were well in the game but continued their perilous quest to find a goal without success. 

A Claim For A Penalty?

 

Pinchard hit a corner deep to Haines, he rose and nodded down. Barnett pivoted and swung a shot on goal but it bounced off the post. The ball pinged around but no Bull could stab it home before the impressive Cann clasped it.

 

 

Whilst Lawton was being worked hard defensively he looked good going forward. Pinchard pinged a wonderful forty yard pass out to the left wing. Lawton controlled and jockeyed the full back before whipping a quality cross which Storey headed powerfully. Cann threw himself to the right and tipped over the bar, a superb reaction save. 

Hereford had had the better chances but as so often were behind at half time. Defensively they were being worked over a bit and did not look as certain as they usually do. They came out in the second half and continued to play the higher quality football. Lawton was not getting enough support and was booked for fouling Cross. Leamington were doubling up on the youngster and the Bulls were not getting across to support him. 

Leamington brought on Clarke for Perry. Hereford produced a fine fast moving passage of play with Storey, McLean and Hodgkiss raiding forward to provide a central shooting opportunity for Pinchard who fired just over. 

Ryan Mclean With The Ball Which Got Stuck Under A Leamington Player

Haines had committed several fouls and a foul on Edwards put him in the referee’s notebook. Klukowski appears to not trust Luke’s ability to stay on the pitch and immediately subbed him for Thompson-Sommers. Leamington replaced Kelly-Evans with Edwards. Jarvis came on for Lloyd.

Leamington continued to press on the right almost creating an opportunity. A quick throw by Clarke found Meredith and he cut into the box, bearing down on goal a superbly timed tackle by Amadi-Holloway saw the ball break free to Cross who shot back across from a narrow angle but well enough to score. 

Hereford huffed and puffed but Leamington saw the game out relatively comfortably as many Bulls fans vented their frustration. A large numbers of fans became more angry when the final whistle blew. Yet this was by no means a particularly bad performance in the context of the season. This was nowhere near the XXX horror performances of Peterborough Sports or Heybridge. Even in terms of recent weeks this was not as poor as the performance against Telford. The Bulls hit the woodwork and forced several good saves to make match winner Cann the best player. For the Bulls Pinchard hit two perfect corners which the team could not convert and played several raking, dynamic passes. 

The last three goals the Bulls have conceded have all come from failing to defend quick interplay on the right wing. Youngster Lawton  needs support or in my view an experienced player like Lloyd would be a better option. He’s played left back before and done well, the team have an abundance of options on the bench. Up front Klukowski is defiantly loyal and keeps trying the 4-2-3-1 he has helped coach for years. Fans wanted to see a Plan B as they saw more of the same and no goals. They have seen it for weeks and all the nils next to the team. Put Pendley up front or Amadi-Holloway, change the plan as the game changes. Maybe Monday will see a goal fest and Yan’s loyalty to his plan and players will be rewarded.

Leamington are a more limited side than the Bulls but they kept to their plan, and exploited the Bulls weakness on the left side of defence. The Bulls have run out of goals, they are now running out of games.