A Game For All Seasons

Edgar Street was buzzing. The new kit was ready and flying out of the shop, so many smiley, happy people proud to wear their colours and a good smattering of Villans, over 200 in a crowd of 2,324. The game was delayed for fifteen minutes as Villa were caught in traffic. There were lengthy queues for tickets with only two booths open, top volunteer Rob Bullock coming to the rescue. For lots of youngsters this was a summer holiday treat, excitedly anticipating the volume of the crowd.

The Premier League has taken Football away from most of us at warp speed. Villa were captained by twenty year old striker Louie Barry. The first English player in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, signed for a fee starting at £880,000 which could go up to £3.5 million. Loans already completed at four league clubs with regular goals. His goal at Anfield is worth a search. He’s probably earning more than the whole Hereford team put together.

Hereford lined up with what is heading towards a first choice team. Pond; Skinner, Howkins, captain Cameron, Cranston, Mendes, Babos, Teixeira, Livingstone; Arthur, Rooney. Anaebonam, Derricott, Southern and French trialist Missilou were on the bench, a little surprising that a young keeper was not given the opportunity to sample the vibrant atmosphere.

Rooney With A Shot From Distance

Edgar Street was treated to the finest fifteen minutes of pure football in a very long time. The youngsters bossed the game. Full backs pressing high leaving two wide split centre backs with defensive midfielders sitting back as required. Bogarde at 6 especially effective. Hereford were swamped and Villa were playing through the lines, switching play with ease and delightful triangles to please the eye. Rowe caressed the ball so that Hereford’s press was cut open time and time again. Only the finishing did not match the approach play.

This was no day for twisted blood vessels and when Howkins went down with a strain for a second time, Derricott came on. Villa continued to dominate and Rowe and Barry combined to beat Skinner on the left, cutting in Derricott half stumbled as he tried to get a foot on the ball. Barry retaining possession passed to Richards in the box and he clipped his finish high into the net. 

At this stage you feared it could be three or four. Hereford were being out footballed so went physical with long balls and attempts to make men against boys challenges.

The Bulls tried but Villa remained the better team. What is impressive at this early stage is how quickly the team adapts and reorganises. Rooney has had more influence as assistant manager in half a dozen games than any of his predecessors have in six months. He comes and tells players quickly what they need to do. Arthur who was barely in the game dropped back a little to sit closer to the defensive midfielders. If you can’t play, stop the other side playing.

Livingstone dropped deeper and Cranston tucked more inside so that at times Hereford had a back five. If you can’t score stop the other side scoring more, Villa were dominating possession. Too often Hereford have seen games like this quickly go away from them.

Hereford’s threat was occasional. Cranston swung in a deep cross from a free kick on the left near the half way line. It fell to Teixeira whose shot was saved by Zych but it fell to Rooney for a straight forward finish. Against the run of play the Bulls were level. 

Confidence returned and now the game went back and forth with the Bulls counterpunching. Villa remained better but the Bulls were marking up, getting into them and firing forwards in a flash.

Both sides were getting what they wanted from the friendly. Hereford had a searching technical examination and the youngsters were being roughed up to see how they stood up to nous. I worry if Alfreton have a managerial vacancy. Rooney has such a knowledge of the dark arts. It has been done to him and his “game management” is Premier League. With Hereford under the cosh Zych caught a Bulls corner and ran to the edge of the box ready to throw to the half way line for a quick breakaway with defenders still coming back from the corner bypassed. As Zych’s arm went back to release Rooney’s arm accidentally patted the ball to tap it out of the keeper’s hands at the cost of a free kick. Danger over.

Mendes With A Shot That Was Just Over The Crossbar

The Bulls were heading for parity at half time which would have flattered them. Quick thinking by Rooney found Babos central, thirty yards out, a smart diagonal to Livingstone out on the left saw the Scot curl in a ball into the corridor of uncertainty, reaching Arthur at the far post for a tap in. 

Hereford had come from behind to win the first half whilst being outplayed. It’s the old cliche that good teams get something out of games when they are not playing well or not being allowed to play well. 

Many people avoid friendlies because they are not proper games and the numerous Villa  changes made the second half disjointed. The first half had been one of the best forty five minutes of football in the history of Hereford FC. Both managers needed to evaluate other players which was a pity. Villa were weaker with their changes.

Skinner had been given a tough evening. Early in the second half he went through Bogarde and was booked. Caddis swapped him for Southern. Anaebonam came on for Arthur and went up front. Villa having made more changes had fresher legs and came back into the game but they lacked their first half incisiveness. Missilou came on for Babos and did not look match fit, making little impact.

Hereford were unable to get the third goal to clinch the game and the younger legs plus several changes saw Villa finishing strongly. A late Villa corner was partly cleared and Pierre fired low and hard to equalise, a fair reflection. Hereford players surrounded the keeper and disputed the awarding of the corner, they’re definitely NLN ready.

Rooney’s influence is immense. It would be a worry if he was injured. It’s concerning that Howkins went off and a slight worry that there are not enough players signed for a full bench. It’s a game of bluff now, no doubt as the season is about to start some players will revise their expectations of the terms they expect so that the budget is maximised.

Man of the match was Cranston, he made the first goal and showed signs of developing a good understanding with Livingstone. It was his defensive work which stood out. When Hereford were rocking his anticipating and intercepting was outstanding. Four times in the first half he closed down players put through in one on one positions. His challenge on O’Reilly could have been a penalty but Cranston’s challenge was crafty. He was left back, left centre back and left wing back depending on the circumstances of the game and when under pressure in the second half he spotted danger and came over to the right.

This was great entertainment seeing the Bulls react to a superior opponent, adapting and overcoming them. The positional discipline and adaptability is impressive. A few more players and Hereford are ready to challenge.