Believe the hype. It is the prerogative of a football fan to be contrary. This was the most disciplined, organised performance I have seen in a friendly since the days of Beadle.
In front of 1,025 with 53 from Wiltshire Hereford named a strong starting eleven Pond; Southern, Howkins, Cameron, Cranston; Mendes, Teixeira, Babos, Anaebonam; Rooney (c), Cowley. On the bench were Sterry, Derricott, Skinner, Livingstone, Arthur and Stanley.
Hereford started brightly and quickly took a grip. Whilst Swindon fielded a few players with first team experience the majority appeared to be very young. Hereford quickly realised that they had the winning of many 50/50 battles and in parts of the pitch it was men against boys. It was impressive to see a well coached team so early in the Caddis era.
Swindon’s players were good technically and wanted to try and build out from the back, playing football the right way. Captain Rooney quickly sussed this and organised a very high press which kept Swindon playing back to the keeper Brann, going long and losing possession. The Bulls kept going forward, probing and realising that Swindon’s back four were tentative turning so the Bulls mixed things up.
Hereford’s first goal came this way. A long pass down the middle from Pond was misread by Swindon’s central defenders, Cowley seized on the ball, drew the keeper and finished comfortably. For the first half an hour or so Hereford dominated and the only criticism would be at the failure to score another. Several players missed good opportunities and the failure to put the ball on target is a concern. Hereford have consistently failed to score enough goals when on top in recent seasons. The control and coordination of the team was impressive. Hereford played like Manachester City twice dismantling Arsenal last season. Sometimes long, sometimes short. Through the middle, down the flanks this looked a team ready for the season. To Swindon’s credit they kept trying and eventually came more into the game.
Swindon got down the left beating Southern and then on the byline Howkins was bypassed the ball coming to striker Adelayo. Pond was quickly off his line to smother the shot but it was worrying that Swindon’s main man was in a vast amount of space in the box, with no defender or midfielder alert to the danger. Hereford got away with the disorganisation. Swindon gradually got the better and looked the more likely to score just before the break.
Hereford made changes at half time. Arthur replaced Rooney, Cameron becoming captain with Derricott his new partner as Howkins went off. Classy Cranston was swapped for Skinner and Livingstone replaced Babos in the middle of the park. Stanley replaced Anaebonam on the left.
Hereford were comfortably the better side in the second half, with Swindon making several changes. Arthur and Livingstone looked lively on the left and a Livingstone cross found Cowley who precisely headed home to seal the game. At the end Sterry replaced Pond in goal and Cowley went off with a knock leaving the Bulls playing with ten men for five minutes.
What impressed most was the Bulls organisational and positional discipline. It still needs a little work but there’s a clear 442 or 4411 structure ready. Having Rooney managing on the pitch is a big benefit. There were still too many loose passes and lost possession in the middle of the park but there’s time for that to be ironed out.
It feels like you could almost name a team for the opening match with half the players looking capable of making an impact in National League North. Cowley’s goals were the bread and butter of scoring. A calm one on one finish, and even better a precise header down straight from the textbook into the side netting. If he stays fit the long longed for twenty goal a season man is ready.
My man of the match was Lassana. He has a distinctive chugging gait and seems in perpetual motion. He missed opportunities to score as on Saturday but is both on the end of things and creating. He is up and down the right flank reading the game and defending well. He was also the last man to pose for a Meadow End selfie and fist bumps every fan at the front. He’s going to be a fan favourite.
To finish where I started. This is a team coached ahead of any Hereford FC side at this stage of the season. The basic plan is there, but flexibility is available and on field game intelligence. The ingredients for a fast start are there. Exciting times ahead.