Spirited at Blyth

Jason Cowley Scored Hereford's Goal

Ex Kington Keeper reports from Blyth

A spirited performance by Hereford was in marked contrast to their thrashing at the end of last season. The Bulls made two changes lining up with Pond; Skinner, Howkins, captain Cameron, Cranston, Mendes in for Stanley, Babos, Teixeira, Livingstone; Rooney, Cowley in for Obonna who was out of the match day squad. Joining Stanley on the bench were Arthur, Southern, Singh and Hewlett.

On a bright and breezy day on the Northumbrian coast 865 attended with about 50 from the Shire. Both sides well organised with Blyth slightly the brighter, old adversary Deverdics was influential on the left giving Skinner a challenging afternoon. Referee Dawson had a poor game. He almost turned 90 minutes of football into two hours and lots of petty, niggly decisions frustrated both sets of players and supporters. 

Hereford won the toss and attacked the Kingsway end with the wind. Livingstone shot wide from a good Mendes cross, but Pond was punching clear a Blyth attack. Knight was booked for kicking the ball away. Blyth’s Hooper had to go off and young live wire Aitken came on to change the game. 

Howkins Clears For Hereford

Blyth got more of the play and sustained Spartan pressure forced a corner. A delightful, intricate routing orchestrated by captain Deverdics cleverly created space for Aitken to fire home his first ever goal for Blyth. Teixeira was booked.

The Bulls bounced back immediately. Mendes got down the left and fed Cowley who turned his man and drilled home into the bottom corner. 

Unfortunately Cowley did not reappear after the break with Arthur coming on, and this blunted Hereford’s attack. Evans was booked for time wasting. Blyth had more of the play and despite opportunities for a defender to stick the ball in row Z the ball fell to Liddle who got there first and rocketed it Cowley style in the bottom corner. 

Hewlett came on for Rooney straight away. As he did not come on from the exact required spot the referee booked him. A persnickety decision out of keeping with the spirit the game was played in. Stanley came on for Livingstone.

Hereford kept attacking and it was an enjoyable need to end affair. 

Cameron Can't Quite Get To The Ball First

Evans was booked. Mendes fired over but Blyth had good opportunities. Right at the end Pond went up for a Cranston corner and headed it wide. 

Blyth just about deserved the three points but the football was good in difficult windy conditions. The turning point was Cowley having to go off, he would probably have found an equaliser in an open game. Liddle was Blyth’s best player forcing them forwards and scoring the winner . As an ex keeper I want to join the Curtis Pond, fan club, he was Hereford’s best player. Solid, commanding, dependable.