From Radford’s Spot

 

There was a buzz in Hereford with Rochdale fans around town and a spring in the step of Bulls fans which only the FA Cup can produce. 195 Lancastrians were in the crowd of 2,817 on a warm, bright day. Lyden had COVID and Mendes had a knock so the Bulls lined up Pond; Skinner, Livingstone, Howkins, captain Downing; Babos, Teixiera; Tolley, Rooney, Ceesay; Freemantle. On the bench were Sterry, Cranston, Stanley, Southern, Arthur and Cameron.

The game started brightly with Rochdale showing neat passing and gradually gaining the upper hand. They played neat triangles using the flanks and Clayton and East fired in shots which were blocked. Pond then saved from East and it felt as if Dale were more likely to take the lead. Hereford were struggling to create. Sinclair was causing Skinner some problems and Aaron was harshly booked for a foul, the referee setting an early standard. Sinclair cut inside and shot hitting the top of the bar.

Howkins hit a long high ball to Freemantle who challenged for it with a defender but the ball evaded both of them and fell to Rooney who showed masterful technique hitting the ball on the half volley cutting across it to hit a dipping volley towards the top right corner. Moulden arched back and tipped the ball over for a top quality save. Rooney was elusive, sometimes a second striker, then in the hole, and out of possession dropping back as part of the midfield block. All the time encouraging and organising.

Hereford came more into the game with Ceesay more prominent but Dale remained the more likely side. Referee Ajibola booked Tolley for delaying taking a throw in. Again this seemed a little harsh but if the time wasting crack down is to continue referees have to be consistent and Ajibola was not. Too often referees seem to book a random player to encourage others, rather than booking to a standard.

At half time Rochdale would have been disappointed to not go in ahead but Hereford had created the best chance. Talk turned to Dale’s away kit an early contender for worst of the season yellow with random blue arrows reminding some of a convict’s clothes and others of vintage condom packaging. 

Hereford attacked the Meadow End which was in good voice in the second half. Teixiera wriggled away from the edge of the box, holding off two challenges and hit a long pass just beyond Ceesay who gathered the ball, checked back and fed Babos who cut back unbalancing a Dale defender. Alex hit a curling shot which was possibly going just around the post but Moulden took no chances tipping the ball out for a corner. 

Hereford were more in the game, matching Dale. Caddis said something and was booked. 

Eubanks-Landell was booked for a foul on Pond. Stanley came on for Tolley. Jack had made relatively little impact going forward but had worked back well and with Skinner on an early booking helped staunch the Dale attacks. Dale took off Sinclair and brought on Uchegbulam.

Downing conceded a foul just outside the box and was booked for his heavy challenge. Gilmour curled a fine effort just under the bar but Curtis flicked the ball over for a corner.  

Arthur came on for Rooney to provide fresh legs. The full time Dale looked fitter and were gaining the upper hand so the change was timely.

Skinner hit a ball up the line, Arthur nodded it into Babos’s path. Alex burst into the box, drew Moulden and laid the ball to his left but Freemantle was too far away and stretched for the ball allowing Odurah to block and clear. 

Ethan did not let his head go down. Dale tried to play out from the back with Moulden well outside his box. On Stanley’s shout Hereford pressed and Babos won possession. He ran at the defence with the keeper desperately out of position back pedalling. Arthur ran up the right occupying a defender and Freemantle pulled left. Babos expertly sucked in the defenders and laid the ball to the unmarked Freemantle who hit the ball low and hard to score. 

Edgar Street erupted.

Rochdale substituted Keohane with Rodney but largely they huffed and puffed but did not threaten in the remaining fifteen minutes or so. The pressure of the crowd affected some players. Desperate to get the ball forward goalkeeper Moulden dashed to take a throw in, an odd event. Nervously, he produced a foul throw, conceding possession high up the pitch to the Bulls. When Moulden gathered the ball after an attack he advanced and then overhit his kick straight to Pond.

Cranston came on for Freemantle playing left midfield with Arthur up front, but Hereford saw the game out fairly comfortably. McDermott came on for Odurah as a last throw of the dice. Last week at South Shields was the best yet, but the team went up a level again. Half the team could be considered man of the match. Sponsor Chris Handy gave it to Pond who had yet another fine game and is surely the best keeper Hereford FC have had. Skinner had his finest game yet. Early on Sinclair troubled him and Aaron was booked. Yet Skinner walked a careful line, still tackling strongly and challenging robustly even though he was on a yellow. Sinclair was substituted he was Skinnered.

Howkins and Downing looked what they are a partnership worthy of the Football League. Howkins another to probably have his best game of the season with the big Brummie keeping Henderson quiet. 

For me though Babos was man of the match. He played more defensively in the first half, but when he started running at Rochdale in the second half they could not contain him. I remember when Ronnie Radford won goal of the month a pundit I have since forgotten saying that what impressed wasn’t just the strike it was Ronnie’s grit winning a loose ball before he struck. Alex won the ball on a similar spot to Ronnie. If Alex didn’t win the ball, run at the defence and slip a golden ball to Freemantle the Bulls wouldn’t be in the next round. Happy days.