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| Jason Cowley Scores With A Penalty Kick |
Harwood Bull watched Hereford at Buxton on Tuesaday Evening.
Hereford made just one change from the line up against Banbury, with Ollie Southern coming in for Cameron. In front of Pond was a back four of Skinner, Southern, Downing and Livingstone. Teixeira and Babos in the holding roles, Ceesay & Arthur in wide roles and Rooney & Cowley up front, although the front four seemed fairly flexible and interchangeable.
Cowley Crosses To Rooney
The opening half hour was fairly even, both sides creating chances but neither showing, to use a well worn manager’s cliché, “a bit of quality in the final third”. Caddis bemoaned Hereford’s lack of sharpness in front of goal in his post-match interview, and there were many crosses into the box without anyone able to provide the finishing touch. Hereford’s best chance came in the 27th minute, with a dipping shot from Ceesay that the home keeper tipped over the bar. Shortly after the ball was slipped through to Ceesay in a good position in the box but he was unable to test the keeper.
Chance For Hereford - Ceesay Crosses To Rooney 
Who Heads The Ball 
But It's Easily Gathered
For Buxton Jordan Burrow broke through and ran in on goal, the referee ignoring the Bulls’ appeal that he’d fouled Southern. Fortunately he pulled his shot wide. Then in the 34th minute Burrow got on the end of a cross from Minihan but his header was poor, looping over the bar.
Cowley Fights Hard To Get Possession
On 40 minutes Kirby struck a powerful shot on goal. It was straight at Pond but he failed to hold it and Burrow reacted quickly to tap the rebound home. It was a mistake by the big man but given the number of fine saves he has made so far this season we must forgive him that one.
Half time: Buxton 1 Hereford 0
No changes were made by Caddis during the break, which was perhaps a little surprising given that Hereford were losing the midfield battle. Teixeira is a real terrier, and never gives in, but he’s only a little guy and will inevitably get overpowered by opponents of much bigger stature. Babs, as his manager calls him, has more attacking instincts and isn’t really a holding midfielder. Maybe Pugh or Mendes could have come on to strengthen that area. The sooner Lyden is fit again the better.
However the Bulls got back into the game on the hour. Ceesay’s free kick from outside the area was straight into the wall but he gathered the rebound and drove into the penalty area before being manhandled to the ground.
Cowley put the resulting penalty away confidently.
Tolley came on for Arthur shortly after, the Bulls hoping that his pace would trouble the Bucks’ defence. On 75 minutes Ceesay broke through the middle but his poor touch meant that that his pass to Tolley was scrambled and Buxton cleared the danger. Hereford won a number of corners during this period of the game but they were all gathered easily by Dearnley.
The Bulls were conceding too many free kicks in dangerous areas, and from one of these McCort’s good delivery was headed home by defender Jake Hull to give the Bucks the lead.
Hereford put the home side under pressure in their search for an equaliser. The best chance came when Downing headed a free kick back across the goal – another red shirt got on the end of it but Dearnley made a fine save.
Seconds from the end Osborne took the ball around Pond but he was left with a very tight angle and his shot went across the goal and out for a goal kick.
Final Score: Buxton 2 Hereford 1
Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Livingstone, Teixeira, Downing, Ceesay, Babos, Cowley, Southern, Rooney (Freemantle 85), Arthur (Tolley 61)
Subs: Cranston, Pugh, Mendes
Buxton: Dearnley, Brown, McCourt (c), Kirby, Minihan, Burrow, Hull, Bapaga, Gibson-Hammond, Horbury, Bird
Subs: Petrovic, Osborne, Smart, Weston, Boden
As usual, a few random observations:
Something that really irritates me is players preventing the taking of a free kick by standing over the ball. An FA document giving guidelines for referees says “An opponent may stand over the ball, in order to delay the taking of a free kick. ……. the offending player shall be cautioned under Law 12”. On that basis at least 3 Buxton players should have received yellow cards.
Pond has a mighty boot on him but punting long balls for our not particularly tall strikers doesn’t seem a worthwhile tactic.
Rooney is definitely a manager on the pitch. It’s often said that players sometimes need an arm round the shoulder, sometimes a kick up the arse. There was a moment when he obviously thought Teixeira was in need of a comforting arm and an encouraging word, and I’m sure he wouldn’t hold back from the other option either if he felt someone deserved it.
The lack of segregation at games like this is generally no problem, but Buxton may have regretted it, as a group of travelling Hereford supporters changed ends at half time, resulting in the stewards having to form a barrier between the two sets of fans for most of the second half. There were minor scuffles outside the ground afterwards as well.
If you’ve watched the highlights on the club’s website you’ll have seen what a terrible view it is from the main (only!) stand at Buxton. Lots of pillars to obscure the view of one goal, and a strange glass panelled side which partly obscures the other goal. The stand was built in 1965 and has some seats from the old Maine Road ground.
What about the pies, I hear you ask? Mine had obviously been the oven a bit too long as was little charred on the top. Tasty filling though.
A disappointing night but it still feels much more positive than the Gowling era. Just 7 points covers 7th to 21st position in the league table. A couple of wins and we’re right back up there. Onwards and upwards!