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| Yusifu Ceesay And Tom Pugh Scored For Hereford |
Nigel Preece reports on yesterday's FA Trophy tie at Edgar Street.
Free hit? A few people said that to me before today's game.
I didn't look at it like that. We've a chance to progress in this competition, even make another final. 3 years ago, during a covid affected season, we made it to Wembley. The only game in that cup run I was able to watch in person was the final. It didn't end well but hey ho, a chance, however slim, for thousands of Herefordians to watch us finally win there shouldn't be casually dismissed. Oh, and momentum, winning habit etc, you know all the cliches.
Anyway, as Mark Jones said in his preview, Torquay is a proper retro Division 4 game and it was great to see some visitors in the pub before the game. My money was on a draw, the most common result between us over all those years, I overestimated the Gulls’ abilities.
On a cold but perfect day for football, we lined up Pond, Southern, Skinner, Cameron, Howkins, Pugh, Teixeira, Mendes, Rooney up top, with Ceesay left and new signing Obadeyi on the right. Missing from the starting eleven were Williams, Babos, Lyden, Downing and Cowley.
An even first 15 with the visitors trying to pass it through midfield to their threatening right winger as much as possible, though they had the misfortune to lose their striker to a muscle injury very early.
We had a goal disallowed when Teixeira slalomed through the inside left channel, slid a precise cross for Obadeyi to open his account from close range, only for the lino to flag the ball was out of play, one I'd like to see again. Some friends who I saw post game in the Beer in Hand, go there, it's a top place, were convinced the decision was wrong.
They may have too many ales of course, unlike the lino … I hope! Edit: I've seen the video clip, wasn't over the line, should have been a goal. Perhaps an advantage of having a decent number of travelling fans able to persuade the lino in front of them?
Gradually our midfield got on top, another passing move down the left ended with Ceesay being fouled 20 yards out.
The resultant free kick was classily deposited by Pugh into the top corner, the visiting keeper perhaps getting a despairing finger tip to the ball, but unable to keep it out.
The end to end football continued with the Bulls looking more likely and just past the half hour another sharp passing move ended with Mendes hacked down in the area.
Ceesay made no mistake, low to the keeper's left.
Before the break we were forced to make a change, a clash of heads in our box meant Kyle Howkins had to be replaced by Adam Livingstone, Southern going to the middle and Skinner to right back. Hope it's not too serious, Howkins was looking imperious.
The consensus at halftime was we were well worth our lead, plenty of space created and good situations in open play plus Ceesay had smashed a free kick against the post, but the Gulls had attempted to play football so the tie wasn't over. In amongst that, there was excellent news on our patch of terrace, a regular and very loyal supporter who had travelled up from London once again for today's game, won the half time draw. £350 couldn't go to a more worthy winner.
Second half was a bit odd looking back, as one sided a 45 minutes as you could possibly want, it felt a little like previous rounds against lower opposition. Teixeira, Pugh and Mendes were utterly dominant in the middle of the park, however, actual chances were few and far between, while any consistent threat from Torquay to get back in the game never looked like materialising. I'm struggling to think of a clear cut chance that we blew, but we had so many situations where we were in great positions that it has to be disappointing that no more goals were forthcoming. That feels rather unfair criticism on a pretty solid and impressive performance, but while our management will be rightly delighted with the performance and result, I'm sure there will be work on how we improve our final ball and how we become more clinical as the season climaxes, though (stating the bleeding obvious) having the likes of Cowley and Willo available too can only help.
Despite us not being quite able to put the game fully to bed the growing angst of the 267 away fans, in a crowd of 2264, to my right reflected the game's pattern with expressions of their own discontent. Regular chants of “Johnson Out”, replaced the earlier more positive support (a drum but no bell for those of you with long memories). A few wry smiles around me as fans recalled Gary Johnson’s regular pinching of our better young players when manager of Yeovil 20+ years ago.
Pugh hit the post directly from a corner, the net becoming slightly dislodged from the goal in front of the Meadow End as a result. Cue rapturous reception for Ben Bowen (“he's one of our own”) as he repaired the damage; a nice token of supporter appreciation for someone who continues to do a fine job.
Tolley came on for Obedayi with 20 minutes left, a decent debut for the new signing, some quality takes and turns but he looked rusty on occasions too, he'll be miffed at his unfair disallowed goal but pleased with a solid contribution.
Young Arwyn Walby made a fleeting late appearance, but by then the game was done and we were already discussing a potential 10th successive home draw. Fingers crossed.
Attendance: 2264