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Hereford FC have two very juicy back-to-back home matches next up, starting with table toppers Tamworth on Saturday and then table climbers Chester on Tuesday. They won’t make or break the season, but they could be thoroughly entertaining games of football.
Bulls News reported this week that Tamworth haven’t conceded a goal for 808 minutes. That run will be ended here if the home side don’t pay the visitors undue respect, it’s still only Tamworth after all, and play on the front foot rather than hoping to pick up scraps on the counterattack. This is one that Hereford should be taking to the opposition as the home team with a good home record, and if they get beaten doing that so be it. Better like that than to get beaten meekly sitting back.
As was inevitable once the teams in the top half of the table started getting through their games in hand, Hereford have slipped out of the play-offs and into tenth position, not helped by a goal difference that’s probably now irreversibly and effectively taking a point from the Bulls’ total points tally. However, consistently winning games of football would make that irrelevant come the end of the season.
Given that they’re still just four points behind Chester in third place with a game in hand, the Bulls are still bang in contention to finish in the top seven, with 12 clubs still harbouring hopes of getting something out of the season with a promotiony flavour to it.
And on the subject of promotion, what a season Saturday’s visitors are having. They have the best defence in English football, having conceded just 19 goals in 33 games. The last player to score against Tamworth was in fact new Bulls left back Lewis Hudson. Are they starting to feel the weight of expectation sitting heavily on their shoulders? Well, there’s no sign of it so far, as they’ve won ten of their last 12 games since last losing on 9 December at Chester.
Three ex-Bulls were expected to start here for the Lambs. Jordan Cullinane Liburd is however suspended, but Kyle Finn isn’t. It was clear that Josh Gowling knew Finn had something about him, but he could never bring it out of the player on the pitch. Tamworth coach Andy Peaks has had no such problem, with Finn grabbing 12 goals this season, including two against Hereford in that horror show on the Tamworth plastic in August. Indeed he was heavily involved in all four goals. Hudson will be tasked with keeping the ex-Coventry man quiet, and should be capable of giving it a good go if his debut against Blyth was anything to go by. They'll miss Cullinane-Liburd’s long throws, although the agreeably named Tom Tonks can also sling them in. And if something unfortunate befalls Tonks at some stage they’ve presumably got someone else who can sling them in too – it’s what they do.
Finally, Jamie Willets, the likeable Kidderminster schoolteacher, could find himself with a National League North championship under his belt very soon, and with the best will in the world that would have been difficult to foresee when he played at Edgar Street in the Midland League, as effective as he was at that level. Willets was man of the match on Saturday in their 1-0 win at home over Farsley. Good on him.
Of the non-ex-Bulls, striker Dan Creaney is banned, and Ben Acquaye and Luke Fairlamb (some sort of nominative determinism going on there) will both be missing with hamstring injuries.
The hosts were without both wingers last Saturday, and it would be such a bonus to have them back for this one. Neither sounded too badly hurt so hopefully a week’s rest will ensure that they’re available, allowing a return to two centre backs and a much greater threat going forward. You’d assume that Tamworth, having gained 73 points from 33 games, wouldn’t feel unduly threatened by Aaron Skinner and Ollie Southern out wide as wing backs in an attacking capacity, whereas no side yet has totally kept Yusifu Ceesay quiet.
In good news corner, Paul Downing is back, as is Jordan Lyden. Downing will presumably revert to captaining the side if Nathan Cameron makes way in a return to a back four.
The chances of seeing Downing, Lyden and Andy Williams, considered as the theoretical spine of the team in some quarters, playing 90 minutes together seem to be getting slimmer as the season approaches spring. Willo is a doubt here having picked up a shoulder injury last Saturday to go with his not-yet-perfect knee.
However, the very last thing this squad has been this season even when those three have been missing is spineless, and their will to win has forged such a good bond between those on the pitch, those in the stands, the management team and the chairman.
This next pair of games will require all that togetherness if they’re to deliver a haul of points sufficient to remain on the play-off premises.
That impressive 808-minute record of Tamworth’s will be blown to bits on 809 minutes here courtesy of Cowley getting a bicey to finally fly in. I’m not entirely sure why, but I’ve got a really good feeling about this one, a feeling that makes the 5/2 price on a home win look utterly insulting.
COYW