Perfect Day Out
Nigel Preece Reports
I left my north Cardiff home at 1015 ish for the short walk to my local station in enough mizzle, that's a sort of miserable enveloping drizzle, to indicate an unpleasant day ahead. Meanwhile, the hordes were starting to descend into the city for the late afternoon's six nations game, changing trains at Cardiff Central can be problematic as the temporary security attempt to enforce that everyone exit the rear of the station, but thankfully no issues this time and I was able to change platforms easily.
Why is he wittering on about such trivialities you will ask? Fair point but, as I've said before, my day is more than just 90 minutes of football, smooth travel definitely helps.
The ride up was quiet (it normally is on rugby day, the chaos deters other travellers) and timely. A stroll around Hereford, no mizzle here, even a hint of sun, and a bite to eat before meeting up with my little group in the Barrels. Discussion remained generally positive despite recent setbacks, the prospect of a new left back and Teixeira back in midfield hopefully meaning we'd be set up with players in their appropriate positions. Too many square pegs in round holes perhaps on Tuesday against South Shields?
Anyway, on to the game. We got what we wanted. Lewis Hudson, our new acquisition from Rushall, was straight in at left back, enabling Aaron Skinner to start on the right. Captain Cameron was in for Ollie Southern and Tex thankfully back in midfield, Kouhyar on the bench, Babos in the number 10 role. Same front three again. The JJ’s highlighted in more than one preview as the visitor’s main threats were absent from Blyth’s squad.
 |
| Lewis Hudson |
It was a bright start, both teams trying to play, and the Whites struck first after just 9 minutes (I've 42 minutes something on my online goalden goal, I think I need an earlier time slot), Babos was played through by Mendes with the help of a couple of ricochets off (hungover?) defenders and he finished calmly.
Without demonstrating the fluency showed against King's Lynn two weeks ago, when we did attack the Spartens’ defence looked vulnerable but the second goal wouldn't come and it was against the general run of play when we were pegged back; a good run by Thompson that left Obadeyi trailing took him into space between Howkins and Skinner, a precise pass and a first time shot that Pond, like on Tuesday, got something on but couldn't keep out.
For the first time in the game the home support was quiet but only briefly; I really want to praise the supporters for constant chanting and noise throughout the game, well done all.
And that noise from the Meadow End had risen again before the relief of our second goal a few minutes before half time. Alex Babos broke through the midfield, was tugged back by a despairing opponent, just about stayed on his feet before playing in Jason Cowley down the inside left channel. Cowley took a couple of touches and lashed the ball with his left peg across the keeper; a classic striker’s finish. A quick word for the ref, who played a good advantage and generally did his best to let the game flow, though it is much easier without Tuesday's constant shithousery.
The second half continued as the first, the Bulls the better side without being able to impose any continued dominance or pressure. We did get the ball in the net early but Cowley was flagged offside, one for var, thankfully we don't have it even if we may have benefitted in this instance.
The faithful didn't have to wait too long as around the hour mark a Babos corner from the right was headed across the goal and in at the far post by Cowley, if I were a Blyth fan I might be questioning the lack of a body on the far post, but another sharp piece of finishing by our number 9.
Yusifu Ceesay was promptly replaced by Kouhyar. Not sure if Ceesay was injured, he did look a little wobbly, hope he's ok for next week, a nice touch from Mendes, arm round his shoulders encouraging the crowd to applaud him off. A little sign of our good team spirit.
We did have one nervy moment, a free header from close range drew a fine block from Pond. A few minutes later the game was done; a Pond punt down the park (did the Blyth defenders try that tongue twister in their Friday night stop over night out?) resulted in fatal hesitation between a centre half and the keeper. Cowley needed no second invitation, he nipped in and prodded home with his right foot, a classic bit of poaching.
Rightly, he took the plaudits for a perfect hat trick, one left, one header, one right and he almost put the cherry on it shortly after; more hassling of uncertain (or jaded) defenders, resulted in a spectacular overhead kick that rattled off the crossbar.
Phillips had come on for Obadeyi and then Willo replaced Cowley, a well deserved standing ovation for the latter.
Of course, following the pattern of the season, nothing is earned too easily. A penalty to Blyth, given away by the otherwise impressive Hudson and easily converted put some doubt into Hereford heads. Pond again dived the wrong way, not that it would have made a difference, Deverdics’ pen was firm into the corner. FA Trophy next week, a shoot out is quite a possibility, by the law of averages Curtis Pond will save three perhaps?
Any nervous thoughts of another King's Lynn didn't last long thankfully. A quality turn in the box by Willo, followed by a shot deflected in off a hapless defender.
A couple more half chances for us and one outstanding block by Cameron and that was that.
One final thought, this time on overnight stops, our record when we travel on a Friday is poor to say the least. Blyth had their second overnight stop of the season, paid for by a helpful local company; some of their defending looked more like they'd spent an evening on the pop rather than preparing professionally for a game the following day. I'm sure that wasn't the case but I can't believe a six hour coach journey would have resulted in a worse display of defending at times? Perhaps I should just be crediting our energetic and relentless performance?
After the game I fancied catching a bit of the egg chasing, so I dashed to the Orange Tree. A nice beer and caught up with a couple of people who'd been to Wyeside to watch the local rugby, an entertaining game and high scoring win there too. With Wales 20 points down at half time I quit and headed for a train home. All on time and, a bonus, I caught an unscheduled connection at Cardiff Central just after the end of the rugby, and was home by 7.30. Oh, it was still mizzling, had been like that all day apparently.
Not a perfect performance by the Bulls, but a damned good one and a perfect hat trick by Jason Cowley. With everything else spot on it was just about the perfect day out.