Hereford returned home empty handed from Greater Manchester this afternoon losing 1-0 to a goal in additional time, having had the better of things for a lot of the game. There were many opportunities for the Bulls to get on the scoresheet but they were unable to make the most of them and paid the price when Curzon’s counter attacking game came up trumps at the end.
The team was set up in the now familiar 5-3-2 formation flexing to 3-5-2 when in possession. Teixeira’s suspension is now in effect so he was missing from midfield. Phillips and Rooney started with Cowley dropped to the bench. Caddis was asked about this after the game and said that everyone in the squad had to play their part and everyone gets left out at times. He then said tersely “they just have to deal with it”.
So the Bulls started with three strikers on the pitch, but Rooney tended to play a little deeper trying to link the play up. The first real chance fell to Williams when Babos’s whipped free kick dropped onto his foot in front of goal and he somehow managed to knock it backwards.
Hereford had the majority of the possession in the first half hour but were unable to put any cohesive attacks together, all too often a good position was spoiled by a poor final ball or poor control. Downing was booked in the 10th minute for bringing down Mols and then on 26 minutes it was 1-1 in yellows after The Nash’s player manager Craig Mahon fouled Skinner.
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| A Bit Of Holding In The Box So The Referee Had A Word |
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| But Poscha Was Still Holding Howkins Minutes Later |
Williams came into the game a little more, having a shot on the turn saved after 35 minutes and then three minutes later going down in the penalty area with the defender’s arms all over him.
The home team’s first choice keeper, Cameron Mason, was sitting behind us in the stand, and even he said it was a good shout for a penalty. The Bulls continued to have plenty of possession but were unable to deliver a telling cross into the box. The home team always looked dangerous on the break but the back three dealt with the threat, covering for each other well.
Half time: Curzon Ashton 0 Hereford 0
No changes for the Bulls at half time. Phillips had the first chance of the half but his shot from 6 yards was well saved by the keeper. The pattern was much as in the first half, the Whites were going for it, committing players forward, relying on the back three to respond to the home side’s counter attacks.
Phillips was showing plenty of pace and getting into some good positions. On 58 minutes he was joined up front by Cowley who replaced Rooney. He’d only been on for two minutes when Pond’s long ball put him clear but as is often the case his touch was poor and the keeper was able to collect the ball easily.
Phillips then produced a good save from Ollerenshaw, and Williams tried an overhead kick which was blocked by a blue shirt.
On 67 minutes Lyden, who had taken a knock, was replaced by Southern. Southern slotted in at right back with Skinner moving into midfield. At this point the game was quite open and looked as it could go either way. Babos was having a good second half, with some strong runs from deep positions and delivering good balls into the box. In the 73rd minute we had the welcome sight of Ceesay coming on and he was soon in the action alongside Cowley.
Tight Call?
Cameron made a couple of excellent challenges to deny Curzon runs in on goal. In between them Pond made a fine save from Spencer, low down to his right when a goal seemed certain. Five minutes’ additional time was announced, and both teams continued to go for the win. Ceesay was in on goal but the keeper blocked the shot.
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| Ceesay's Shot Was Put Out For A Corner |
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| Babos Took The Corner But Williams Could Not Direct His Header Towards Goal |
Williams and Southern both had chances without testing the keeper, but then came the killer punch. Curzon mounted their final attack of the game and although the ball was cleared it only found a blue shirt in midfield. The ball was moved wide to Craig Mahon who swung the ball into the area towards Spencer who wrestled his way past Cameron to head home. Cameron clearly thought he’d been fouled but the only person whose opinion counts didn’t, and the goal stood.
The Bulls were unable to do anything about the scoreline in the remaining two minutes and the game ended with the home side jubilant.
Full time: Curzon Ashton 1 Hereford 0
Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Hudson, Lyden (Southern 67), Downing, Babos, Williams, Rooney (Cowley 58), Howkins, Cameron, Phillips (Ceesay 73)
Subs: Sterry, Walby
At least the Bulls had the full complement of subs on the bench this week, but the two youngsters remained spectators.
Curzon Ashton: Ollerenshaw, Poscha, Sinclair, Spencer, Hayhurst, Waring, Mols, Richards, Mahon, Barton, Hughes
Subs: Kenyon, Campbell, Allen, Taylor, Lewis
The Bulls must be cursing their inability to test the goalkeeper more. On paper we have a good strike force which mixes youth and experience, but it never seems to quite click – contrary to the usual phrase, the whole seems to be less than the sum of the parts. Our chances of making one of the playoff positions depends on the strikers finding their form, and soon.
Hereford Are Awarded A Free Kick After Hudson Is Brought Down Just Outside The Box
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| But Babos's Free Kick Hits The Wall |
As mentioned, we were sitting in front of the home team’s regular keeper, currently out through injury. He had some interesting things to say, was impressed with the physical side of our three centre backs and was very complimentary about Cameron. I asked him about Miles Storey and he said he’d been unable to get a good run in the team due to injury, and said his power and pace were partly his undoing, as he suffers from frequent muscle pulls.
Man of the match: I’d say Cameron despite him being beaten for the goal. Babos has a good claim as well, particularly for his second half performance.
Finally, for the second week running, nothing to say about the pies, as I remembered how bad they were last season. A half-decent pint of Guinness though.
Harwood Bull