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Thursday, April 04, 2024

Three Points For Hereford Despite Going Down To Nine Men

You couldn't have written the script for last night's game between Banbury and Hereford. On paper given Banbury's recent form this should have been an easy three points for Hereford but it wasn't.

The Bulls were one up at the break and two up not long into the second half. But then a difficult period when firstly Banbury scored from the spot and then secondly two red cards for Hereford.

It made for a very tense end to the game with Hereford defending their lead. The final whistle could not come soon enough but it did, eventually.

And to add to the events, the Banbury manager was sent off for kicking the ball.

Back to the start. Paul Caddis made four changes from the team that drew with Buxton on Wednesday. In came Andy Williams, Jason Cowley, Aurio Teixiera and Dom McHale.

Jordan Lyden and Kieran Phillips were on the bench and both Lawson D'Ath and Tope Obadeyi couldn't play as they were recently playing for Banbury.

On a fairly warm and dry spring evening the pitch wasn't as bad as some feared given the weather.

Hereford played towards the Banbury supporters in the first half. 

For some time chances for both sides were few and far between. Williams, who was often held, couldn't get past his marker when well placed.


And a few minutes later Jason Cowley couldn't direct a header after a good cross from Jid Okeke.

The Bulls then won several corners and Okeke had a shot on target but straight to the keeper.



On 28 minutes Banbury had the ball in the net was the goal was struck off, possibly for offside.

Three minutes later another cross from Okeke, who was causing trouble on the left hand side, nearly reached Cowley. 



Captain Cameron came closs with a header but it was Andy Williams who put the Bulls ahead on 45 minutes.


The ball fell to Aaron Skinner on the right. A defender and the keeper tried to stop him passing the ball but it reached Willo who was on the other side of the area. The Hereford striker gathered, moved  forward a yard or two and calmly slotted the ball over the goal line with two defenders rushing back.









HT: Banbury 0 Hereford 1 

Just after the second half started Hereford had a decent claim for a penalty when the ball appeared to hit the arm of a Banbury player. It wasn't given but one was just a minute later.

The referee gave the penalty yet it must have been at least two minutes before Willo took it whilst he decided to yellow card a Banbury player.


Straight into the back of the net. The lead looked comfortable until the 66th minute.




Caddis brought on Lyden and Ceesay in place of Cowley and McHale.

On 67 minutes Banbury were attacking and the referee deemed that the ball had been handled in the area by Howkins. Ken Charles made no mistake.



Ten minutes later Cameron received his second yellow of the game for a foul near the area. Hereford were down to ten men. Little did anyone think it would be nine men just nine minutes later when Skinner was given a second yellow.

Caddis reacted by bringing Adam Ronney for Babos in an attempt to tighten Hereford's defence. 

Banbury threatened. Once the ball was within inches of the far post.


Then the Banbury manager, Kevin Wilson, was red carded for apparantly kicking the ball away.


Pond was called on again.



The final whistle was a long time coming but it did and Hereford took all three points.

Attendance: 837 with around 300 following the Bulls. 

Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Hudson, Teixeira, Babos, Cowley, Williams, Okeke, Cameron, Howkins, McHale
 
Subs: Lyden, Ceesay, Sterry, Rooney, Phillips