Trips to Southport usually conjure up memories of wind, cold, horizontal rain, and all too regularly “nil points” - not today though. A trip to Southport on the August Bank Holiday Saturday, and even that yellow object that occasionally appears in the sky wanted in. Obviously, there was wind - that is a given - however, it was a great credit to both sets of players that you didn’t really notice the wind.
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| The Wreath Was 'From Everyone Associated With Hereford FC' |
Hereford lined up with Chapman in goal, Hudson and Robinson either side of Howkins in a back three, with Ceesay and Skinner on the left and right flanks respectively. The midfield contained D’Ath, Campbell and Bitemo, the latter taking on the Babos role, with Rose and Gibson partnering each other up front. The bench, which following the five subs rule has never been more significant, was particularly strong: Matwasa, Williams, Tilt, Babos, Teixeira.
The previous Saturday, Hereford had struggled to get a foothold in the game at Chorley - no such problem this time round. Hereford created a chance inside the first minute; Rose’s strength created an opportunity for him to trouble the keeper with a low shot to his left that required a Southport defender’s clearance. Hereford continued to dominate the first 10 minutes, interrupted only by Campbell being dispossessed just inside the Hereford half in the 7th minute, allowing Southport to break forward - however, initial concern was snuffled by capable Hereford defending. Gibson soon carved out Hereford’s second chance, a neat turn providing time and space that Renshaw in the Southport goal could only parry away; Hudson fired over the bar from the resulting corner.
Southport were forced to make a change in the 12th minute with Knight-Percival replacing the injured Minihan. Southport were limited to a sole long-range strike by Hilton during the early exchanges, which was comfortably dealt with by Chapman.
Hereford were awarded a 23rd minute freekick out wide on the right, midway in the Southport half. With Babos on the bench, set piece duties fell to Robinson, with Hudson on long throw ins. Robinson whipped the free kick across the six yard box, which was tucked into the goal in a similar fashion to Gibson’s midweek goal at Edgar Street. Hereford deserved their lead, after a lively opening quarter, aided by an excellent playing surface.
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| Robinson Was Tripped |
The lead though was short lived. In the 27th minute, D’Ath was dispossessed by Carver, who drove forward, before finding Lloyd, who cut across Hereford’s defensive line to find time to fire a shot past Chapman’s right and into the top corner. 1-1.
With the goal of the game out of the way, Hereford continued to press Southport, with midfield control allowing Bitemo, Skinner, and Ceesay to push high up the pitch. Howkins played the role well of dominant defender, keeping things tidy at the back. Southport enjoyed possibly their best spell of the match as the first half neared its conclusion, carving out a couple of chances, including one that required a good save from Chapman to send Carver’s goal-bound shot away from danger to his right.
Half time 1-1.
After a scrappier start to the second half, Hudson put in a strong tackle in the 48th minute that created a promising attack. It was flagged offside before Southport had a hearty penalty appeal turned away in the 50th. As the second half settled down, Hereford were back in control. Robinson blasted over an ambitiously long range free kick after getting the nod off Caddis, before Bitemo scored with a confident finish in the 55th minute. The goal triggered some equally neat goal celebrations, but they celebrations that were cut short by the offside flag, which went up straight away. The finish was good, which, off the back of his post-rattling shot on Tuesday, is promising.
Hereford players were operating well as a unit and were soon rewarded with a central free kick 5 yards outside the box, courtesy of good control by Rose. Unfortunately, Robinson could not beat the wall. One moment of alarm with the game still at 1-1 was an excellent goal line clearance by Hudson in the 63rd minute.
The 66th minute brought about 5 changes between the two sides which both teams managed to skillfully string out over several minutes. If you like strung out substitutions and drinks breaks this could be the season for you. Significantly, the break in play saw the Williams and Babos introduced at the expense of Gibson and Bitemo. It immediately brought about chances for Babos and Ceesay, the latter forcing a corner after a neat lay off from Williams.
D’Ath was shown a yellow card for preventing a Southport attack in the 72nd minute, before Chapman was awarded a freekick after being flattened in the goalmouth, which is no mean feat.
With the clock in the corner of the pitch getting that little bit brighter and a third 1-1 on the bounce becoming a possibility, Hereford were awarded a free kick in an identical position to the set-piece that set up Hereford’s opener. Babos was now on free kick duties and fired in a devilish cross that evaded everyone before nestling in the far corner. 76 minutes gone, 2-1 Hereford.
Southport inevitably rallied, but it looked like a decisive third goal could easily arrive for Hereford after a chance for Ceesay that forced another corner. Ceesay and Babos linked up well down the left.
In the 89th minute, Southport had a penalty appeal waved away before Hereford broke up the other end. Rose played Babos in, who found space following a neat turn, which he followed up with an equally neat finish low to the keepers right. 3-1, start the car.
Stop the car, Williams still wanted to grab an injury time goal. Whilst the late goal gave Hereford a slightly flattering scoreline, it was a win that their performance thoroughly deserved.
This week’s script read that Hereford would comfortably beat Peterborough Sports before grabbing a useful point at Southport; momentum-wise, the other way round is even better going into Monday, especially off the back of such a satisfying away win. The win was witnessed by former Hereford players Lassana Mendes and Keith Hicks in the stands.
There were no real areas of concern - the few that arose were down to the odd inevitable mistake in an otherwise secure and convincing display; even their goal was a peach. The players and staff enjoyed a well-earned love in with the fans at the end - no obvious injuries either, so in short, a Carlsberg away day. We can’t have that, you have to have a complaint; this gives you a measure of the day, here goes - the officials’ kits were sometimes hard to tell apart from the Southport kit.
Hereford are unbeaten, looked convincing with impressive options off the bench. Skinner played the full 90. Bring on Monday.
Hereford: Chapman, Skinner, Robinson, Howkins, Hudson, Campbell, D’Ath (Teixeira 83), Bitemo (Babos 66), Ceesay (Matwasa 90), Rose (Tilt 90+3), Gibson (Williams 67).
Southport: Renshaw, Spooner (Proctor 66), Lloyd, Carver (Owolabi 83), Quansah, Moore, Keane (C), Hilton (Burgess 66), Minihan (Knight Percival 12), Stafford (Doyle 67), Philliskirk.
Goals: Hudson (23), Lloyd-McGoldrick (26), Babos (76,89), Williams (90+2)
Att: 1322 with 219 in the away end.
Report compiled from the collective thoughts of a happy car full of fans who covered for our usual reporting team.