Match Report Spennymoor v Hereford

Match report Spennymoor v Hereford Sept 7th 2024.

Hereford travelled up to the Brewery Field, staying overnight on route, for a National North fixture at Spennymoor.

Manager Paul Caddis made four changes to the starting eleven after last Tuesday's defeat by Needham Market at Edgar Street.

In came Lawson D'Ath, Aaron Skinner, Yusifu Ceesay and Ahkeen Rose. They replaced Andy Williams and Cosmos Matwasa who both dropped to the bench. Preston Bitemo was injured and Alex Babos unavailable. 

Also on the bench were Mark Derricott, Adam Rooney and Aurio Teixeira.

Starting XI: Chapman, Robinson, Preston, Hudson, Skinner, Campbell, D'Ath, Tilt, Rose, Gibson, Ceesay

On a warm and sunny early September afternoon the Brewery Field looked well. It had a liitle water before kick-off.

Hereford won the toss and captain Lewis Hudson decided to play the first half down the slope. 

Spennymoor started well with a couple of early chances. Ramshaw should have done better when a cross found him in the box but he failed to get a decent shot away.

A minute later McKeown hit a powerful shot but it went straight to Hereford keeper Chapman.

Montel Gibson was the first Hereford player to try his luck, but his shot from twenty yards out went wide.

Minutes later Ahkeem Rose gathered the ball close to the halfway line and evaded defenders before unleashing a shot but it went straight to the keeper. 

As the half went on Spennymoor had more of the possession. In particular they were winning most of the high balls from keeper Chapman.

There were chances for both Ramshaw and Dyson but Hereford's defence were equal to everything that came at them. 

Late in the half Hereford had a free kick when Gibson was fouled. However Sammy Robinson's effort went wide.

Half time: Spennymoor 0 Hereford 0

As before several times this season already Hereford looked brighter after the break.

Chay Tilt's Cross Eventually Found Campell

Rose, Tate Campbell and Yusifu Ceesay all had chances to open the scoring in the first five minutes.

With ten minutes of the half played Spennymoor appealed for a penalty when they felt the ball caught a Hereford defender's arm but it was turned down.

More chances for Hereford followed. But the final ball wasn't good enough.

A Robinson free kick found the head of Gibson but he couldn't direct the ball towards goal.

Another chance for Gibson, more difficult this time.

A good spell of possession for the Bulls with several corners. Supporters were beginning to question why Andy Williams was still on the bench. 

Rose skied a chance. Then a corner bounced around in the box but no Hereford player could connect.

Another corner and Preston tried to head it but it was cleared. A good spell for Hereford who should have broken the deadlock at this stage.

At the other end Campbell did well the tip the ball over the net after a cross from Ramshaw looked goal bound.

Spennymoor might have thought they had come back into the game.

But Gibson had other thoughts. He gathered the ball just inside the Spennymoor half and ran thirty or so yards before shooting. The ball just a touch too high.

In the final minutes Spennymoor felt they had another penalty claim. This time the culprit in their eyes was Robinson who intercepted a Ramshaw cross by sliding in front of it. The referee, rightly, wasn't interested.

Last action in the game was when substitute Aurio Teixeira was brought down, Robinson took the free kick and that was that.

Final score: Spennymoor 0 Hereford 0

Attendance 1312 with 60/70 following Hereford.

In some ways a game of two halves with Hereford having to defend for long periods in the first half and Spennymoor similarily in the second.

Paul Caddis was pleased to take a point and keep a clean sheet but had Hereford's finishing been better it might have been three.

And he left making substitutions until late. Williamd didn't come on until the 86th minutes and there were 90 minutes on the clock before Teixeira appeared.

Final thought had midfielder Alex Babos been available, reportedly he was at his sister's wedding, perhaps the outcome would have been different?