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| Tate Campbell Scored Hereford's First Goal - Pictures From Andy Walkden |
Harwood Bull watched Hereford take three points from Curzon Ashton yesterday afternoon.
The Bulls pulled off a second consecutive 2-1 away win at The Nash and now sit at the dizzy heights of second place in the National Legue North table. It was a very competitive, sometimes bad tempered, game. Both teams had passages of play when they put together good passing moves, at other times it degenerated into hoof ball with the big boot much in evidence.
The Bulls lined up with a back four in front of Chapman. Preston was in for the suspended Robinson, loanee Bartley was at right back and looked just as much at home there as he did in the centre of defence against Buxton. Howkins and Hudson completed the four. Campbell and Teixeira were in the holding roles, Babos the attacking midfielder, Ceesay wide left as usual and Williams and Rose up front. Rose operated on the right of attack, which I suspect is not his preferred role but he certainly gave it everything.
Both teams mounted attacks early in the half, and it wasn’t long before we had a goal. The Bulls gave Sinclair far too much room and time to set himself for the shot and he curled a fine strike into the top corner for a 6th minute lead.
It was a pretty open game at this point, with the home side creating more chances than Hereford. Most of the Bulls’ chances came down the left side from Ceesay, and Babos was getting into some good positions in the box, however the home keeper wasn’t being tested enough.
Teixeira is a feisty little so-and-so, what he lacks in stature he more than makes up for with attitude. However he was getting involved in all kinds of niggly confrontations which seemed to be distracting him from getting on with the game. He and Campbell were sitting quite deep a lot of the time which seemed to concede the midfield to the home time too often.
The Bulls stuck to the task though, and in the 43rd minute a corner was cleared as far as Campbell whose shot from outside the area took a big deflection on its way into the bottom corner of the net.
Half time: Curzon Ashton 1 Hereford FC 1
I have to confess to being late back after half time and didn’t get a clear view of the goal that took the Bulls into the lead. I’m reliably informed it was a back post header from Preston, getting on the end of a good cross from Bartley.
In the 51st minute Ceesay caused havoc in the home defence before shooting against the post. Shortly after Hereford appealed for a penalty, but the appeals were denied. Teixeira was booked for arguing. The only surprise was that it had taken that long before he saw yellow. Shortly after he conceded a foul right in front of the ref and was very lucky not to see the red card. Almost immediately Caddis wisely took him off before he got sent off, replacing him with D‘Ath.
Most of The Nash’s chances were being created by good crosses from the right flank by Mahon or Richardson. On 64 minutes player-manager Mahon, who had a good game, pulling the strings in midfield for the home team, whipped a ball in which was well headed home by Mols, but fortunately for Hereford the flag went up for offside.
The game became a bit of a battle from then on. I was struck by something Bartley said in his post match interview last week, that the big difference in men’s football from the academy/under-21 game is having to fight for a result when there’s something at stake. The Bulls certainly did that and held on well for the win.
I have mixed feelings saying this, but Hereford do seem to be getting better at the dark arts of football, knowing how to disrupt the opposition and when mixing it in the physical aspects of the game. The home team’s captain and number 9, Spencer, certainly knows all the tricks but Howkins and Preston were wise to them and held their own in the physical confrontations. Caddis seized the opportunity provided by 5 subs to break up the momentum of the game, as he did last week.
Once again Ceesay tormented their defence, and all the players put a good shift in. Bartley looks class, hope Caddis can extend his deal.
Another good win on the road. Let’s hope we can make it three in a row at Warrington on Tuesday night.
Full time: Curzon Ashton 1 Hereford FC 2
The Teams
Hereford: Chapman, Bartley, Preston, Howkins, Hudson, Teixeira (D'Ath 61), Campbell (Derricott 90+5), Rose ( Deacon 85), Babos (Tilt 81), Ceesay, Williams (Matwasa 73)
Curzon Ashton: Jones, Poscha, Matthews, Griffiths, Buckley-Ricketts, Sinclair, Spencer, Mols, Hayhurst, Richards, Mahon
Subs: Ollerenshaw, Sobowale, Lacey, Tetlow, Afuye
Pre match refreshments were at the Stalybridge station buffet bar. What a fine place that is. I had heard about it but had never got round to going to it – Google it, it’s terrific, like Brief Encounter meets a perfect traditional boozer. Sadly the chaps who’d proposed it as a meeting place weren’t able to make it, but I’m grateful for the suggestion.
I think yesterday was my 5th visit to the Tameside stadium, and have always been able to sit in the stand previously. However when questioned by the stewards I foolishly admitted to being a visiting supporter and was told I’d have to go to the other side of the ground. I complained and was given the “I’m only doing my job” line, which I suppose is fair enough, but I think a club at that level should be able to provide seating for both sets of supporters. Anyway we persisted and got into the stand eventually.
Segregation seems to be more common now than it used to be – are Hereford supporters getting a reputation or is it just the way the game is going in general?
At the end of the game one Bulls fan jumped onto the pitch to celebrate and was tackled to the ground by two stewards, who then forcibly marched him to the other end of the ground. Any sympathy I might have had for them “only doing their job” disappeared at that point, it seemed a totally over the top reaction.
On to Warrington - COYW.