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| Ahkeem Rose and Andy Williams celebrating Hereford's third goal |
Hereford secured a crucial three points to keep themselves in the mix at the top of the Vanarama National League table as they ended a run of disappointing performances at home.
In what was a good afternoon at Edgar Street, the Bulls finished the match in fourth - two points off the summit albeit having played an extra game than most of the teams around them - thanks to goals from Ahkeem Rose, Yusifu Ceesay and substitute Andy Williams.
For the clash against Farsley Celtic - a team sat mid-table having been beaten 3-0 at Spennymoor before a 3-0 win at 'home' against Peterborough Sports midweek - Paul Caddis made only one change to the side that lost at Warrington on Tuesday. After that disappointing 2-0 defeat, he opted to start Aurio Teixeira in place of Andy Williams in a rather confusing, somewhat fluid formation, of perhaps 3-4-2-1?
At a sunny Edgar Street, Hereford looked bright in the opening stages and both teams tried to establish a foothold in the game without massive success. Some early pressure was mopped up by the visitors, with the first real talking point of the match the opening goal.
While a short corner in the 16th minute saw Tate Campbell's effort deflected wide, it was a case of second time lucky for the hosts. A deep corner was headed back across the face of goal by Matt Preston, with Ahkeem Rose on hand to bundle the ball over the line to break the deadlock.
Buoyed by the early goal, albeit with Farsley's DJ Campton-Sturridge forcing Aaron Chapman into a save after the visitors carved open Hereford's defence, the Bulls then went on to create another decent effort. This time, skipper Lewis Hudson was the creator, but Aurio Teixeira couldn't quite do enough to connect with it inside the 18-yard box.
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| Aurio Teixeira |
Teixeira, a dogged player in midfield, was then involved in the 35th minute as he burst through and found space to tee up Babos, but he couldn't create a meaningful chance as Hereford looked to double their lead.
They didn't have to wait though as two minutes later they doubled their advantage. This time, Ahkeem Rose spread the ball out wide to Teixeira who carried it forward before crossing in. With the ball delivered towards the far post, Ceesay's firm downward header rendered visiting keeper Tom Wooster.
Before the half was out and with one goal already under his belt, lively winger Ceesay searched for his brace as a speculative shot from range was launched goalwards - only to be denied by a blue shirt with two fruitless corners following.
Half time: Hereford 2 - Farsley Celtic 0
The second half started as the first ended, with Hereford limiting Farsley and looking in control - and efforts from range. The first came from the dependable Sammy Robinson - who put in another solid performance - before Alex Babos then also forced Wooster into action to keep the deficit at only two. Chapman had been alert to the threat from youngster Cole Hyde, one of the few breaks from the visitors.
Back in front of the Meadow End, there was also a chance for Rose, winning a battle before driving goalwards, only for his effort to curl wide. Also wide was a shot for Campton-Sturridge while one-on-one with the keeper before the action returned to the other end of the park.
With a Robinson corner punched clear by the keeper and a Campbell effort deflected by a defender, in the 74th minute substitute Andy Williams rounded off the scoring. Coming on in place of the injured Robinson, Willo could make no mistake as he got on the end of Rose's ball from the wing - taking advantage of a poor backpass from Farsley within their own half.
Eight minutes later and it could've been a second for Willo, but Bailey Sloane made a last-ditch block to deny the quick counter-attack which involved Babos and Ceesay. While a Campton-Sturridge shot was blazed over the bar and more half-chances from Hereford came before the afternoon was out, the confident Bulls deserved their three points.
The only downer on the afternoon would have been the injury to Robinson in the second half. While he was due to miss next week anyhow through suspension, Caddis has suggested this injury could keep him sidelined for six weeks - that will be a big loss to Hereford as the former Manchester City youngster has more than proved his worth in the side.
Hereford: Chapman, Howkins, Preston (Deacon 78’), Hudson, Bartley, Robinson (Williams 70’), Campbell, Ceesay, Teixeira, Babos (Tilt 86’), Rose (Matwasa 78’).
Sub not used: Horton
Farsley Celtic: Wooster, Allan, Misambo, Fielding, Hyde, Sloane, Watson (Mampala 67’), Atkinson, Greenfield, Campton-Sturridge, Fox (Stephenson 54’).
Subs not used: D. Youmbi, L. Turner, I. Assenso