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Warrington Town are the hosts, and they’ve had a fairly indifferent start to the season, sitting in 18th place just three points above the drop zone. As such, they’re beatable opponents for a Bulls side that’s doing a good impression of meaning business this season.
This is the Yellows’ second season in the NLN since promotion, and they adapted well last time, finishing a place and five points behind Hereford.
On Saturday they found themselves two down in 15 minutes at home against an Oxford City side finding it very difficult to adapt to life in the NLN following relegation last season. 2-0 was how it stayed, and a repeat of that sort of form should mean that the points go to the visitors.
Ex-Bull Mark Beesley resigned as manager last month after eight years in charge. He seemed to be a shrewd cookie in operating effectively with one of the few playing budgets in the division that apparently doesn’t dwarf Hereford’s, and his departure after so long in post seems to have left the club slightly rudderless. Former manager Paul Carden has returned as Beesley’s replacement.
Ollie Southern left Edgar Street in the summer to join his local club, and is the sort of versatile player who is sought after by clubs trying to maximise value for money out of their squad. The 22-year-old hasn’t been playing lately due to injury. If his fitness wasn’t an issue I wonder whether he would still be at Hereford, as I thought he was a good player, whose quality sometimes went under the radar, and he showed an intelligence and ability on the ball that was impressive for someone of such a relatively tender age. Having said that Sammy Robinson, in a similar role and as Southern’s replacement, would be most people’s preference I’m sure, including mine.
Youngsters Josh Miles and Murphy Bennett came into the club from Blackpool and FGR respectively in the summer. Miles’ loan spell ends on Halloween, so this will be his penultimate game with the club. He’s done well with two goals from left wing and will give Sammy Robinson plenty to think about as the ex-Kiddy defender returns following an absence at the weekend due to suspension. Robinson’s return will also give Paul Caddis plenty to think about in terms of who starts and in what formation.
Defender Bennett, just 19, was born local to Warrington in Stockport but has spent his career to date closer to Hereford, with spells at Gloucester and Didcot in addition to FGR.
One of their more threatening players last season, Isaac Buckley Ricketts, left the club in the summer for Curzon Ashton, where he was kept quiet last weekend against the Bulls.
Connor Woods is still there though, and has three goals and two assists to his name so far this season. He’ll be their main goal threat. Fellow striker and club captain Josh Amis’s season only started in October, but has already found the net and like Woods has contributed with a couple of assists.
Influential if ageing central midfielder Jay Harris, like Josh Amis, has only recently found a place in the starting XI. The ex-Tranmere and Wrexham player was missing in this fixture last season, when Hereford came away with the points following a 2-1 win. Big performances from Babos, Ceesay and Teixeira contributed significantly that day, and all three could start again here, although the latter could be rotated out with Lawson D’Ath coming in with fresh legs just a few days after the last game. Those two between them could hit the magical 50 yellow cards for the season, which should warrant some sort of shared trophy.
In a division in which most clubs more or less just take it in turns to take points from one another, form lines aren’t worth a great deal, but Warrington have lost at home to Radcliffe, Needham Market, Farsley and Oxford. That’s form that should give the visitors cause for considerable optimism. For Warrington, it looks dangerously like the form of a relegation contender. I mean, who loses at home to Needham Market?
On Saturday the Bulls yet again won away on the road after a disrupted journey up to Greater Manchester. That victory sees them now sitting in second place in the table, just a point behind Scunthorpe at the top.
Hereford dominated this fixture last season when admittedly the season was petering out. The 2-1 scoreline didn’t reflect that dominance, and if they can take a similar grip on this one they’ll be keen to turn possession and dominance into goals, as goals win games in a way possession and dominance don’t. Anyway, that’s quite enough football cliches.
On Saturday unfortunately it all comes crashing down because it’s finally a dreaded home match…or does it? Be there to find out, on what will be a momentous occasion as it could be the last time the dear old floodlights make a half-hearted attempt to illuminate the pitch.
COYW