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| A hapless Matt Urwin watching Eno Nto's goal hit the back of the net |
A ruthless Chorley side ran out deserved winners at Edgar Street as Hereford slumped to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat.
The Bulls' poor start to the season continues despite the brief respite at Buxton on Tuesday, making life easy for Chorley as they cruised to their third win of the season, rising to second in the Enterprise National League North table.
With Hereford going into the game on the back of a confidence-boosting 2-1 win on Tuesday, the only change saw I-Lani Edwards drop to the bench in favour of Sam Osborne in a continuation of the 3-5-2 formation. However, that only lasted until Hereford found themselves 3-0 down 22 minutes into the same, with Mitch Roberts hastily being replaced by Kyle Howkins and Hereford changing to a basic 4-4-2.
Quickly becoming a free-scoring side, having netted three more goals than any other side in the division, the Bulls looked shaky from the off and found themselves a goal down after just six minutes. George Horbury and Craig Hewitt combined effectively down the left, carving open the Bulls' defence for the latter to curl the ball past Theo Richardson between the sticks.
Just like when they conceded early against King's Lynn a week prior, it did not prove to be a wake up call for Paul Caddis's side as three minutes later a Tom Carr effort, deflected off Aaron Skinner, forced Richardson into palming the ball away.
In the 11th minute, Chorley did double their lead in equally frustrating circumstances in front of the Meadow End. While Richardson had reacted deny an initial shot by defender Adam Blakeman, sloppy defending meant nobody in a white shirt was quick enough to jump on the loose ball which Blakeman made no mistake in burying.
The chances just kept coming from Chorley, with Richardson denying Carr before Warren Clarke's effort narrowly cleared the crossbar, before referee Darren Rogers awarded the Magpies a penalty. As Roberts hesitated in clearing the ball, Carr nipped in and the referee spotted a foul - pointing to the spot for Jack Sampson to converted after sending Richardson the wrong way.
Hereford's poor defensive performance led to the first change after just 24 minutes as Howkins replaced Roberts, who was visibly displeased as he kicked an object in the dugout on his way down the tunnel.
Now in a 4-4-2, the pressure from Chorley eased as they looked to continue to control the game in a comfortable manor with their three-goal cushion. Hereford then had a bright spell, much to the relief of the Hereford fans in disbelief at the embarrassing scoreline, as Matt Urwin denied Omari Sterling-James's free kick at full stretch to his left.
Urwin was called into action again moments later as Sam Osborne unleashed a shot which was straight at him, before he denied Remaye Campbell after he got on the end of a Sterling-James cross. Sterling-James was involved once again as a stellar cross from the left was met by Andy Williams - who himself had made a great burst forward into space - but he couldn't get enough on the ball to direct it goalwards as the chance went begging.
But that was it for the positivity of the first half, with Chorley seeing a goal disallowed six minutes from the break. Carr had the ball in the back of the net after a neat flicked header from Jack Moore's corner, though the flag was up for offside.
Before the break, Chorley proved they were still in charge of the game as Blakeman forced Richardson into another save, continuing their confident, free-flowing game.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Chorley 3
Changes were expected at the break, and Caddis duly delivered - Lawson D'Ath and Eno Nto for Sam Osborne and Keenan Quansah. It looked like a second half comeback could've been on the cards as Hereford looked more assured with their new formation, but also an early chance seeing Sam Bird deny Andy Williams with a clearance off the line after Sterling-James beat his man down the left.
The Bulls did then rescue a goal six minutes after the restart as Hereford piled on the pressure from a corner. An initial low, driven effort from Kyle Howkins was deflected into the path of Nto to stab home.
But the goal would only prove to be a consolation as Chorley upped the ante once more. Their fourth goal came just past the hour mark when a free-kick was nodded down by Mark Ellis into the path of Sampson to poke home. Hereford were furious as they appealed for offside, though the protests fell of deaf ears and Richardson booked for racing over to the linesman to make his feelings known.
The next chance for the Lilywhites came after a flurry of Chorley changes, but Campbell saw a tame effort saved by Urwin - seconds before Richardson was called into action to deny Joe Nolan's shot from range after being given yards of space in his break towards goal.
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There were also chances for Hereford, but Andy Williams couldn't get the better of Urwin, Ellis heading D'Ath's curling effort off the line and Sterling-James's cross-cum-shot being tipped over by Urwin.
Full time: Hereford 1 - Chorley 4
Attendance: 2,622 (44 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Eno Nto
As the game petered out, Hereford will now be left licking their wounds. An improved performance after the break after what was presumably a sobering half-time team talk from Caddis did limit the damage in what otherwise could have been a much worse scoreline.
There's also very little time to turn things around as the Bulls travel to Radcliffe in Greater Manchester on bank holiday Monday - and fans will be left wondering which team will turn up; the one which won at Buxton, or the one trounced by Spennymoor, King's Lynn and now Chorley.
Hereford: Richardson, Quansah (Nto 46'), Preston, Roberts (Howkins 24'), Sterling-James, Skinner, Richards, Osborne (D'Ath 46'), Hudson; Campbell (Wreh 78'), A Williams.
Subs not used: Lewis, Bitemo, Edwards
Chorley: Urwin; Moors, Ellis, Bird, Blakeman (Henley 51'); Clarke, Horbury (Summerfield 90'), Calveley, Hewitt (Whitehouse 65'); Sampson (Nolan 64'), Carr (Ibbitson 84').
Subs not used: Walker, Thompson.