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| Substitute Edwards With A Long Range Effort |
Harwood Bull reports from Spennymoor:
Here we go again
A new season, new optimism. How long would it last? About 36 minutes into the game is the answer, when the always consistent Glen Taylor was left in acres of space on Hereford’s right side, advanced on goal and beat Theo Richardson with a composed finish, curling the ball easily into the net. Until that point the Bulls had played some good football, but once they went behind they seemed to lose their way and never looked like getting back on level terms.
Hereford’s starting line up had some familiar faces and more new ones. In front of Richardson in goal was a back four of Qansah, Roberts, Howkins, and captain Skinner switched to left back. Doing the defensive work in midfield were Richards and the considerable physical presence of Mafuta. Osborne was the attacking midfielder, Rem Campbell the main striker with Nto and Sterling-James wide right and left respectively.
As early as the 4th minute Osbourne had the ball in the net with a neat finish but the whistle had already gone for a foul. Hereford looked lively and Nto’s pace and control created some openings but the final ball didn’t trouble the home defence. At the other end Hereford looked vulnerable at set pieces. Richards did well to push a free kick round the post in the 16th minute and 10 minutes later reacted well to tip Ramshaw’s header from a corner over the bar.
The Bulls were putting some good passing moves together and things were looking OK, until the Glen Taylor moment described above. Every team needs a reliable goal scorer to succeed, and Taylor’s record speaks for itself. The “Taylor 200” shirt in the bar emphasises his local hero status.
He was involved in the Moors’ second goal as well, winning a header from another corner that tested the Bulls’ defence. The ball was blocked but broke to Rowe who finished from close range.
The Bulls went into the half break two goals down without having played badly but showing some defensive frailty.
Half Time: Spennymoor Town 2 Hereford FC 0
No changes for Herford at half time, but the style of play started to shift into more of a long ball game. Campbell was left fighting for balls punted up field with little support, and the two wide players weren’t getting into the game. Sterling-James was the first of them to give way, being replaced by Edwards.
Spennymoor are a well organised and efficient outfit and controlled the second half well. Most of their chances came from dead ball situations, Hereford always looked shaky when under pressure from corners.
There was a double change on 78 minutes with Andy Williams on for Osbourne and Nto giving way to the diminutive Cisse. Nothing much changed. Then Skinner, who was on a yellow, was replaced by Hudson. He got forward energetically but was unable to change the game, and Spennymoor finished comfortable winners.
Campbell With A Shot But It Went Wide
Full Time: Spennymoor Town 2 Hereford FC 0
Hereford FC: Richardson, Roberts, Quansah, Howkins, Sterling-James (Edwards 57), Skinner (c) (Hudson 80), Mafuta, Richards, Nto (Cisse 78), Osbourne (Williams 78), Campbell
Subs: Lewis, Bitemo,
Spennymoor Town FC: James, Dyson, Rowe, Beals, Heaney, Taylor (c), Ramshaw, Pollock, Madine, McKeown, Dolan
Subs: Barrow, Ledger, Hill, Hancox, Salkeld, Doherty, Mondal
So a disappointing start for the Bulls, who were without 3 or 4 players who might otherwise have been in the starting eleven. It’s far too early to start worrying, but it did seem very similar to the defeat on the last day of last season. They started well but having gone behind, stopped playing the passing game and relied increasingly on hopeful long balls. I like Campbell, his physical battling style is needed in what can be a very tough division. He was visibly frustrated at times with the service he was getting and definitely needs other players in close support for him to be effective.
Very hard to pick a man of the match so I won’t try. No-one was outstanding, and no-one played particularly badly. Nto looked a threat in the first half but faded in the second. Richardson played well and looks to be one of the best long passers in the team. Roberts looked comfortable alongside Howkins.
Very early days yet but there’s another tough one next week.
This was the first time I’d been to Spennymoor in the sunshine. The last time I went was on a miserable, cold January Tuesday evening, so today was a treat by comparison. There was a good turnout from Hereford, maybe 100-120 supporters, which isn’t bad considering the journey and it’s still holiday season. It’s a nice ground, facilities are good and all the staff and stewards were friendly and helpful. My only complaint is that there were NO PIES! The chicken burgers were fine but it’s just not the same.
A novel thing in the bar was the two-pint glass that seemed to be going down well – one chap said to me that it wasn’t a big glass, he just had small hands. Very droll.
COYW