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Hereford FC make the long trip to the northeast this weekend to face league leaders South Shields. This really will be an excellent yardstick for measuring what might be achievable this season for the Bulls, after a hit-and-miss start to the season.
The Mariners have started like they’re hellbent on getting promotion by Christmas. They’ve won eight of their opening ten league games and lost none. They’ve beaten Chorley twice recently, in league and Cup, scoring six goals in those two games. Given that Hereford conceded four at home to Chorley, this looks at first glance like a foregone conclusion.
However, a patched-up Bulls squad has now gone five games unbeaten in the league, beating Alfreton, Worksop and Leamington in the process. Admittedly, none of those sides could be termed divisional big-hitters, but that run and the dogged determination shown by Hereford in recent league games do offer some encouragement in terms of this match being more competitive than it may at first appear.
Full-time South Shields were promoted to the NLN two seasons ago, and seemed to have the profile (well supported, healthy financial backing) to suggest that they’d immediately go up again and push for advancement into the Football League. That didn’t happen, and 8th and 17th-placed finishes since promotion suggested that they’d found their level.
That notion has been firmly left behind so far this season, with star striker Paul Blackett already into double figures for goals scored in all competitions, but for once his goals aren’t the only show in town. Strike partner Cedwyn Scott, who joined the club in the summer from Carlisle for a fee, has also been scoring freely. He scored 24 in 42 games for Gateshead when he last played at this level, and is the sort of player who illustrates the difference in spending power between South Shields and Hereford.
However, the biggest factor in their success so far has been the concession of just four goals in their opening ten league games - astonishing defensive frugality.
Ian Watson replaced Eliott Dickman as manager in the summer and has completely transformed the fortunes of the club. He oversees a young side, with an average age under 24, so the pressure to maintain their place at the top of the table may grow to affect them as the season progresses, but for now they look like the real deal.
The Mariners eased past Spalding in the Cup last weekend with four unanswered goals, Blackett and Scott scoring three between them. They’ll be hosting the Sloppies in the first round in a fortnight, which could perhaps be a bit of a distraction, although that’s possibly clutching at straws a little from a Hereford perspective, and also overplaying the box office pull of our erstwhile neighbours. On current form, despite there being two divisions between the sides, you’d possibly make the home side marginal favourites.
For Hereford, the injury situation has presumably alleviated slightly over the course of the recent fortnight lay-off, which arose as a result of the exit from the FA Cup. The effects of any lingering aches and pains will presumably be lessened by travelling up to the northeast on Friday night if club coffers can stretch to an overnight stay.
Loanee Madou Cisse was on the bench for the last game at Leamington, but prior to that he did come on very briefly as a substitute at Hemel Hempstead. That was the best part of a month ago, so presumably in the interim his fitness has improved enough for him to finally get his season started with a more significant contribution here.
Fellow midfielder Gus Mafuta is still missing, but like Cisse must surely be approaching the point where he can make a contribution soon. The Leamington game offered more evidence that the side is more competitive when Aaron Skinner is playing at full back, so a fit three of Dath, Mafuta and Richards available to cover the middle of the park would allow Skinner to do what he's best at, and give the side the balance and look of a side with play-off aspirations.
Sam Osborne continues to be one of the new recruits who a/ isn’t injured, and b/ seems to be making a positive difference to the side as his season goes from strength to strength.
Lawson Dath returned from injury against Leamington last time out, and continues to grow into being a really influential and effective member of the side, and a positive presence at the club. He’s looking good this season, and his experience will be invaluable here.
You’d assume that any success the visitors get from this game will be the result of quick counter-attacking football, and key to this will be a fit and flying I-Lani Edwards, who showed real threat against Leamington.
In goal, Theo Richardson, that one aberration in the Cup aside, continues to consistently pull off the sort of saves you don’t see too much at this level — in so doing he will earn the side bucketloads of points this season.
Manager Paul Caddis masterminded a wonderful win last time out against the odds, with the side returning to playing some good passing football on the floor after the thoroughly miserable product on offer against Hemel Hempstead.
He’ll presumably be salivating at the prospect of pitting his tactical wits against the league leaders here, and another win would be a significantly greater achievement than that one at Leamington.
Shields will lose one at some point — why not this one?
Finally a word on the NLN generally. With both Alfreton and Leamington both trying to play football against Hereford this season rather than prioritising conning the ref, and Southport last season far less inclined that way, have we seen off the worst of the gamesmanship years? Here’s hoping.
COYW