Match report: Perfect afternoon as Bulls topple leaders South Shields

Harrison Sohna's second goal against South Shields

Hereford have continued their rich vein of form under new boss Aaron Downes by dramatically halting South Shields’ 16-game unbeaten run in a 2-1 win at Edgar Street.

Top of National League North going into the game, Shields would have been hoping for an easy afternoon at Edgar Street but it was far from it as they were kept at bay by Hereford, who scored two stunning strikes in the second half courtesy of Harrison Sohna.

While a late consultation goal game for the visitors through Lennon Wheldon, it was too little too late for the North East side who are overtaken by AFC Fylde at the summit.

With just one change from the side that trampled over Leamington in Tuesday night’s 5-1 win under the Edgar Street lights - Lawson D’Ath adding some extra bite and experience in midfield at Harry Tustin’s expense - there was some optimism that Hereford, sitting sixth in the form table, could get something from the game.

In the opening stages of the game, both sides looked lively. For the visitors, Jack Roles’ probing cross into the box just evaded the claret and blue shirts before captain Joe Tinkler’s surging run from defence saw his threaded ball stolen before it could reach goal machine Paul Blackett.

For the Bulls, a determined run into the box from left winger Cormac Daly was well-defended, before calls for a Hereford penalty were dismissed by Samuel Bragg when D’Ath appeared to be tripped.

While South Shields also had a penalty shout ignored, with Will Jenkins throwing himself to the floor in front of the Meadow End, the game continued in a lively, end-to-end style without either side having clear-cut chances.

One Of Daly's Runs

That was until the half-hour mark passed and Harrison Sohna curled a shot just wide of the top-right-hand corner, and Theo Richardson easily plucked a tame Blackett effort from the spring air after good work by Ethan Mann in the build-up.

South Shields, having the lion’s share of possession, had created the most chances throughout the first half, the best of which saw Jack Roles’s glancing header skim wide of the upright, having got the better of Aaron Skinner to meet Sonny Finch’s cross.

Half time: Hereford 0 - South Shields 0

With Aaron Downes no doubt asking for more of the same from his side in the second half, five minutes after the restart, Richardson was forced into action as he pulled off a great save to deny Blackett at point-blank range.

But Hereford then upped the ante, with  George Munday firing wide before Kyle Howkins’ outstretched leg got onto the end of Sohna’s free kick but unable to beat Tom Watson.

Shields, desperate to maintain their spot at the top of the league, then went close again as chaos unfolded in the Hereford box. After Roles picked out Finch in the area, he saw his shot blocked, and after a wild scramble, the ball fell to Roles again, who could only agonisingly watch on as his shot rose high over the crossbar.

But despite the mild panic in the Hereford box, overall they defended calmly and confidently absorbed the pressure exerted on them from the Mariners - with the partnership between Keenan Quansah and Howkins now clicking.

It was then in the 65th minute when Hereford took the lead in stunning style in front of a sun-drenched Meadow End. With some impressive footwork from Daly on the left to whip a cross in, the ball evaded everyone in the box before being picked up by Sohna. He made no mistake from the right-hand side of the box, sublimely curling the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net. While Tom Watson did get his fingertips to the ball, it was to no avail as the Bulls went 1-0 up.

While South Shields looked to respond immediately through Blackett as he turned Sean McGurk’s free kick towards goal, only for Richardson to claim, Hereford doubled their lead in the 75th minute when substitute Tustin was brought down running towards the area.

In a near-identical position to his first goal, Sohna stepped up to take a free-kick from 20-yards, this time curling the ball in the top right-hand corner to send the home side into raptures.

As both sides shuffled the pack with the clock ticking down, every player in a white shirt continued to put in an impressive shift, with the individual errors that have been plaguing the Bulls this season seemingly becoming fewer and fewer.

Now with more pressure to handle from Shields, Lennon Wheeldon forced Richardson to parry the ball into the path of McGurk, though he couldn’t find the target. Ethan Robson also tested Richardson in the 89th minute but Hereford’s keeper continued his fine performance to keep the clean sheet intact.

That was until the fourth of the five added minutes when Wheeldon stabbed the ball home from close range in a congested penalty box, though it proved nothing more than a late consolation goal.

Full time: Hereford 2 - South Shields 1

Attendance: 2,764 (53 away)

Sponsors man of the match: Harrison Sohna

All in all, a pretty perfect day for Aaron Downes’ men. Not only did they topple the league leaders which means they’ve now picked up 16 points from the 21 on offer so far under the new boss, but the performance from back to front was impressive.

Hereford’s defence coped admirably with the threats from Shields, looking a lot more assured than a couple of months back. Midfield, buoyed by the return of Lawson D’Ath linked play well and the Bulls scored twice against the league’s best defensive outfit.

Now it’s just a case of beating the new league leaders on Tuesday when AFC Fylde visit Edgar Street for the last of three consecutive home games.