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| Captain Hudson Heads In Hereford's First Goal |
Bedford Town v Hereford FC in the Enterprise National League North.
After the massive win and solid clean sheet on Merseyside on Wednesday night against Marine AFC the Bulls we're back on the road for one final time this season with a first trip since Hereford United's 2-1 loss in an FA Cup 3rd Round tie back in January 1966 to The Eyrie Stadium to face Bedford Town. There have been some memorable games on the road like the first away win of the season back in August, a 2-1 success at Buxton FC to some we’d rather forget like the 3-0 defeat in February at AFC Telford United. Many supporters being the final away fixture of the season made a brilliant effort and came in fancy dress, there we're Aussie costumes from kangaroos to koalas for manager Aaron Downes, a nun, convict, bear, Laa-Laa and Tinky Winky from the Teletubbies and Marge Simpson attended!
There was one change to the Bulls side that beat the Mariners on Wednesday night with Keenan Quansah coming in for Matt Preston who wasn't involved and Eddie Oppong was back on the bench after missing the Merthyr Town and Marine AFC games.
The game started in tricky windy conditions with the Eagles having an early corner on the right, Ebbsfleet United loanee George Moncur’ delivery missed Ben Nugent who played it back out to Josh Castiglione who's shot hit Harrison Sohna and looped into the arms of Theo Richardson before the Bulls had their first opportunity from a corner of their own on the left, Joseph James played it to Cormac Daly but his ball missed everyone eventually falling to Harry Tustin on the right side of the area before he was brought down for a free-kick.
Harrison Sohna’ free-kick assisted by the wind hit the wall and was cleared. With 5 minutes gone Hereford we're comfortable in possession, knocking the ball around with Bedford sitting off.
Bedford had a throw-in on the left which was headed on by Ryan Doherty before looping into the arms of Theo Richardson.
They then won a free-kick to the left of the area on the edge but Moncur' delivery hit Mikey Lane.
Shortly afterwards on 18 minutes the Eagles broke the deadlock, Moncur crossed from the left of the area which found the head of Ryan Doherty who was left unmarked and headed the ball back across goal into the bottom-left.
George Moncur was involved again looking for more beating Lewis Hudson for pace on the right channel, but his right foot effort was tame and was easily saved to his right by Theo Richardson.
Looking for a response the Bulls had a free-kick on the right, Sohna delivered but was easily headed away by Bedford fullback Lewis Green.
Just before half an hour gone on 29 minutes Bedford took a two-goal lead, George Moncur' shot was saved by the legs of Theo Richardson before the ball came back out to Josh Castiglione who's first time effort found it's way past Richardson into the bottom-left.
Corner for Hereford on the left, Joseph James’ ball to the back post was collected by Keenan Quansah before he was dispossessed by Sam Brown.
On 32 minutes Hereford boss Aaron Downes looked to change things with Harry Tustin and Joseph James making way to be replaced by Aaron Skinner and Keziah Martin.
The Bulls had a corner on the right but Harrison Sohna’ lofted ball was collected by Bedford goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore who is on loan from Boreham Wood.
5 minutes before half time the rain was now starting to fall and the wind persisted, after the hosts got their second goal they saw more of the ball.
They almost broke which Jevani Brown would of been away near the right touchline if he wasn't tugged back by Keenan Quansah who picked up the first booking of the afternoon. George Moncur hung the ball to the back post before it was headed clear by Kyle Howkins which was the final action of the 2 minutes of additional time.
A half where the Bulls started brightly until conceding the opener, afterwards Hereford huffed and puffed but failed to test Nathan Ashmore with any meaningful chances.
Half-time: Bedford Town 2-0 Hereford FC
The second half kicked off in bright sunshine with the hosts early opportunity from a free-kick near the right touchline, Moncur’ drilled cross to the front post was flicked harmlessly wide by Sam Brown.
Five minutes into the second half and the Bulls had their first sighter through Harrison Sohna’ right foot shot from the edge of the box which went over the crossbar.
Free-kick on the left by Harrison Sohna to the back post found Kyle Howkins who was brought down by Ben Nugent inside the box but the referee waved the appeals away.
Shortly afterwards Hereford had another strong shout for a penalty after Junior Gyamfi brought down Mikey Lane on the left of the box but again the referee ignored the appeals.
Then on 57 minutes Hereford pulled a goal back from a corner on the left, Cormac Daly played in a good ball with Lewis Hudson finding the back of the net with a neat header.
With the bit between their teeth now Keziah Martin fed the ball to Freddy Willcox on the edge of the box before his curling left foot effort whistled narrowly over the bar.
Seven minutes after pulling a goal back the comeback was completed with the Bulls finding an equaliser, a rasping drive by Keziah Martin from the edge of the box was too powerful for Nathan Ashmore to hold who could only parry into the path of Andy Williams, who on the floor managed to get his foot to the ball and hammer it into the roof of the net.
Hereford now had their tails up after pulling level and we're camped in the Bedford half, Daly doing well down the left pulling the ball back to George Munday but his sweeping left side foot effort looped over the bar.
Bedford had a free-kick just outside the box, substitute Greg Sandiford’ ball to the back post was put out by Kyle Howkins for a corner on the left, George Moncur took it which was almost met by the head of Ryan Doherty but after a challenge with Kyle Howkins the ball dropped down and was cleared away from danger by Keziah Martin.
Neat one-two between Aaron Skinner and Andy Williams just inside the box on the right saw Skinner brought down by T'Sharne Gallimore which looked a nailed on spot kick but again the referee somehow didn't give anything and played on.
On 82 minutes Aaron Skinner then cut in from the left, drove into the box before seeing his curling left foot effort whistle narrowly over the bar.
The Eagles had a throw-in from the left which was launched into the box by Sam Brown before it found it's way to the edge with Ellis Brown’ effort high over the crossbar.
With two minutes of normal time remaining Freddy Willcox tried his luck from about 35-yards with a thunderous pile-driver which went narrowly wide of the left upright.
Into 4 minutes of additional time Hereford we're awarded a free-kick to the left of the area, Keziah Martin delivered which was headed out by Sam Brown for a throw-in on the right before Cormac Daly had a looping effort from the edge of the area which flew over the bar.
Late on Andy Williams flashed a ball across from the right of the box to the back post but it evaded a Bulls shirt and trickled out for a goal-kick which was the final action meaning the Bulls fought back to claim a battling point.
Full-time: Bedford Town 2-2 Hereford FC
Goals scored by Lewis Hudson and Andy Williams.
Hereford FC Starting XI:- 1 Theo Richardson, 3 Lewis Hudson ©️, 8 Harrison Sohna, 9 Mikey Lane, 14 Keenan Quansah, 16 George Munday, 18 Cormac Daly, 25 Joseph James, 26 Freddy Willcox, 27 Harry Tustin, 28 Kyle Howkins.
Substitutes:- 2 Aaron Skinner, 6 Lawson D'Ath, 10 Andy Williams, 11 Eddie Oppong, 20 Keziah Martin, 21 Ollie Lewis, 24 Harley Hamilton.
A big second half fight back in the final away game of the season sees the Bulls battle back to claim another vital point. Meaning the gap is five points from safety going into the final 4 home games of the season. The draw means the Bulls have shared the spoils two-all in both encounters with the Eagles this season.
The games continue to come thick and fast when we're back at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium on Tuesday night for the first of four consecutive home games to finish the season and it's another big one against Oxford City. COYW
Words by Sam Cummins