On a knife edge

Hereford FC travel to Bedford for a huge relegation six-pointer on Saturday, their final away trip of the season and the biggest game of the season…until Tuesday.

Prior to Monday’s game against Merthyr, it was all looking like we were about to enter ‘need a miracle’ territory. Now, after two heroic wins in three days, the Bulls are back to something like a 50/50 chance of securing their National League North status for next season. It’s absolutely on a knife edge, but another win here would tip things still further from ‘need a miracle’ to ‘this is on’. Phewee, 2025/26 has been deeply traumatising, and the most nerve-jangling is still to come.

Bedford manager Lee Bircham signed a contract extension pre-season that will keep him at the club until summer 2027. The new deal comes after back-to-back promotions. They won’t be going up again this season, but he’ll have done well if he keeps them in the division. If they win this, they’ll have taken a huge step in that direction. If they lose it, they’re in big trouble, particularly as they travel to South Shields next.

If the Eagles landed in the NLN hoping that momentum from promotion would give them a rocket-boosted start as it did Merthyr, they’ve been disappointed. They’d been in the relegation places since Hereford hosted them in September, but in an expertly timed run they’ve won three of their last five games, in the process moving clear of the bottom four. They’re six points ahead of Hereford having played two games more, and have a better goal difference. This is therefore a game of pivotal importance to both clubs, and they’re one of the few clubs Hereford can catch and pass if relegation is to be avoided; a Bulls win here would obviously be a huge leap towards achieving that.

On Easter Monday they irritatingly and agonisingly beat Paul Caddis-managed Kings Lynn with an 87^th minute penalty courtesy of midfielder George Moncur, son of ex-West Ham midfielder John Moncur, who is his agent, a relationship which could presumably become awkward from time to time over the dinner table. That result incidentally leaves Kings Lynn far from safe, with a tricky run-in.

In terms of threats, the Bedford shortlist comprises just one name – Tyrone Marsh. That’s not to say they’re a one-man team, it’s just that the striker has had such an exceptional season that he stands out like a sore thumb. The local lad has scored 26 goals following a summer move from Boreham Wood, including one against Hereford in the reverse fixture. He’s missed the last three games through suspension, but will be back for this, unfortunately. The relatively good news is that prior to his suspension he hadn’t scored in five games. Hopefully that means he’s dried up for the season, rather than ‘due one’.

**EDIT - Marsh is serving a four-game ban so will miss this game - excellent news** 

In what could be seen as a twist of fate that actually favours the Bulls, Bedford were furious at an FA decision recently to suspend loanee striker Callum Ebanks – meaning he’ll miss this game. Ebanks, on loan from Buxton, has been hit with a three-match ban over an incident dating back to October.

That game between the clubs in September was one of the many this season in which Hereford chucked away any chance of victory in the first quarter of an hour, by which time they were two goals behind, before clawing their way back to earn a 2-2 draw.

However, two clean sheets in a row and a marked upturn in form from Kyle Howkins and Matt Preston, coupled with a new-found ability to score early goals rather than concede them, will hopefully result in the visitors being two-up after 15 minutes here instead. The likeable centre backs, each carrying an impressive collection of long-term aches, pains, stresses and strains, put in a remarkably assured display at Marine in particular, and can carry that form into this game.

At the other end of the pitch, we likey Mikey. Mikey Lane now has two in two having got off the mark for the club on Easter Monday, and can profit again here against a defence that let seven in against Merthyr recently. It would be lovely and thoroughly deserved for George Munday to get back among the goals too.

Joseph James should continue at right back, with captain Lewis Hudson leading by example in his determination to see this season end on a high note on the other side of the defensive four.

A big away following is expected (Hereford have been allocated 800 tickets), some unfortunate fancy-dress choices will be made, and it would be absolutely wonderful for the travelling fans to see another big performance on yet another plastic pitch, and three points coming back to Edgar Street. Four home games then round off the season, starting with yet another six-pointer against Oxford on Tuesday night.

Hold onto your hats folks, here we go again…

COYW