Downes delighted as Bulls rise to different kind of challenge

Aaron Downes

Aaron Downes said he was “very happy” with Hereford’s 3–0 win at Worksop, praising his side’s ability to adapt to a tight pitch, a high‑energy opponent and a different type of challenge than their recent home victories.

The Bulls made it three wins in a row — all with clean sheets — thanks to goals from Harrison Iwunze, Luke Spokes and Danny Waldron. But Downes was quick to stress that the scoreline did not tell the full story of a demanding afternoon.

“It was a great performance first and foremost,” he said, but added: “But I’m not going to stand here and say we were by far the better team. It was a tight game.”

Worksop’s intensity and the compact surface forced Hereford to adjust their approach. 

Downes said the team “had to go a bit different today" because of how they wanted to play on a tight pitch against a good side, highlighting the hosts’ energy and ability to “get amongst us”.

The match swung on a crucial moment in the first half when Theo Richardson produced a superb save to keep the game level. Downes called it “an unbelievable save" to keep the scores level, before Hereford nabbed a goal to have the advantage at half-time.

Iwunze’s opener came during Hereford’s best spell of the game, a dominant final half hour of the first period in which they pressed aggressively and created chances. The second half, however, became more fragmented as Worksop changed shape.

“They matched us up,” Downes said. “It became very bitty, if I’m honest, and a real fight.

"I thought we stood up to that and that was a real test of our strength because we've had some real free-flowing football in the last two games at home. Today was a different challenge and we stood up to it."

The Bulls defended their box well, and took advantage when Aleksandrs Starcenko was sent off for kicking a stray ball into the away end. Spokes’ late strike and Waldron’s stoppage‑time finish sealed the win.

With momentum building and another clean sheet secured, Hereford head into the bank holiday double‑header in strong shape - though will face Chester who are the only side in the league with maximum points after the first four games.