The Cup, romance and six appeal

The romance of the Cup gives us a temporary break this weekend from what has been a staggeringly, pinch-me-I’m-dreamingly good start for Hereford FC in the National League North.

It hardly needs saying that places don’t come much more romantic than Staffordshire (a weekend in Stoke or Paris? No contest), and the Bulls travel to Stafford Rangers for a second qualifying round tie that will go to a replay if the sides are drawing at the end of 90ish minutes. The draw could have been considerably kinder, and Stafford away may as well be sponsored by Fyffes given how it screams ‘banana skin’.

Talking of romance, this Bulls side has been very easy to fall in love with. Hard-nosed long-term pessimists on the Len Weston Terrace were unanimously, unprecedentedly thrumming with appreciation last Saturday like giddy teenage girls at a Taylor Swift concert at what was a truly impressive performance, arguably the best of the Hereford FC era.

Jack Tolley’s cameo last weekend suggested that he’s ready to be involved at this level when called upon, and Liam Roberts showed the quality of his crossing when he came on in the second half. If Aaron Downes is considering any rotation here those two could see some action, with the ever-capable Keziah Martin also possibly getting a start in the middle or on the left, and Danny Waldron perhaps set for his first 90 minutes in a Hereford shirt, a shirt that was stretched to ripping point by various South Shields players last weekend.

Their defenders were admittedly in a state of some shock by the time Jordan Williamson was introduced against them, but his contribution was considerable and could see him involved more significantly here.

Will Merrett improves with every game and was one of about ten candidates for man of the match last Saturday. Eleven in fact, given the assist from Theo Richardson for one of the later goals. ‘One of the later goals’ – what IS going on?! The FGR loanee and Kyle Howkins, with Kyle in monstrously good form, is proving to be some centre-back partnership.

The latter looked like he’d picked up a slight knock towards the end against South Shields, and perhaps the manager will consider giving him a rest, with Kam Kandola able to slot into central defence with fresher legs following his three-week suspension.

Stafford ply their trade two levels below Hereford, and currently sit second in their bit of the Northern Premier structure. However, as is always the case at this time of year, lower-level sides have already been busily beavering away in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, meaning that they’ve only played a handful of league games, in Stafford’s case six, so there’s not a huge amount to go on in terms of league form, but they’ve won eight of their last ten league games across last season and this one, which is good form in anyone’s book. However, like Hereford they narrowly avoided relegation last time.

Rangers have a proud history in the non-league game, and were founder members of the Football Conference in 1986, the fifth level of English football still known by many as the GM Vauxhall Conference – surely one of the best value-for-money sponsorships in football given that it stopped being that 28 years ago.

It’s certain that Stafford will be more up for a fight than South Shields were last weekend, and if their goalie and two defenders do any intricate little passing triangles in their own penalty area it’ll be accidental rather than tactical. Hereford will have to match them physically early on to win the right to attempt to out-football them.

There’s an HUFC link between the clubs in the form of Stafford’s goalkeeping coach Scott Cooksey, United’s goalie at the turn of the century, who on his day was quite brilliant. Current goalie Russell Saunders may have to be Cookseyesque in this game to repel a rampaging Bulls side that oozes six appeal. Linkages between the two clubs extend to Stafford having been managed by Phil Robinson, Steve Bull, Neil Grayson and Steve Burr at various times.

Ex-Curzon Ashton centre forward Scott Bakkor has been described by his manager as being ‘the best number 9 in the division’. Admittedly he would say that, but Bakkor scored 23 at Runcorn last season and will need to be shut down here in the same way Paul Blackett was last week. 

This is a big game for the in-form hosts and they’ll make it very difficult for the visitors, who will know they’ve been in a game afterwards regardless of the result. Tricky one.

Finally, if you took a little bit of that 33/1 about Hereford’s title chances a few short weeks ago, good luck to you as they now trade at 5/1. League and Cup double? That’s going to be considerably bigger than 33/1.

COYW