Cox In National North Midweek Team

Hereford striker Cawley Cox has been included in the National North Team of Midweek.

Cox scored his first goal for the club at Harborough last night. 

Before Kick-Off At Harborough

A new ground for Hereford supporters last night.

 

A Night To Remember At Harborough

Last night at Harborough will be a night to remember for all those Hereford staff, players and supporters who made the two hour trip to Leicestershire.

Whilst the game was level at the break, three second half goals for the visitors ensured victory. 

A particular highlight was Cawley Cox scoring his first goal for his club.

Lots of pictures to post. First some of the players and staff after the final whistle.

Last Night In The National North

The Charging Bulls

A review of last night's National North League games written by NL's Sam Elliott.

It was a free-scoring night in the Enterprise National League North.

Hereford stay top thanks to their emphatic 3-0 win at Harborough Town. The Bulls were cheered by Macclesfield’s dropped points as they drew 0-0 at home Scarborough Athletic.

Managerless Southport stunted Morecambe’s recent recovery - Daniel Ogwuru hit the winner six minutes from time.

Darlington’s difficult start to the season continues, they were thrashed 5-2 at Chorley. Jack Hazlehurst bagged a brace.

Radcliffe are also without a manager but they scored five too. Tyler James and Joe Prichard both scored twice in an easy win over Hebburn Town.

Buxton also hit five goals. Sisa Tuntulwana shone as Brackley Town were sent packing.

Chester remain inconsistent since topping the table - Merthyr Town escaped the Diva Stadium with a brave three points with Lee Lucas sending the visiting fans wild.

Bart Cybulski hit another hat-trick as Spalding United added to Spennymoor Town’s struggle.

Elsewhere Hednesford Town won a thriller at King’s Lynn Town, Jamie Cook’s goal ultimately proved to be the difference.

South Shields beat Marine 2-1, Paul Blackett was back on the scoresheet, as AFC Telford United and Bedford Town claimed important wins. 

REACTION | Cawley Cox - Harborough Town 0-3 Hereford FC

Cawley Cox spoke to the media after last nights 3-0 win over Harborough. Click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

Match Report: Harborough Town 0-3 Hereford FC

Harrison Iwunze Scored Hereford's First Goal

Harborough Town v Hereford FC in the Enterprise National League North.

After claiming back-to-back wins the Bulls travelled to Leicestershire for a first ever visit to the Harborough Town Community Football Ground to take on newly promoted Harborough Town.

Vice-captain Kam Kandola was back with the captains armband following his three-match suspension along with Cawley Cox who came into the starting line-up. Keziah Martin and Preston Bitemo we're both amongst the substitutes.

The Bees had Ex-Bull Sam Osborne who started but former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest forward Brit Assombalonga wasn't involved. They we're also protecting an impressive home league record having not suffered defeat on home turf since loosing 2-1 to St Ives Town in April 2025 at the end of 2024/25 season.

The Bulls started on the front foot after 4 minutes with a shot on the edge of the box on right by Joseph James which fizzed high over the crossbar.

A stoppage in play after 8 minutes when Riley O’Sullivan and Will Merrett had a coming together which resulted in the Bulls centre-half having his shirt ripped followed by a short outage of the floodlights.

Cawley Cox had a low drive from inside the box which was straight into the arms of Harborough goalkeeper Elliott Taylor.

There was a mix-up at the back between Rory McAuley and Taylor which gifted the ball straight to Harrison Iwunze who laid off to Cox and with the keeper out of his goal shot goalwards but Alex Morris scrambled back in the nick of time to clear off the line.

Iwunze did well inside the box battling with Taylor, the ball bounced around before landing to Harry Tustin who's well placed effort was tipped over the crossbar by the fingertips of Taylor.

With 17 minutes on the clock Devon Kelly-Evans had the first chance for the Bees but shanked his effort high over the crossbar from the edge of the box before winger Callum Powell had a go from a tight angle which was comfortable for Theo Richardson diving low to his right.

Harborough we're then awarded a debatable free-kick on the edge of the box in a dangerous position after a coming together between Merrett and O’Sullivan resulting in the Forest Green loanee being booked. Former Bull Sam Osborne curled towards the bottom-right corner only to be denied by Richardson at full-stretch.

Luke Spokes picked up a loose ball trying his luck 25-yards out only to drag his right foot shot wide of the left post.

Hereford had controlled the majority of the first-half play but we're unable to find a breakthrough, limiting Harborough to minimal but the scores we're level at the interval.

Half-time: Harborough Town 0-0 Hereford FC 

Hereford started the second period the brighter with a Cox ball laid off to Spokes who's shot took a deflection off McAuley and looped into the arms of the Harborough shot stopper despite pressure from the onrushing Cox before O’Sullivan had a snapshot on the turn which was collected by Richardson.

5 minutes after the restart the deadlock was broken, Putman misplaced his clearance allowing Iwunze to nip in before rifling past Taylor to get his third goal in two games and sixth for the club.

The lead was almost doubled from a corner on the right which Spokes delivered towards the penalty spot where from 5-yards out James agonisingly kneed over.

Since the goal Hereford had kept the pressure up and deservedly doubled the lead on 64 minutes, Phillips did well driving towards the edge of the box. Cox picked up the ball before being tackled by McAuley the loose ball rolled back into the path of Phillips who poked it onto Cox before the striker superbly curled into the bottom-right corner to score his first league goal for the club.

Big chance for the hosts to reduce the arrears after the ball pinballed around inside the box, Richardson pulled off a great save from point blank range to deny O'Sullivan before it landed to Powell who dragging his left foot effort millimeters wide of the right post.

A melee then ensued after McAuley clattered into Richardson on the edge of the box, during the altercations Kandola appeared to be pushed in the face by O'Sullivan inside the goalmouth but nothing was surprising given against the Harborough man. referee Brandon Scaife booked McAuley along with two other Harborough men and Richardson for the fracas.

Neat passage of play between Spokes and Iwunze on the edge of the box allowed the latter to get a shot on target but was straight at Taylor.

Shortly afterwards a scare for the Bulls when Dempsey Arlott-John was through and with Richardson beaten the wingers shot crashed off the crossbar.

Harborough corner was floated in by Eliot Putman towards the back stick which Morris managed to get his head to directing the ball into the ground and over.

The Bees rattled the woodwork for a second time after Jordan Williamson lost the ball in a dangerous area on the edge of the box to Arlott-Allen before the winger rattled the outside of the right post.

In the 5th minute of 7 added on the Bulls wrapped up the win when Keziah Martin won the ball off Putman on the right, before playing upto Spokes who helped it across to Danny Waldron with the substitute sweeping into the bottom-left corner.

Full-time: Harborough Town 0-3 Hereford FC 

Goals scored by Harrison Iwunze, Cawley Cox and Danny Waldron.

Hereford FC Starting XI:- 1 Theo Richardson, 2 Aaron Skinner, 4 Kam Kandola ©️, 5 Will Merrett, 8 Harry Tustin, 9 Cawley Cox, 14 Luke Spokes, 17 Joseph James, 19 Harrison Iwunze, 23 Billy Phillips, 28 Kyle Howkins.

Substitutes:- 7 Keziah Martin, 10 Danny Waldron, 15 Jordan Williamson, 18 Liam Roberts, 20 Preston Bitemo, 21 Ollie Lewis, 24 Jack Tolley.

Three wins on the bounce and a statement victory inflicting the first home league defeat on the Bees in 17 months to send the Bulls top of the Enterprise National League North.

Attendance 1069 (312 away)

Next up for Hereford is the visit of South Shields to the MandM Edgar Street Stadium. COYW

Words: Sam Cummins

Tuesday’s National League North results and updated table as Bulls go top

Tuesday evening’s results from the National League North.

AFC Telford United 1 - 0 Oxford City
Buxton 5 - 0 Brackley Town
Chester 0 - 1 Merthyr Town
Chorley 5 - 2 Darlington
Harborough Town 0 - 3 Hereford
King’s Lynn Town 2 - 3 Hednesford Town
Macclesfield 0 - 0 Scarborough Athletic
Radcliffe 5 - 1 Hebburn Town
South Shields 2 - 1 Marine
Southport 2 - 1 Morecambe
Spennymoor Town 1 - 3 Spalding United
Worksop Town 1 - 2 Bedford Town

The updated table can be found here: https://bullsnews.blogspot.com/p/league-table.html

REACTION | Aaron Downes - Harborough 0-3 Hereford FC

Aaron Downes gives his post match reaction to tonight's 3-0 win over Harborough. Click on the play button to hear his thoughts.

Hereford top after a 3-0 victory

Hereford are top of the table this evening after a 3-0 win at Harborough Town. 

Harrison Iwunze, Cawley Cox and Danny Waldron scored the Bulls goals in the second half to earn the win. 

There were 312 Hereford supporters out of 1069 at the game

Half time: Harborough 0-0 Hereford

It’s all square at half time at Harborough Town. 

Will Merrett has been yellow carded, but Sam Osborne failed to convert the free kick. 

Kandola back for Hereford

Kam Kandola returns to Hereford’s starting 11 for tonight’s game at Harborough Town, and will wear the captain’s armband. 

Cawley Cox starts in attack with Preston Bitemo and Keziah Martin dropping to the bench.

Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Kandola (capt), Merritt, Tustin, Cox, Spokes, James, Iwunze, Phillips, Howkins. Subs: Martin, Waldron, Williamson, Roberts, Bitemo, Lewis, Tolley. 

Tonight's National North League Fixtures

A run down of all tonight's National North League fixtures:

Buxton v Brackley

Chester v Merthyr

Chorley v Darlington

Harborough v Hereford

Kings Lynn v Darlington

Macclesfield v Scarborough

Radcliffe v Hebburn

South Shields v Marine

Southport v Morecambe

Spennymoor v Spalding

Telford v Oxford

Worksop v Bedford 

Clegg Joins South Shields

South Shields have added to their squad just days before they travel to Hereford.

Rio Clegg has joined them from Radcliffe for a significant undisclosed fee. Last season he scored 27 goals.

Clegg who is 24 said he was 'buzzing' to be signing for South Shields.

"It’s my first time stepping into a full-time environment, and I think this is the perfect Club for me to continue my career.

“I love the football that’s being played here, it suits me really well, and I can’t wait to get started."

Clegg score for Radcliffe at Edgar Street last April. Hereford won the game 3-1.

Shrewsbury Takeover Can Go Ahead

The takeover of Shrewsbury Town by an American group has been given the go ahead.

But it remains unclear whether or when any deal will go ahead.

Shrewsbury chairman Roland Wycherley has had the club for sale for several years.

Football expert Keiran Maguire has given the BBC Radio Shropshire his thoughts on the deal.

"Well, this means that the new prospective owners now have the authority from both the EFL and the independent regulator to buy the shares from Roland Wycherley 

"And that’s a private transaction, so that means no money coming into the club itself.

“Once they’ve bought the shares from Wycherley, they’re able to then set the budget for the rest of this year. That’s going to be in terms of wages, that’s going to be in terms of transfers, that’s going to be in terms of infrastructure spend and trying to increase the revenue for the club. We wait to see what their approach will be.

"The history of American owners is mixed. If you take a look at what happened at Crawley Town, they came in, it didn’t really work out there. At Carlisle United, they came in, they put money into the club, they weren’t that familiar with football and it’s cost them an awful lot of money.

"On the other side of the scale, we’ve seen the success clearly at Wrexham, we’ve seen the success of other US owners in terms of being able to accelerate the club.

“So, it’s not a time to be overexcited or underexcited. It’s cautious optimism and that’s what I’d encourage.

“Change can be exciting. I know Shrewsbury hasn’t been through a great time recently, so it is something potentially to look forward to. 

"Roland Wycherley clearly feels that he’s done his time now and a fresh pair of hands, perhaps with fresh ideas could be beneficial to all.

“There’s no reason why it should take a long period of time,” he added.

“It’s a bit like buying a house when you get a survey done. Once the survey and mortgage has been approved, it’s then down to the solicitors on both sides of the deal - both the buyer and the seller - to negotiate the final price, make sure the money is received on the appropriate date, and then you hand over the shares.

“As part of the deal, the new owners will end up with a share in the English Football League itself which gives them votes, rights, and then they will be able to pick up the license from the IFR. The licensing system is only a shadow system at present, so I don’t see that being a delay.

“There’s no reason why it can’t be weeks, provided all of the due diligence has been done by the buyers.”  

Preview From Harborough

A preview of tomorrow's game between Harborough and Hereford written by James Lee:

Enterprise National League North
Harborough Town v Hereford
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Kick-off: 7.45 pm
Venue: The Beehive

Author – James Lee 

Enterprise National League North football returns to the Beehive on Tuesday night as we host Hereford FC.

This will be the first competitive fixture between the sides, so both sets of players will want to give their side the edge. All signs point to this fixture being a fiercely entertaining battle and a tough test for both, backed up by manager Mitch Austin: “Look forward to bringing them down here, a great place and should be a good game.”

Hereford FC were founded in 2014, born out of the ashes of Hereford United, a club with a proud history but sadly folded due to off-the-field issues. They kept the Bulls nickname, continued to wear the white shirts with black shorts combination and continued to play at the historic Edgar Street. In just their first season, the club broke a string of attendance records on their way to a league and cup double, also reaching the FA Vase final. The club went on their best FA Cup run since reforming in the 2017/18 season when they drew away at League One outfit Fleetwood Town, forcing a replay which they did later lose.

Manager Aaron Downes took charge in February 2026 initially until the end of the season, but in April he signed a two-year extension to remain at the helm. Having played over 170 games for Chesterfield and over a century for Torquay, his pedigree in the game is beyond doubt. Downes even took over as interim manager at the latter in 2024. The Bulls have had a good start to the season despite losing their season opener away at Buxton in the 98th minute; they haven’t looked back since, unbeaten in six, winning five and drawing the other at home against Chester, only conceding two goals in these; they come into this fixture in good form.

Harborough will need to keep a close watch on several key threats, none more than young Harrison Iwunze, on loan from League One side Notts County. The striker has made an immediate impact, already netting five times this season, two of these coming in Saturday’s home victory over Spennymoor Town.

Another danger man is Billy Phillips, who also signed for Hereford this summer and has scored two goals so far this season. The 20-year-old can operate in attacking midfield or out wide and enjoys taking on a man and creating for his side. Aaron Skinner has made over 120 appearances for The Bulls. He has been named their player of the season twice in the past three years; the 24-year-old full-back isn’t scared to make an impact, having already scored twice this season following on from his penalty on the final day of last season, which helped Hereford preserve their National League North status. The blend of youth and experience is certainly paying off this season, and everyone in yellow knows the test this will bring.

The Bees will be hoping to bounce back following their defeat on Saturday at St James Park against Brackley Town, in a game where Harborough were largely on top but were made to miss chances. However, the Bees are yet to taste anything but victory at the Beehive this season, having beaten Morecambe 1-0, turning around a half-time deficit to beat Darlington 4-2, and a late Paul Malone winner saw the Bees take all three points against Marine in the last outing at the Beehive.

Across the opening seven fixtures, The Bees have certainly proved they are worthy of this level, matching established sides stride for stride. And there’s no question the supporters have driven this on, pushing the team every step of the way, whatever the result or venue. Striker Britt Assombalonga leads the way in terms of goals this season with three, closely followed by Riley O’Sullivan with two. Both will be hoping to add to their tallies against the Bulls’ strong backline on Tuesday evening.