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Did the Bulls miss their swedes?
The following article appears in the Daily Telegraph written by Tony Francis.
Let this result be a warning to all those tempted to skimp on their vegetables: Hereford United 2, Boston United 3.
Admirable though it is for Hereford to kick the swede-worshipping habit that traditionally accompanied FA Cup days at Edgar Street -"We decided at a supporters' forum that we didn't want this country bumpkin image any more. It's time to move on," explained manager Graham Turner - the swede nevertheless struck back by denying them a potentially lucrative place in the third-round draw.
The game itself got off to a cracking start when Tamika Mkandwire's head thumped the ball past a motionless Boston goalkeeper. The Edgar Street roar echoed across the Welsh Marches, a giant-killing coming up. (A bizarre concept since Boston United only escaped from the Nationwide Conference two years ago and are a smaller footballing entity than Hereford.) It wasn't to be.
Jason Lee levelled before the break and two goals by Andy Kirk killed the tie in the second half. Craig Stanley's 25-yarder in the last minute of normal time was cosmetic.
Some traditionalists will blame the Smithfield Show for interrupting Hereford's FA Cup run. Just when they needed an experienced bull to parade around the running track - a ritual Turner is keen to preserve - they'd all been carted off to London. Several farmers volunteered their bullocks but Turner was put off by visions of a Pamplona moment with a ton and a half of startled beef introducing itself to the crowd. So, no meat and no veg. The famous old stadium wasn't the same.
You have to admire Turner for shouldering so many burdens. Since Hereford were relegated he has become chairman and major shareholder as well as manager. Turner upholds the tireless standards of his late, great predecessor, Archie Phillips, the structural steel millionaire who saved the club from ruin in 1982. His was the only Rolls Royce that ever towed a gang mower. Archie, like Graham, was the groundsman as well. Sadly, Phillips died last week without the satisfaction of seeing Hereford restored to the League.
It's to Turner's everlasting credit that they are still up there in fourth place after the shattering disappointments of last season. United finished one point behind Chester, who were automatically promoted. The gap between Hereford and the third-placed team was 19 points. They blew it against Aldershot in the play-offs and lost four of their top players to League clubs as a consequence.
Before kick-off Turner was presented with the Manager of the Month award for November. Supporters are twitching. Turner won it in September too. It was followed by a calamitous October during which they took two points out of 15.
He should take heart from Steve Evans, the victorious Boston manager who was relieved to get Hereford behind him: "Barnet look as though they are running away with the Conference but so did Dagenham and Redbridge in 2002. We sat in our dressing room listening to them celebrate after beating us. You'd think they'd already won the title with 13 games to go. We resolved there and then to wear them down."
Without meat or veg it's back to the bread and butter against Forest Green tomorrow night.
