Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells….

Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to watch
United WIN AWAY!

So sang the travelling Bulls as Hereford deservedly secured their first away win of the season at Sixfields on Tuesday evening.

John Trewick sprang a few surprises with his team selection, giving starts to Le Beast, Johnny Godsmark, Marc Pugh and debutant Nathaniel Wedderburn. A catastrophic start saw The Cobblers take the lead in the opening seconds but United fought back with goals through Daren Jones, Manset and Craig King to notch three points and move them comfortably towards mid-table.

Within thirty seconds of the start, Akinfenwa broke from midfield and into the box before sending a low centre across the penalty spot. Steve Guinan stepped over the ball and Ryan Gilligan, arriving unmarked, was able to slot home from 10 yards. It was far from being the required start, particularly as the goal had worrying similarities to the one conceded late in the Colchester game. The Bulls, however, were soon back on the offensive with Pugh and Valentine combining well down the left before Northampton cleared the cross. Manset burst between two defenders but his 25-yarder was well over. Then McKay broke from midfield but was halted by a timely clearance from Ryan Green. With the game just ten minutes old, the hosts lost the services of Josh Walker who left the field on a stretcher following what looked an innocuous challenge. He was replaced by Alex Dyer. Another Valentine/Pugh combination forced a corner on the left from which The Bulls drew level. Jordan Mutch swung over the flag kick to the far post, which was met on the volley by Manset. Although the striker’s effort was blocked, it fell to Darren “no-nonsense” Jones who fired into the bottom corner from 10 yards. One apiece and not looking bad at all.

Shortly afterwards, a Pugh/Godsmark move resulted a cross that just escaped Manset as The Bulls at times showed an Arsenalesque tendency to over elaborate in the danger area…just kick the thing into the net. The Cobblers were showing signs of cracking but the telling ball was sometimes to late being delivered. United had a lucky let-off when Manset sliced a clearance narrowly wide of his own goal before making amends when he released Pugh who delivered a fine cross to Godsmark who stabbed wide from close range. A long Northampton throw was flicked on by Guinan but Gilligan’s effort sailed over the bar. Manset had been on the receiving end of some holding and shirt-pulling from former MKDongs scaffolder Danny Swailes and it came as no surprise when the referee noted his details following a challenge on Mutch. As the game approached the break, Marc Pugh and Ryan Green (in an unexpectedly forward position) fashioned an opening for Wedderburn which the youngster fizzed just wide of the upright.

HT Cobblers 1 Bulls 1

Manset was quickly on the break forcing a corner following a brace of stepovers but the flag-kick came to nothing. Ryan Green again moved forward with the ball before finding Godsmark whose cross was headed clear before Darren Jones swept a ball forward to Marc Pugh but his cross failed to reach the advancing Valentine. The Bulls were certainly looking the more likely to score although Guinan’s trademark runs and lay-offs meant Uniteds defensive concentration had to be at it’s best. On 55 minutes, The Bulls took the lead. Akinfenwa conceded a free-kick some 35 yards from goal. Jordan Mutch stepped up to hit a thunderous drive which home keeper, Chris Dunn, could only parry upwards. Manset was the quickest to react as he headed over the line from a couple of feet. Hereford continued to play the better football and Manset was maybe unlucky with a couple of rushed efforts. It has to be said that his marker, Swailes, was busy demonstrating all the poise and ability of a three-legged chair as he regularly hauled the Bulls striker to the ground. Mutch prompted a move which found Manset, for once, free of Swailes clutches but the Frenchman hurried a shot which went well wide before a neat move provided the third and killer goal from the visitors. Manset picked up the ball in the final third and slipped it through to Marc Pugh. Pugh sidestepped his marker before delivering an inch perfect cross to Craig King (replacement for Godsmark) on the edge of the six-yard box. King showed calmness to commit the keeper before firing into the net and putting the victory beyond doubt. The hosts managed to get the ball into the net on a couple of occasions but both efforts were chalked off with comfortable offside decisions.

FT Cobblers 1 Bulls 3

Overall, it was a very deserved victory from a game in which Hereford had the lion’s share of possession, played the better football and had the greater number of on-target goal attempts. Apart from one slightly worrying moment of indecision, Bartlett preformed well including showing improvement in coming for crosses. Darren Jones was determined in the challenge and Ryan Green’s timing and positioning was a joy to watch while Blanchett did his share of graft at the back. Valentine and Lowe supported well and Wedderburn did a decent job in the holding role alongside Mutch who lasted the pace better than on Saturday. The game was watched by a reported 3524 with 166 visitors (there did seem a few more) including a recognisable generous sprinkling of exiles from the southeast.

Hereford:- Bartlett, Jones, Green, Valentine, Lowe, Wedderburn, Mutch, Valentine, Godsmark (King 65), Manset, Pugh. Subs not used:- Adamson, Rose, Gwynne, McCallum, Constantine, Done.
Northampton:- Dunn, Johnson, Hinton, Swailes, Gilbert, Walker (Dyer 10), Gilligan, McKay (Herbert 72), Holt; Guinan, Akinfenwa (Curtis 60). Subs not used:- Rodgers, Mulligan, Brown, Kanyuka.

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