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The portents, at least, were good. The league only really takes shape once the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has arrived. Herefordshire looked its best in the pale morning sun, the first frost had been etched onto car windscreens, and Channel 4’s racing coverage was from Market Rasen. Those depressed by party politics rejoiced in the news that Labour were putting up the Steve Miller band to fight the coalition, and Bulls fans were encouraged by the battling point achieved at Bury last week. Bulls News’ Useless Facts Department then announced the anniversary of a 3-0 home win against a now mighty Wigan Athletic side, new to league football at the time. All this combined to create a positive outlook for today’s game against a struggling Saafend side.
It all started so brightly. Just over 3 minutes had elapsed when Hereford were awarded a free kick over by the corner of the box, a rather innocuous push on Fleetwood being the crime. Instead of the expected ball floated to the opposition keeper. Little Jimmy McQuilkin tried his luck with a shot curled towards the near post. A startled Glenn Morris could only palm the ball into the roof of the net, the Bulls were one up, and fans speculated as to the last time we had scored direct from a free kick had been.
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Pictures taken by Andy Compton of the Hereford JournalRyan Hall was proving a difficult opponent with some enterprising runs down the left flank, but Ryan Green coped well, and some timely interventions from Richard Rose and Joe Colbeck repelled the Shrimpers. Then, somewhat out of the blue, Sean Clohessy crossed perfectly for the out of form Barry Corr to head confidently past Adam Bartlett for the equaliser. Almost immediately, a carbon copy move gave Corr another chance, but this time he glanced his effort just wide of the upright. Fleetwood shot over with a long range volley, and a neat move involving Guillem Bauza and Mathieu Manset saw McQuilkin’s shot clear the bar.
On the stroke of half time, Michael Timlin, on loan from Swindon, prevented the quick taking of a Hereford free kick, some wrestling and handbags ensued. Referee Mr Evans took exception to the shenanigans, flourishing his yellow card three times in succession with Manset, Timlin and the argumentative Anthony Grant the lucky recipients. The chance came to nought as half time beckoned.
HT: HUFC 1 SOUTHEND UTD 1
Manset embarked on a promising run and cut a dangerous ball back into the area. A hasty clearance arrived at the feet of Daniel Stratford, replacing the suspended Kenny Lunt, but the midfielder could not control the ball. On 52 minutes, the game provided its only comedy moment. Eager to charge down a free kick, Fleetwood arrived ball-side before it had shifted more than a few inches, leaving the Southend players confused. It was reminiscent of one of the African teams from Italia 90 (answers on a postcard please).However, Mr Evans was not amused, carding the Newent hero who became incandescent with rage over the sheer injustice of life. Comedy soon turned to tragedy when, from the retake, a distracted and unsettled Bulls defence allowed the visitors to take the lead. The ball was touched to Timlin who blasted home from 25 yards.
After this concession, Hereford meekly accepted their fate. Just as against Oxford, the visiting team, an efficient yet hardly outstanding outfit, could scarcely believe the ease with which they held on to a three point haul. A dangerous cross from John Simpson evaded the strikers, Ryan Hall was allowed to waltz through the entire midfield, to be thwarted only by Bartlett’s fine save, and then manager’s son, one Blair Sturrock, brought out another Bartlett stop. Bauza showed a classy turn and shot which narrowly missed its target, but from the restart, Southend extended their lead. Just as Labour were announcing their new supremo, the return of Blair as a strike force was seen. Mr Sturrock, out of sorts lately, was given the freedom of Edgar Street as he ran, untroubled, straight down the middle. The newly shaven Bartlett managed to block his first attempt, but the striker bundled the rebound home.
A triple substitution by beleagured manager Simon Davey brought little or no respite. The Bulls capitulated ridiculously easily, with little spark or imagination being shown. Unsurprisingly, with such meagre fare on offer, the home support is dwindling, and much dissatisfaction was expressed at the final whistle. One could scarcely believe that a day that had begun as an excellent chance for Hereford to climb the table would end with the Bulls propping up the entire football league in 92nd place. Worrying times.
FT: HUFC 1 SOUTHEND 3
Attendance: 2104 (including 204 Shrimpers)
HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Rose, Townsend, Valentine, Colbeck, Stratford (Gwynne 72), McQuilkin, Fleetwood (Malsom 72), Manset (Rabihou 72), Bauza.
SAAFEND: Morris, Clohessy, Gilbert, Bilel, Barker, Simpson, Grant, Hall (Soares 81), Timlin, Corr (Prosser 85), Sturrock (Jarvis 77).
