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The honours were even in this afternoon’s clash with local rivals Cheltenham Town, a fair result which saw the Bulls slip back into the relegation places, though maintaining their unbeaten run. The league table is tightening up, and there remains an optimism that Hereford have the ability to climb free from the drop zone, but at the same time it is clear that a home win is long overdue.
The game began in the autumn sunshine, with a vociferous crowd helping to create an exciting atmosphere. It was the home side who were first out of the blocks, with Kenny Lunt having a shot beaten out by Robins keeper Scott Brown, who was then almost deceived by the flight of Rob Purdie’s free kick. Mathieu Manset attempted to re-enact the scissors kick seen against Hythe, this time with no success, and then a deft, lofted pass from Lunt needed a desperate clearance. At the other end, Adam Bartlett had to be alert to deal with a Jeff Goulding effort, ex Bull and Kiddy man Brian “Junior” Smikle posed a lively threat, and Ryan Green made a number of calm, assured interceptions.
Easily the best chance fell to Joe Colbeck, whose terrific pace allowed him to run on to an exquisite, defence-splitting ball from Richard Rose after 14 minutes. A midfielder by any other name would smell as sweet! Our Joe composed himself, but with only Brown to beat, fired agonisingly the wrong side of the post. Rose then made a switch to defensive duty and made a telling clearance from Robin Shroot. Purdie too made an important tackle to halt a dangerous move. Goulding and JJ Melligan combined neatly but Smikle’s shot lacked power. Chances were being forged at both ends, with Nicky Featherstone building an understanding with Purdie. The visitors’ best moments were seeing Shroot shoot wide after evading a tackle, not to mention the smoking ban, and Dave Bird who was clean through when a momentary hesitation allowed Ryan Valentine to make a great, last-ditch tackle. Cheltenham then gained a free kick which Bird touched to Marlon Pack, but his shot was last seen heading for the cattle market.
At this stage, it seemed unlikely that the stalemate would be broken prior to the interval. Oh ye of little faith! Deep into stoppage time, Purdie’s cross to Colbeck was accurate, and the ball was cleared straight back to the Oldham loanee.
(pictures from Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal - click to enlarge)This time, our hero, looking purdier than ever, sent in a curler which Manset had merely to nod home. Pundits have oft cited the psychological advantage of such a late strike, and the curtains fell to enthusiastic applause.
HT: HUFC 1 CHELTENHAM TOWN 0
Hereford started the second half determined to add to their lead. With the two Ryans pushing further forward, Purdie, Lunt, Tyler Weir and Featherstone passing neatly, and the contrasting attributes of Colbeck with his pace and Manset’s unlikely combination of artist and blunderbuss, the Bulls played some enterprising and attractive football, without managing to trouble Brown unduly.
It is a puzzle to explain why, after a quarter of on hour of this, things regressed. Certainly the Bulls seemed to tire, with Manset in particular becoming less influential, and the withdrawal of Lunt did not help. Neither did a succession of free kicks awarded to the Robins by Mr Salisbury, who had been having a fair game, but now chose to penalise the home side several times with what seemed like harsh decisions. His yellow card, waved unnecessarily, further disrupted the fluency of the game.
Though still creating the odd chance, Hereford started to go onto the back foot. Cheltenham, for their part, seized the opportunity with both hands. Apart from the aforementioned free kicks, they also forced a number of dangerous corners as Bulls fans started to bite their nails.
Then, with three quarters of the game gone, the diminutive Smikle somehow managed to beat Valentine to a high ball, wriggle free and cross for Goulding to find the net with ease.Both sides could have won the game, though it must be said that the visitors finished the stronger. Featherstone made some important tackles, reminding one pundit of “a young Gareth Stoker”, and Purdie’s calming influence was a benefit. There were heart-stopping moments as Cap’n Michael Townsend, playing against his old comrades, and Bartlett nearly impeded each other in one frantic clearance, Marlon Pack blasted over when in a good position, and deep into injury time Bartlett made a fine save from Frankie Artus. The final whistle sounded, with a fair outcome.
FT: HUFC 1 CHELTENHAM TOWN 1
Attendance: 3264 with 709 from Whaddon Road.
HUFC: Bartlett, Weir, Green, Townsend, Valentine, Rose, Colbeck, Purdie, Featherstone, Lunt (Canham 69), Manset.
CHELTENHAM T.: Brown, Lowe, Gallinagh, Riley, Bird, Low, Smikle, Melligan(Thomas 56), Shroot (Artus 88), Pack, Goulding.
