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A workmanlike performance at a rainy Edgar Street saw the Bulls continue their unbeaten run, and haul themselves out of the relegation zone for the first time since early November. Jamie Pitman, surely now a shoe-in for the Manager of the Month award (who would have thought?) welcomed back Jake Jervis to replace young Manset, now plying his trade at the Majedski. Also participating in the evening’s entertainment was Sasa Ihringova, another female recruit to officialdom.
Kenny Lunt played a pass through to Jervis, but the striker, back on loan from Birmingham, was slow to get in a shot and the effort was blocked. The lively and willing Stuart Fleetwood exchanged a couple of productive passes with Joe Colbeck, though a Morecambe defence lacking the unavailable Scott, not to mention the lightning pace and mobility of Jim Bentley (left on the bench) was able to smother any attempt on goal. Meanwhile, at the Meadow End, a smart break by Laurence Wilson was halted by an excellent saving tackle from Richard Rose. Then Stewart Hendry emulated his namesake with another tricky break, but the move ended this time with a miscue.
Entertainment was in short supply, though the home side enjoyed the bulk of possession. Colbeck, Lunt and Fleetwood all tried hard to fashion an opening, but to no avail. The Bulls defence seemed solid, and Adam Bartlett had little to occupy him. With the aroma of the Ascari pies drifting through the stands, the game seemed to be approaching an inevitable half time stalemate. Then Lunt embarked on a stumbling run into enemy territory, Jarvis tried to get in a shot, and the ball ran kindly for Colbeck, in acres of space, to drill the ball home from a dozen or so yards. There was even time for one last sortie, the Bulls being denied this time only by a mighty goal-line intervention.
HT: HUFC 1 MORECAMBE 0
Buoyed by their lead, Hereford began the second half in style. Firstly Fleetwood played an exquisite wall pass and appeared to be tugged back as he bore down on goal. Then Jervis, warming to the task, chased a long ball and caused panic in the visitors’ defence. Barry Roche slid in to thwart the attack and almost carried the ball manually out of his area. James McQuilkin,who had had an uncharacteristically quiet first period, was becoming more influential, and Joe Heath adopted a more attacking role, just as he had done against Stockport. However, regular fans feared the worst as Morecambe were suddenly gifted an equaliser. A momentary lack of communication between Nicky Featherstone (hitherto a steady and reliable team player) and the under-employed Bartlett allowed Stewart Drummond to prod home a very soft goal with 52 minutes played.
To their credit, Hereford set about repairing the damage immediately. Rob Purdie was sent on to retain possession calmly, and to probe any defensive shortcomings. Jervis was bundled over in midfield and McQuilkin played a free kick down the right wing to Colbeck. His pinpoint cross found Michael Townsend free in the six yard box, and the big defender showed great composure in nodding past a stranded Roche and into the corner of the net. With an hour played, Hereford had deservedly regained the lead.
For some reason, the multiball system was then stopped, possibly due to the occasional appearance on the pitch of two balls simultaneously. Jan Kovacs showed some mastery in one such incident by controlling them both! Purdie made a couple of dangerous runs, once providing Jervis with a chance which was saved, and then executing a cheeky dink which an excited Colbeck blazed over. Fleetwood then took out two defenders with one sublime flick to Colbeck, who unselfishly tried to find Jervis as the Bulls continued to press. Diminutive striker Chris Shuker had one last chance for the visitors but was well wide of the target; indeed as the game reached its conclusion, it always seemed more likely that Hereford would be the side to add to their tally.
As news from other games was revealed, the home crowd went home with another vital win under their belt, and a league position of 21st- the highest since September 3rd!
FT: HUFC 2 MORECAMBE 1
Attendance: 1831 including 30 from Morecambe (one with a drum)
HUFC: Bartlett, Rose, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath, Lunt, Featherstone (Purdie 58), McQuilkin, Colbeck, Jervis, Fleetwood (Green 86).
MORECAMBE: Roche, McCready, Wilson, Parrish, Charnock, Stanley, Shuker (Mullin 84), Drummond, Hendrie (Rundle 69), Capaldi (Fleming 88), Jevons.
