BULLS FAIL AGAIN

The Indian Summer continues apace, though there was little brightness to report on the pitch as Hereford succumbed to another home defeat, going down by the only goal of this afternoon’s tie with Oxford. Michael Townsend came in for Ryan Green, and James McQuilkin deputised for Simon Clist in midfield, as Bulls fans looked forward to their first sight of loan signing Nathan Elder who was named as a substitute.

Stefan Stam in control - all pictures taken by Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal

The visitors forced two early corners, and James Constable, given plenty of space in the box, headed wide from Peter Leven’s flag kick. Rob Purdie’s raking cross then found Sam Winnall, and Ryan Clarke made a flying save. Liam Davis drilled his shot wide, and McQuilkin followed suit for the Bulls. Bizarrely, the scoreboard briefly flashed up the final scoreline from the Gillingham game, a result which we were hoping to forget.

David Cornell springs into action

Tom Barkhuizen wriggled clear of his marker in a promising position, only for the game to be called back for a foul on the youngster, when the advantage rule should have been invoked. Nicky Featherstone’s low free kick slammed into the wall, whilst some swinging crosses from Davis, and a deep Leven corner caused some concern to the home rearguard. An uncharacteristic slip by Stefan Stam presented Constable with a clear chance which he contrived to spoon into the Meadow End.

32 minutes had elapsed before the game’s most impressive move brought the only goal. The skilful Davis skipped down the left flank, evading a couple of ineffectual challenges, and planted the ball square onto the pate of Rob Hall. So accurate was the delivery that the loanee merely had to let the ball cannon off his forehead into the roof of David Cornell’s net. Delroy Facey had played one or two encouraging flicks, from one of which a photo-finish was needed to find Winnall offside. Purdie beat two men before having his shot beaten out, and Stam came close from the resulting corner. As the interval approached, Leven was impeded by Joe Heath as he entered the area, and penalty appeals were waved away.

HT: HUFC 0 OXFORD UTD. 1

Nathan Elder joined the fray, replacing an off-colour Barkhuizen. Facey’s persistence then caused ex-Leeds and Chelsea defender Michael Duberry to concede a corner, and Featherstone started a couple of attacking moves, which rather fizzled out. Damian Butt made a timely intervention and surged forward and fed Hall, whose shot was saved by Cornall. Constable then burst through and Stam did well to block a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Cornell then lashed a clearance straight at Townsend and was relieved to see the ball ricochet back to him.

Elder made an impression this afternoon

Elder made a strong run down the left flank, but cut the ball back too far for the onrushing Winnall. For the visitors, Simon Heslop played a superb pass to the determined Hall, and Cornell made a smart stop. Paul McLaren’s punt upfield found an unmarked, and onside Alfie Potter, and he should have done better with his attempt. Leven’s free kick then found Potter, and Townsend made a blocking tackle at the expense of a corner. Duberry got a head to the ball but directed it woefully over the bar.

An air of resignation descended, as Hereford could not create anything which looked remotely likely to result in a shot on goal. Harry Pell’s belated introduction made the midfield more combative, but it was the visitors who always seemed the more likely to score. As it was, another frustrating afternoon brought no such additions, and fuelled further speculation as to the way ahead.

FT: HUFC 0 OXFORD UTD. 1

Attendance: 2502, with 930 from Morseland.

HUFC: Cornell, Heath, Townsend, Stam, Purdie, Featherstone, Lunt, McQuilkin, Facey (Arquin 74), Barkhuizen (Elder 46), Winnall (Pell 52).

OXFORD UTD.: Clarke, Batt, McLaren (Whing 77), Duberry, Wright, Heslop (Hall 86), Constable (Smalley 77), Potter, Leven, Davis, Hall.