Superior Bulls outplay Turner’s shambolic Slops

Hereford United cruised into the Second Round of The FA Cup at Edgar Street’s lunchtime kick-off when two goals from master craftsman Ryan Bowman and a value added early Will Evans strike made them comfortable winners despite a Summerfield free kick finding the net when Pell was wrongly penalised.

Hereford's Goalscorers - Ryan Bowman and Will Evans - Pictures from Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal

Martin Foyle opted for a 4-5-1 formation with O’Keefe starting in a forward midfield role to replace Marsh in the only change from the line-up at Southport while former Bulls Chris Weale, Rob Purdie, Darren Jones, Lee Collins and Paul Parry all started for the Bayston Hill outfit.

The Bulls kicked off attacking the, now apparently safe, Blackfriars end and straight away showed their intentions with an early burst into the box.  A hoofed clearance was fed back to McQuilkin who turned the ball inside to Bowman only for the striker to be chopped down 35 yards from goal.  Pell touched the ball to Will Evans whose trademark low drive was turned round the post by Weale.  From the resulting corner, The Bulls took the lead with just three minutes on the clock.

Rob Purdie fending off Josh O'Keefe

O’Keefe swung the corner in which was partially cleared but McQuilkin clipped it back into the box for Todd to nod down and Will Evans drove the ball in from 10 yards.  Fired by the early success, United stormed forward again and McQuilkin was crudely hacked to the ground after the ball had gone but referee Sutton appeared to miss the incident completely.  Morgan saw a shot rebound off the post when Bittner was unsighted but in the twelfth minute, The Bulls doubled their advantage when Bowman showed the supposedly higher graded opponents how strikers should perform.

An accurate clearance from Bittner found Bowman just in the Shrewsbury half and his chested control allowed him to turn and run at the stumbling Shrewsbury back division.  He sidestepped a challenge and unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards that left the hapless Weale clutching thin air.

Players running to celebrate Bowman's Goal

The Slops responded when a Taylor cross from the right was headed well wide by Darren Jones but United were playing by far the better football and Clucas jinked his way past the awkward looking Grandison before his low cross was hacked to safety by Lee Collins.  Bowman showed too much intelligence for Jones as he won a free kick to the right of the box but Quilks’ deft cross was, again, hoofed clear.  A Clucas’ corner was met by a thumping Stam header before Evans’ shot screamed inched wide.  Sam Clucas then dispossessed a hesitant visitors midfield and fired a thirty-yarder just wide as The Bulls continued to dominate proceedings.

Jon Taylor got free on the right but his poor cross drifted behind for a goal kick before Pell was strangely penalised for what was as close to the perfect challenge as you’re ever likely to see.  Summerfield, who apart from Rob Purdie was the only visitor to look remotely like a professional footballer, stepped up to hit a cracking shot past Bittner on thirty minutes.

There followed a brief period of Shrewsbury pressure that produced little more than midfield possession before our ‘arry was lectured by the referee following another perfectly normal ball-winning challenge.  Clearly undeterred, the referee did produce a taxing yellow card when Pell finally actually did something wrong and doubtless offered a little Essex advice for good measure.

As the half drew to a close, Purdie squared the ball to the advancing Darren Jones but his 25-yarder went comfortable into the arms of the well-positioned Bittner.

HT  Bulls 2  Shrewsbury 1

The Bulls were quickly on the offensive after the break with Bowman’s brightness leaving Grandison little choice other than a late lunge to stop the marauding striker.  Across from the visitors right was palmed over by Bittner and when the corner was cleared, Pell released Heath down the left.  The ball was switched inside to Bowman who was unceremoniously bundled to the ground by Jones and Quilks’ low free kick landed in the grateful hands of Weale.  The Bulls were a little fortunate when Summerfield’s shot struck the foot of the post before Taylor’s cross was headed wide by a very quiet Paul Parry under pressure from the impressive Stefan Stam.

Will Evans whipped the legs from under Rob Purdie and was duly carded for his efforts.  It was odd when Jeremy Helan committed the identical foul on Harry Pell he didn’t receive the same punishment.  Smikle replaced McQuilkin with 65 minuteplayed and Darren Jones’ name was added to the referee’s collection of yellows following yet another clattering challenge on Bowman before United restored the two-goal lead from the spot.

A chipped ball into the Shrewsbury box enabled Bowman to get in front of Collins who clumsily brought him down leaving the referee pointing to the twelve-yard spot.  Bowman cheekily dinked the ball past the bewildered Weale as the Meadowend roared the predictable inquiry “Turner, Turner, what’s the score”.

Jon Taylor got a cross in from the right but Bittner was confidently out to collect and when Rob Purdie burst into the box, Stam again cut out his cross.  Simon Clist replaced Sam Clucas as the fourth official indicated the three extra minutes and The Bulls played out the closing minutes of keep-ball to loud Ole’s from the all but 897 of the 3251 in attendance.

On to Round Two!

FT  Bulls 3  Meole Brace 1

Bulls: Bittner, Gallinagh, Todd, Stam, Heath, Clucas (Clist 90), Evans, Pell, O’Keefe (Graham 87), McQuilkin (Smikle 67), Bowman.  Unused subs: Hanford, Marsh, Perry.

STFC: Weale, Grandison, Jones, Collins, Summerfield, Purdie, Taylor, Hall (Wildig 85), Parry, Helan (Proctor 69), Morgan.  Unused subs: Anyon, Jacobson, Wright, Richards, Gornell.

The Bulls were, without question, the better side and showed a determination to win and quality that was lacking from their badly organised League 1 opponents.  Money in the bank and a second round draw to look forward too will bring a smile to all Bulls fans this evening.

Ryan Bowman will rightly take the plaudits for the way he dominated the visitors defence but very honourable mention in despatched must go to Stefan Stam who I thought was imperious at the back.

Were you watching Loooton Town?

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