Bulls fail to hold lead again

For the second time in a week Hereford United allowed their visitors to claw their way back to earn a point when the full three points were there for the taking.  Two goals from Ryan Bowman either side of a Stefan Stam header were cancelled out as Clayton, Arnold and Franklin replied for Alfreton.

The Bulls started with James Musa at left back with Heath dropping to the bench with Will Evans restored to midfield.  Two players Alfreton cried off at the last moment following a car accident on the way to Edgar Street meaning the visitor’s plans were disrupted before the game started.

Bowman drew a foul early on and when keeper Barnes only punched Musa’s teasing cross, Will Evans fired his first time shot over the bar.  Corbett’s feed into the box was laid off by Sharp but Harry Pell pulled his effort wide of the upright.  For Alfreton, Streete played a ball into the danger area but meadows shot was off target before Pell was body checked when in full flow.  Stam’s free kick was over hit and ran through for a goal kick.  Musa, sporting a pair of “Danny Williams” style gloves almost got on the end of a Pell through ball as he overlapped down the left before The Bulls took a deserved on twenty minutes.

Ryan Bowman, After His First Goal, With Marley Watkins - Pictures From Andy Compton Of The Hereford Journal

Chris Sharp and Will Evans combined well on the right before Sharp pulled the ball back for Bowman to finish accurately from 12 yards.  Another fine chance was created shortly after but Watkins’ final ball arrived behind Bowman and the Alfreton defence was able to clear.  The Bulls were again frustrated when Meadows went down under the slightest of contact to hold up play as a useful attack was starting to develop.  Alfreton created a good opportunity down the right but when the ball came in low from Josh Law, Clayton swept over from ten yards.

On thirty-seven minutes, Alfreton found the equaliser.  Law cut in from the right and fed the ball into the box.  Bittner’s half stop should have been cleared but hesitation allowed Clayton to stab home from close range.

Watkins was wrongly adjudged offside but United were guilty of several poor decisions as they approached the final third of the pitch.  However, the lead was regained on the stroke of half time.  Bowman was dragged down on the left and Will Evans’ fee kick was met by a thumping header at the back post from Stefan Stam to send The Bulls in at half time with a single goal lead.

Captain Stam Scores Hereford's Second Goal

HT Bulls 2 Alfreton 1

Hereford were quickly on the attack in the second period.  Graham’s long pass found Bowman on the move and his shot was turned round the post by Barnes.  Graham met Evans’ flag kick and his forward header was nodded in by Bowman to give The Bulls a two-goal advantage just three minutes after the break.

An Alfreton corner was gather by Bittner at the second attempt as The Bulls conceded possession too easily in midfield with worrying frequency.  The visitors were doing nothing spectacular other than working hard to provide options for the man with the ball whereas Hereford seemed too quick to hit the front men and then fail to support them.  Tidy possession allowed The Reds to work the ball across midfield and to win a throw on the right.  A longish throw fell to Nathan Arnold and he was allowed time to turn and shoot into the far corner with just under an hour played.

James Musa With The 'Danny Williams' Gloves

Martin Foyle responded by throwing on Joe Heath with James Musa moving to left midfield role and Will Evans making way.  The change did nothing to settle the rattled Bulls as the visitors struck again within minutes.  A move down the right was allowed to continue without players getting closed down and when the cross to the back post came in fullback Franklin was there to nod down.  Bittner could only get a hand to the ball as it crept agonisingly over the line.

Chris Sharp Gets His Foot On the Ball

Bowman earned a corner which was half cleared and when Heath played the ball back into the box, Stam’s header was just inches over the bar.  Bowman saw his drive tipped over but the corner came to nothing and from a Pell free kick Graham’s header was also too high to trouble Barnes.  Tomlinson was carded for a late challenge on Corbett before Smikle came on to replace Musa but apart from a Marley Watkins effort that went straight into the keeper’s arms and an indecisive header from Graham The Bulls failed to create any real threat or concerted pressure to send home a muttering 1565 fans that included 54 from Derbyshire.

FT Bulls 3 Alfreton 3

Hereford: Bittner, Corbett, Graham, Stam, Musa (Smikle 83), Pell, O’Keefe, Evans (Heath 61), Sharp, Bowman, Watkins. Subs not used: Clist, McQuilkin, Perry.

Alfreton: Barnes, Law, Kempson, Franks, Franklin, Meadows, Streete, Harriott, Tomlinson (Worsfold 81), Clayton, Arnold. Subs not used: Taylor, Quinn, Wilson.

Following Tuesday’s disappointing showing against Telford this was another wasted opportunity to push up the league and, more importantly, attract the fans back to Edgar. Street.  Sadly, the discipline and organisation on show at Kiddy and Grimsby has yet to return to the performances.  Ryan Bowman confirmed his finishing credentials with two well taken goals but the team needs similarly effective performances from all areas of the pitch.  Alfreton were not particulaly good but worked hard at closing down and were quick to offer themselves options for a simple pass when in possession.

The Bulls’ substitutions seemed to do little apart from unsettle the side and one wonders why it was deemed necessary to mend something that didn’t appear to be broken?

We need to get back on track.

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