CONFIDENCE RESTORED

After the debacles of the last two Saturdays, Hereford gained a welcome three points in a topsy-turvy encounter with Cambridge this afternoon. Twice behind, missing a penalty and being reduced to ten men could not prevent the Bulls from gaining a victory, courtesy of a three goal salvo in a manic five minute period early in the second half. This statistic alone must come as a surprise for those that endured the Dartford game; perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Harry Pell created the first chance for the Bulls with a useful pass to Ryan Bowman which needed a smart response from Jonathan Hedge, between the sticks for the visitors. Marley Watkins and Pell showed some good understanding, and so did Sam Clucas and Bowman as Hereford probed for an opening. Watkins in particular showed awareness in picking out a colleague, though he once played an over-ambitious ball for Marlon Jackson when Clucas was better placed. Hereford had dominated possession for the first 14 minutes, but the self-destruct button was then pressed. Under very little pressure Stefan Stam took his eye off the ball for a split-second and allowed it to roll under his boot. Grateful recipient was Michael Gash who had no difficulty in firing past James Bittner in the home goal to give the Us a shock lead.

Hereford set about rectifying the situation. Andy Gallinah found Jackson with a cross, and the header was pushed over. Ashley Sammons latched onto a clearance and had his shot blocked, and then Bowman robbed Josh Coulson and had only Hedge to beat. The keeper took some pace off the shot and a retreating defender had to hoof the ball to safety.

Meanwhile, at the other end, a flowing move involving Rickey Wellard, Tom Shaw and finally Liam Hughes saw a dangerous cross cut out by Gallinah. On 35 minutes, Watkins cleverly won the ball, bamboozled two opponents, and played a delightful pass for Bowman to muscle onto. The striker showed skill and determination in slotting the ball home from just inside the area to give Hereford a deserved equaliser.

Ryan Bowman rounding Hedge - pictures from Andy Compton of the Hereford Journal/Shropshire Newspapers

Injury time at the end of the half gave an excellent chance for the home side to take a lead. The speedy Jackson was tripped by Coulson as he burst into the box, and there were few complaints about the penalty award. Jackson dusted himself down to take the kick himself, but the effort lacked both pace and direction and Hedge made a comfortable save. There was barely time to restart proceedings as the teams headed for their half-time oranges.

HT: HUFC 1 CAMBRIDGE UTD. 1

Few could have predicted events of the first eight minutes of the second period. Here is a synopsis.
47 mins; just like last week, a goal was conceded by the slow starting Bulls. Jonathon Thorpe passed to Hughes who delivered a great cross to the far stick where Gash was waiting to nod home and double his tally. 1-2
48 mins; this time it was Cambridge who fail to clear after a promising Bulls move, and the loose ball ran kindly for Clucas to lash home from 20 yards. 2-2

 Sam Clucas celebrating his second goal of the season

51 mins; Gallinah had made a couple of telling interceptions and one of these found Watkins breaking free down the right. It appeared that the cross was too far behind Jackson, but the youngster somehow managed to send a looping header beyond Hedge’s fingertips. 3-2
53 mins; Hughes and Thorpe had once more looked like carving another opening, before Pell collected and headed goalwards. An inch perfect pass found Jackson who showed great composure in checking inside before steering home yet another goal for the Bulls. 4-2

Marlon Jackson with Harry Pell

After this goal-fest, things settled down. Gash had a chance to complete his hat-trick but his glancing header was well saved by Bittner. Similarly, Jackson almost completed his own treble as he came close to latching on to a weak back-pass from Rory McAuley. Both sides created further chances in an entertaining affair, and a flurry of substitutions gave fresh impetus to the game. The only sour note came as Byron Anthony clattered into Hughes. A determined and strong challenge, certainly, a free kick, possibly, but the flourishing of a red card seemed to most observers to be unnecessarily harsh. Exit a distraught, and disbelieving Mr Anthony to sympathetic applause. The Bulls faithful can look forward to the visit of the mighty FGR with new confidence.

FT: HUFC 4 CAMBRIDGE UTD. 2
Attendance: 1677, with 158 away “punters”.

HUFC: Bittner, Gallinah, Graham, Stam, Anthony, Pell, Watkins (Heath 79), Clucas, Sammons (Evans 70), Jackson (Canham 73), Bowman.
CAMB.UTD.: Hedge, Coulson, Wellard (Eades 70), McAuley, Thorpe, Andrew, Shaw (Marriott 81), Berry, Gash, Pugh (Thallassitis 64), Hughes.