Next up for Hereford is a home clash with play-off seeking Brackley this Saturday. The Bulls secured all three points last night at Peterborough Sports after a somewhat unexpected ‘Dry January’.
Simon Wright is back from what seems yet another winter holiday to bring us this Talking Bull match preview.
Think Brackley, think manuka honey…
No? Just me then. OK I will explain later.
Brackley’s recent form has been as impressive (winning 5 of the last 6 and being narrowly defeated by Scunthorpe in the other) as Hereford’s was unimpressive. Yet goals scored and conceded by the two clubs this season is very similar and the pair have both lost 8 times. The difference, not for the first time, is the Northampton’s side ability to hold onto narrow wins. Notably defeating Alfreton on their own cabbage patch despite having their goalkeeper sent off in the first half.
I’d better hastily glaze over that fifth-placed Town have sored 15 goals in their last six games including several by Connor Hall now into double figures. Or that they’ve only lost 3 away games all season. (Their 27 points on the road are bettered only by Curzon).
Let’s highlight the positive stuff. Our visitors have a bare squad, fielding only 4 subs in the last 3 matches. First choice Maxted is suspended for our game while several senior performers are injured. Brackley have just permanently added striker Miracle Okafor from Tamworth. The Brummie has scored regularly in the past but had an all-round miserable 2024 with Halesowen, Tamworth and Brackley (earlier loan) barely scoring at all.
In years gone by, the Bulls couldn’t stop the perennial play-off non-performers from taking all the points. More recently that’s changed. Their last 3 visits to the Street resulted in two two-two draws and a single goal victory. Plus earlier this season when clearly the earth axis must have tipped, Hereford went to St James Park and beat the home side. Didn’t think that was allowed.
Fresh from our regular three point feeling in Peterborough, our heartened squad gets a boost in the shape of the prodigal Levi Andoh. He’s yet another ex-Bull who discovered that the grass isn’t greener in York. Andoh joins us after a loan at Truro (you’d hope because of local family ties not because York were feeling sadistic). The Dutchman is geographically ideal for us being based in Solihull (ok as ideal as it gets!) and the door is surely open to a permanent arrangement next season if the cap fits. More new bodies are anticipated.
After much re-shuffling of his herd, Caddis will surely include all his stand-out performers from Tuesday including our slightly unlikely top scorer Ceesay (now on 8 after finding the net 3 games in a row). A straight four would be better though even more advantageous would be any kind of fluke off any part of Cowley’s anatomy. His frustrations are painful to endure.
See you at the Street. Tickets can be purchased by clicking the following link:
Yes, I know about time I put in an appearance. I admit I missed the last home game against Brackley as I was on the other side of the world, in a cafe of a manuka honey factory, Hence the title of this piece. The Café owner was perfectly willing to listen to the Radio Hereford commentary although he did imagine it was a Premier League game. Mmm nearly.
Radio Hereford FC | Hereford FC – The Official website of Hereford FC
Simon Wright
