“We need supporters to get behind us…”
…said Paul Caddis to the BBC. “Tough game. Peterborough will be physical and up for it. We have to respect them. If we can get the place rocking, the players would really appreciate it.”
Timing is everything. Twice, comparative new boys Peterborough Sports have rocked up to Edgar Street just at a time when injuries left the Bulls desperately short up front. The Turbines took full advantage and ground out narrow away victories. Conversely, the Bulls travelled to Cambridgeshire late season on two occasions when the home side were leg weary and very short of players. Hereford won both comfortably. This time with the two clubs at near full strength, the outcome is less hard to predict. Earning 26 points on the road last season, the Turbines know how to shut up shop if they get a lead, despite their small budget. This term, they haven’t yet conceded in open play.
Tree surgeon and player manager Michael Gash is used to cutting out deadwood. He chopped 9 members out of the squad and planted 9 new players. At 37, he now considers himself a defender rather than a rather wooden striker. Three of his Sports 22-man squad are goalkeepers while over a third of the outfielders are green 20 years olds or younger. The headline signing is the return of speedy Dion Sembie-Ferris who branched out back and forth between Sports and Scunthorpe over the last two years. Michael Gyasi, with his eighth club in two years, is the most notable of several new strikers which also include young Jack Goodman, a headline writers delight. Shall we get it over with now? “GOOD MAN JACK!” Wood you believe it?
So far, not Posh Peterborough lost 1-0 to Chorley in a game of very few chances and a home back five. Sembie-Ferris was low key with star man being Gash coming off the bench with his side in lumber. Their 1-0 defeat at Warrington feels like same game, different opposition. The granular detail is missing as apparently Sports media people didn’t travel.
The Turbines will not relish being lumbered with an evening 3-hour coach trip to leafy Hereford, though in truth most “home” players have a similar distance to travel, some even further. Such is life in Step Two.
On an evening when the sappy visitors have more club representatives than fans, the Hereford board will be crossing their fingers for a strong turnout of shire folk. An attendance around the 2,000 mark feels realistic, touch wood? Four points earned against two top ten sides is an impressive start with the Gaffer having the luxury of branching out into squad rotation.
See you there? If not make sure you listen in to full match commentary on Radio Hereford FC.
Simon Wright