The Bulls are on the charge. Hereford are the league top scorers and are still unbeaten. Paul Caddis’ side are in action again on Tuesday night against Needham Market.
A particularly sadistic fixture computer means the Suffolk club are forced to drive 197 miles each way to and from the Street on a Tuesday night. It’s actually their shortest away trip so far, following on from their 221 miles to Warrington on Saturday. Needham supporters are offered coach travel to Hereford at £25 a time, presumably unused seats on the team bus. They may be home by 3.00am if they are lucky. Poor sods. I wonder if there are any misgivings yet among players, management or supporters around the wisdom of being promoted? From this distance, they seem singularly unready for their maiden season at Step 2. They have a squad of lower league players who were supported by a 355 average gate in a town the size of Bromyard and have no benefactor. They will travel more miles than Bishops Stortford did last season.
As manager Kevin Horlock warned club followers on their official website. “Physically Step 2 teams are a lot bigger, a lot stronger, a lot quicker, and more direct.” His counter to the arrival of Alfreton last week was an 18 -year-old loanee signing from Northampton as “he’s a big, big lad.” Probably all they can afford. They’ve lost all three home games, but on the road they have picked up 4 points, including an unexpected 2-1 win at Warrington on Saturday.
No fine detail as their Twitter/X feed was not manned on Saturday. Overall, the Marketmen have scored 4 and conceded 10. They do sit in the bottom four but their relatively miserly goals against figures suggests they are quite well organised at the back. Only one of their attackers is older than 21 and he has a Step 7 background. Manager Kevin Hurlock? Yes, it’s the ex-Man City, Ipswich and full Northern Irish player. His playing CV is exemplary but he has managed adults only in South-East Step 3 and 4 outfits.
In our last game, the Gaffer set out a 4-4-2 formation with Skinner, Hudson and Ceesay all in their most natural positions. There seems every reason to leave well alone. Cowley and Howkins will be the our only obvious absentees. Inevitably he expects “another tough game with the opposition making it tough for us.”
Dwell not on Peterborough or Radcliffe. Old news. Think of those lovely three points being stowed in the club coach boot at Brackley and that 94th minute winner.
Get yourself down to Edgar Street and enjoy the ride. Needham Market (ticketco.events)
If you are unable to make it on Tuesday evening Radio Hereford FC will provide full match commentary.
Let’s say it again…Hereford are the league top scorers and remain unbeaten!
Simon Wright
