Hereford jumped back into the top four of the Vanarama National League North after a dominant 3-0 victory over Farsley Celtic on Saturday and now make the relatively short trip to Chester this weekend. Simon Wright looks ahead to what could be a fascinating encounter.
If I supported Chester. I’d be vexed and frustrated. They are one of the best supported and best funded outfits in the league. Their first team trains three mornings per week in a purpose-built centre in their own city. The Seals have a proper academy and do promote into their first team squad. Furthermore, their club recruited a whole new team of talent over the summer, all with impressive cv’s for this level. I believe 1,600 supporters bought a season ticket. As their manager admits, his side should be in the play-off spots. So why, after an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Curzon, are they marooned in 13th place?
Admittedly, some of the new arrivals have suffered injuries with ex Bulls Ben Pollock and Mitch Hancox featuring only occasionally. Goalkeeper Cam Mason was out of action too. For the second straight game we face opponents fielding a Manchester United U21 stopper in 18 years old Elvyn Williams. Elsewhere like the returning forward “King” Kurt Willoughby, new arrivals hasn’t met expectations. On paper, Chester’s four strikers (Peers, Caton, Willoughby, Turner), all seasoned scorers at this level and supported by experienced midfielders, should be racking up the goals. But they are not. The Seals have only netted 14 times, a meagre figure matched by two of the bottom four sides. Charlie Caton does have 7 goals but only one of those were in the last six games. There’s a certain nervousness at home too with their last 4 games finishing 1-0.0-0,0-0 and 0-1. Not the ideal run in for a visit from the Bulls. Prime League points gatherers on the road and an outstanding record on Welsh soil. Not to mention being the scene of 2023/24 Goal of the Season when Aurio Teixeira stunned everyone.
Mainly thanks to the home club voluntarily becoming a three-sided ground, the pressure was on during one evening to secure one of the 500 away seats. All were sold. Hopefully fans who accidentally bought in the wrong end, or even for the wrong game, are now in the right place at the right time. For any first timers car parking is either at ground (£3) or on the nearby industrial estate. Don’t be in a hurry to leave either, as there is only the single road out. I suspect our hordes won’t be invited into the club bar unless they arrive very early.
This game feels bigger than most.
Online Tickets Archives – Chester Football Club
If you can’t make it, Radio Hereford FC will be commentating live.
