Today I am heading west to Hereford. I want to see the Herefordshire Football League clash between Hinton and the reigning champions, Ewyas Harold. They are currently occupying 3rd and 4th places in the Premier Division.
It's a fine day when I set out from Worcester on the train and it's a very pleasant journey, going through Malvern and then the rolling Herefordshire countryside. I duly arrive at about 11:40 am and I have plenty of time to have a look round the market in the city centre.
There is an arts market too today and some of it is worth a browse, especially some classy looking pottery. I have a sausage and bacon panini from one of the food stalls
and then I'm ready to go to the match!
As I am making my way down Barton Road, I look across the road to Hereford Rugby Club and can see that it's got flood water from the nearby River Wye on the pitch. As Hinton FC are located close to the river, I decide to change my plans and will go to Hereford Lads Club FC rather than risk the chance of being disappointed. I have seen their ground before on my trips to see Westfields FC. (I later find out that Hinton's match did go ahead, they lost 1-6, so their ground must be on higher ground than I thought!)
Unfortunately the walk to Lads Club's ground takes a bit longer than expected and so for the 3rd match in a row, I'm 10 minutes late for the game. There is no entrance fee and I ask one of the spectators, if there has been any goals so far? He says no and there hasn't even been a shot on goal yet either. It turns out that he is supporting his son who is playing at full back for the Team Dudley side, the visiting team today. They are the senior team from Dudley College and I saw them 3 months ago at Worcester Raiders, when they lost 1-10.
Lads Club are playing in an all blue strip while Dudley are in black and red stripes.
After watching a so far even looking encounter, Team Dudley take the lead after 21 minutes when their No.8 slots home the ball inside the left hand post.
Just a minute later, Lads Club go on the attack and win a corner. Dudley are not able to clear the ball and a mass scramble takes place in the visitor's penalty area (seen below).
Just after things are looking up for the students, after 29 minutes they have a player sent off! Their No.11,Jahmal Patterson, goes on a run down the right, is fouled and retaliates. Both players push and shove each other, the ref intervenes has a talk with the Dudley player and then shows him a red card (as shown below).
This looks a bit harsh to me but I didn't have a good view of the incident.
Although now down to 10 men, Team Dudley are still very much in the game and in the 34th minute they go close scoring again when their No.10 shoots just over the bar from the right.
Lads Club do equalise though when they are awarded a free kick on the left. A well flighted cross comes over and their No.6, Danny Moon, races in behind the Dudley defence to plant a firm header in to the far side of the net. Good goal!
So it's all square at the interval and it will be interesting to see if Team Dudley can get a result against the odds.
Hereford Lads Club play at the County Ground of the Herefordshire FA, in the Widemarsh Common area. Just across the road from their ground are 3 football pitches and a cricket pitch. A football game is taking place there this afternoon although I have no idea who the teams are, although it's probably a Herefordshire League game of some sort. Also close by is the allpay Park ground of Westfields who play in the Premier Division of the Midland Football League. This afternoon they are playing Batsford United (and lost 0-2). It's a veritable hotbed of football round here!
The Lads Club have several junior teams and a ladies team too. I noticed also when coming pass the ground today that there is a boxing club here too.
Play resumes and it's Lads Club who turn the screw, having the major share of possession, leaving Dudley to try and hit them on the break.
Dudley's keeper makes a good save after 49 minutes and ten minutes later he makes another crucial stop after a good through ball is played through his defence.
The home side though go into the lead after more sustained pressure in the 66th minute when Steve Dixon slots in the ball after being put in by a good through ball.
Team Dudley hit back and go very close to an equaliser when James Hill hits a shot that comes back off the underside of the bar.
Lads Club go close 3 times before Team Dudley's James Hill hits a shot just wide a few minutes from full time.
So it's been an interesting contest with Team Dudley defending well against the home team who stay in 4th place in the table although several teams below them have games in hand on them.
Entertainment value: 6.5/10
Entrance fee: free
Match programme: none available
Match attendance: 20-25
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