I visited Hereford for the second week running, as a local team of mine (Worcester Raiders) were playing the runaway leaders, Hereford Lads Club who have won all their 15 league games so far. I read in the Worcester News this morning that the Raiders Chairman, Kevin Jenkins, says the team are confident of a win today and will be bringing a coach load of supporters too!
It's a grey and drizzly day but with the promise of better weather, further west. I travel to Hereford OK on the train and after getting some lunch and a wander round the city centre, get to the ground just before kick-off at 2pm. Lads Club's ground is also the ground for the County FA and is situated very close to Westfield's Allpay Park, who are playing in the FA Vase today.
Lads Club are playing in a royal blue kit and Raiders are decked out in an all dark blue strip.
Lads Club go close after 10 minutes when their No.9 hits the bar with a header and in the early stages dominate the play. The Raiders defence is standing up well to the home sides lively attack and have certainly improved a lot from when I saw them in action in a pre-season friendly in July.
The Raiders threaten after 25 minutes when they have a shot on the right turned round for a corner and then take the lead when Martin Newman pounces to score from close range, eight minutes later.
Soon after Raiders forward, Richard Smith has a shot blocked by keeper Steve Bell and are well on top now. Their No.4 also shoots across Lads Club's goal but the league leaders do threaten in the last minute with a glancing header that just goes wide.
It's been a very lively and competitive 45 minutes and difficult to predict the outcome. I have talked to the photographer from the Hereford Times newspaper, Colin Maggs a bit and he is off now to the Westfields match. We both agree that the conditions today are making good quality photos difficult to take, with it drizzling when it was supposed to keep dry this afternoon.
When play resumes it only takes 2 minutes for the visitors to extend their lead with their No.9, Nick MacPherson, shooting home after some good approach play on the right.
A few minutes later and things take a turn for the worse for the hosts when their No.11 is sent off for dissent apparently. This enables the Raiders to take control of the match and they look dangerous whenever they attack. In the 71st minute, the Lads Club keeper makes 2 very good saves in quick succession (shown below saving from striker Richard Smith).
The result is wrapped up by No.10, Richard Smith, when he beats a defender to the ball and then takes it round keeper Steve Bell before shooting in to the net from a tight angle (shown below taking congratulations from team mates).
A few minutes later and confusion reigns for a while when a Lads Club player goes back on to the pitch before be allowed to do so by the referee. The player is booked and then sent-off after swearing at the ref.
Richard Smith then heads wide a good chance from a corner.
There is a bit more drama near the end of the game when the Lads Club No.5 and manager, Danny Moon, moans at the linesman near me, something like, 'It's bad enough having just 9 players without having just ONE linesman!' He then moans some more at the official and then a Raiders fan who is stood nearby directs a comment to Mr.Moon saying that he's lucky to still be on the pitch. This results in expletives being directed at the fan and then the ref decides he's had enough and duly books the Lads Club manager.
I come across the Worcester Raiders secretary, George MacPherson, when I wander to the club house side of the pitch. He tells me that the club had indeed hired a coach but had been delayed a while in the traffic. This explains why it looked as though there were only about 30 spectators at the match when I arrived.
The game ends soon after and the Worcester Raiders players are understandably elated.They have put in a great performance and I was particularly impressed by their defence. They have several games in hand on the teams above them and look to be good for a top 4 finish at least.
Lads Club definitely have some quality players in their side and it will be difficult for any other team even at this stage of the season to overhaul them, although Worcester Raiders who have 6 games in hand will give it a go I'm sure.
Match attendance: approx 80
Match entrance fee: £3
Match programme: none available
Match entertainment value: 8/10
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
