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Next Game: Pre-Season

Friday, November 17, 2017

Preview: Hereford vs Hitchin Town

Ben Chilman previews tomorrow's game:

Hereford finally return to Evo-Stik South division action after four games in three cups with the Bulls remaining in all competitions. 

This week saw the turn of the FA Trophy with Potters bar coming to Edgar Street and forcing an unwanted replay on Tuesday night in Hertfordshire. Kick off was delayed when the team coach broke down en route, and with Beadle sporting a fine pair of trousers, it's true sign winter is on its way!

Hereford took the lead in the first half with Lance Smith bundling home a John Mills shot from close range. The Bulls extended their lead with Symons, who came on for Smith, beating two players at the by-line to cross into the six yard box for the home sides centre backs to fumble the ball in. While the Scholars got a goal back the Bulls saw the game out for a 2-1 win. 

After Tuesday night's result, the Bulls will play Oxford City in the third qualifying round on November 25th. Hereford remain one of the few sides from the Evo-Stik South to still be in the competition with Kings Lynn, Kettering, Weymouth, Tiverton, Redditch and Merthyr all out. This may add strain to an already depleted Bulls squad.

While Jimmy Oates sat out Tuesday night's game with a reported illness, he is expected to be back in the side for this weekend with Page to drop back to the bench. Rob Purdie was the other player to sit out the mid-week game but should be back for this league clash.

Tuesday night produced two more casualties with Lance Smith landing awkwardly and being taken off while Pablo Haysham suffered with cramp. This adds to the growing injury list which still includes midfielders Calvin Dinsley and Mike McGrath who both remain side-lined for a few more weeks. 

However, the club are hopeful Tyrone Duffus' international clearance will have come through by the weekend to help fill the ever increasing hole in midfield. The current Cardiff City U23 player is an attacking midfielder who has spent much of his career in at Everton. He is on a youth loan until January.

The other club signing this week was left back Cameron Pring. The 19 year old is on a two month loan from Bristol City and has just completed a one month stint at Aldershot Town making one appearance from the bench. He will be available in all cup competitions and is likely to be in contention for a start Saturday. 

Eliot Richards has also joined the club, but his international clearance won't be through in time for tomorrow's game.

Hitchin Town are a Hertfordshire based side who play in yellow and green kits. The Canaries could be described as a slightly unknown quantity this season thanks to a degree ofvarying results. For example only two weeks ago this mid table team convincingly won 3-1 at home to second placed Weymouth. However, just a few weeks previous the Canaries lost 4-1 away to 17th placed Farnborough. 

Hitchin do have an inform striker in Elliot Baily, number 10. The former Barton Rovers forward usually plays alongside Connor Vincent who also joined the Canaries in the summer after the departure of last season's top scorer Robbie Burns. Mark Burke knows the side hasn't reached the consistency levels that brought them fourth place last season.