Hereford FC are aiming for a third consecutive win on Saturday when they play South Shields at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium.
Bulls in Fine Form After Leamington Victory
The Bulls have been rejuvenated, picking up 13 points from their last six games. Aaron Downes’ men will be confident after Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over Leamington.
George Munday scored a hat-trick in that game, with Harrison Sohna and Andy Williams also finding the net.
Hereford’s gaffer said after the game: “Well, you hope for that [five goals], don’t you? You’re coaching for that, training for that, playing for that, but you can never really tell. It’s a great result and a great win.”
He added: “I’m really happy with the majority of the play. There’s never a perfect performance, but ultimately at this stage of the season it’s about making sure we’re doing the right things and getting results.”
The win on Tuesday puts Hereford in a much healthier position going into Saturday’s clash, sitting one point behind 20th-placed Oxford City with six games in hand.
Munday Keen to Continue Goalscoring Form
Loanee striker George Munday will be looking to add to his tally after his stellar performance in midweek. The Cambridge man took away the matchball and is determined to continue this form throughout the rest of the season.
“Scoring goals, there’s no feeling like it in football, especially for a striker,” he said. “It’s what you’re judged on at the end of the day. To score in front of that many people here is an incredible feeling. It makes me hungry to score more.”
South Shields a Force to be Reckoned With
South Shields are a force to be reckoned with. Their 1-1 draw at Chorley on Tuesday extended the Mariners’ unbeaten league run to 16 games and ensured they held a two-point lead over AFC Fylde at the top of the table.
The high-fliers are unsurprisingly strong on the road, losing two of 18 away trips in the league this term.
The Mariners will also be a tough team to break down, having conceded just 30 goals this season – the best defensive record in the division. The Bulls are free-flowing at the moment, however, so this should be an interesting match-up on Saturday.
South Shields talisman Paul Blackett will hope to extend his prolific record. The striker has smashed 23 league goals this campaign, behind only Bedford’s Tyrone Marsh and Fylde’s Danny Ormerod in the National League North chart. The former Spennymoor poacher has scored six times in his last five outings and had netted in five straight games until the Chorley stalemate.
An Evenly Matched Historical Record
Historically the tie is honours even, Hereford experiencing two wins, a draw and two losses in previous tussles against Saturday’s opponents. The Bulls will be out to avoid a repeat of October’s reverse fixture, as the Mariners prevailed 2-1 with then-West Bromwich Albion loanee Michael Parker equalising for the visitors.
Hereford and South Shields have faced off twice at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium, a 3-0 win apiece both coming in 2024.
With the two teams feeling bullish and sharing an even record, this could be.