'I devote my life to this football club': Caddis trying everything to get Hereford's season back on track

Paul Caddis hopes Hereford coming back to salvage a point against Curzon Ashton can "kick us on" as the languishing Bulls look to rise up from 17th place in the National League North table.

The Whites face an away trip on Tuesday to Oxford City, a side who have only managed two wins and three draws in their opening 15 games.

Speaking after Saturday's 3-3 draw, where individual errors cost Hereford, leaving Omari Sterling-James to rescue the side with a hat-trick, Caddis reaffirmed his commitment to Hereford.

He said that while he is not "absolutely buzzing" with how his side has been so far this season, he "works tirelessly at this football club".

Having joined Hereford as a rookie manager, two positive seasons saw the Bulls make progress on and off the field. But after an anti-climactic pre-season, the season has got off to a slow start and the play-off places - a bare minimum for most supporters - seem a mile away.

"I'm desperate to succeed," the Scot, who lives in Lancashire, added. "I've been down here [in Hereford] since Monday night. It's now Saturday and I'm part-time. I devote my life to this football club.

"The people behind the scenes will tell you I'm in regularly. Supporters will tell you, I see a lot of them in the town centre and trust me, I'm trying everything.

"I don't mind the criticism as long as it's not personal and people have every right to have a pop. But, I promise you, we're doing everything we possibly can."

Certain stats paint a stark picture of Hereford's start to the season. The Bulls have gone behind in eleven of the 14 league games played so far this season and have only kept one clean sheet - against an Alfreton side who never looked like scoring and who subsequently sacked their long-serving manager Billy Heath.

Some fans have also questioned tactics, especially playing one striker at home. Even on Saturday when the Bulls were trailing 3-1 in the second half, Andy Williams - who appeared visibly frustrated during the game - made way for Remaye Campbell.

But the Scot tried to paint a positive picture at times during his lengthy post-match interview, highlighting I-Lani Edwards, Charlie Cooper and Gus Mufata.

Analysing the game, he said: "Is it tactics, is it shapes? It's easy for people to say that, I absolutely get it, everyone's entitled to their opinion."

He added: "I understand the obsession with two strikers. We just scored three goals with one striker on the pitch."

He also said he wants the players to carry their second half performance into Tuesday, hoping it can "kick us on".

FA Cup Results For National North Clubs

Five National North League clubs have played in the FA Cup this weekend. Sadly only Buxton have made it to the next round.

Here's the results:

Buxton 2 Chatham 1

Sutton 2 AFC Telford 1

Cambridge United 3 Chester 0

Spennymoor 0 Barrow 2

South Shields 1 Shrewsbury 3  .

 

Highlights Hereford v Curzon Ashton

Highlights of yesterday's 3-3 draw between Hereford and Curzon Ashton are online.

To watch please go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vWpBP9G7-0

Hereford Women's Match Postponed

Hereford Women's league game at Long Itchington, due to be played this afternoon, has been postponed.

Areas of the pitch are reported to be water-logged.

Next Sunday Hereford are set to travel to Droitwich for a League Cup tie. 

First Half Problem For Hereford

Hereford Were A Goal Down After Five Minutes Against Curzon Yesterday

Once again yesterday Hereford were slow to get any grip on the game.

It's not the first time it has happened this season and the stats prove the point.

Hereford have gone behind in eleven of the fourteen league games played so far this season.

The same happened in the three FA Cup games.

So that is fourteen out of seventeen games when the opposition have scored first.

The Bulls have only kept one clean sheet this season to date.

That was the game against Alfreton which Hereford won 2-0.  

Second Half Pictures Hereford v Curzon Ashton

These pictures from the second half of yesterday's 3-3 draw at Edgar Street.

Caddis hopes boos were towards him as he admits 'it's not good enough'

Alex Curran opening the scoring after Richardson failed to hold onto a corner

Hereford boss Paul Caddis has said he hoped supporters were booing him and not the players after his side found themselves 3-0 down at half time against Curzon Ashton.

Curzon opened the scoring inside five minutes as Alex Curran netted after Theo Richardson fumbled a corner, before Jack Spencer’s pass found Tony Weston in space. He beat a Hereford defender and scored Curzon’s second. But things went from bad to worse to dreadful for the hosts as a sloppy pass was picked up by Ben Darby, making it 3-0 with a stunning strike from 30 yards.

With most Hereford fans in disbelief at the staggering half-time score, even after some bright spells, boos were heard around the stadium as the referee blew for the break.

Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester's Carson Wishart after the game, with an Omari Sterling-James hat-trick salvaging a point for his side, Caddis said fans are entitled to their opinions and to express them how they want.

But he hoped the boos were towards him, rather than the players.

"I'm the manager," he added. "I've got to take the responsibility, which I always do.

"The players will tell you that I'll always come out here and front it. It's just my character and I'm happy to take that flak. But at the same time, as long as it's fair, we come back and drew the game from 3-0 down. So by all means, please criticise us, but at the same time, have an element of praise as well because I think it's got to be balanced and I'm fine with it.

"If we lost today then by all means we deserve all the criticism but I think we've got to be balanced as well and give the players all the credit for getting back in the game."

Still raw after the bruising game, the downbeat Scot said bluntly said: "It's not been good enough.

"I can't sit here and dress it all up, it's not been good enough. It's on me, I'm the manager. I take responsibility for how it's been. 

"But what it did show me was we've still got a group that's still there, fair play to them. 

"They had to find a way themselves to try and get back in the game."

When asked whether Aaron Skinner and Lewis Hudson's absence in defence was partly to blame for the 3-0 scoreline at the break, Caddis said it wasn't.

While he missed them, "that shouldn't be the reason you go 3-0 down", he said.

"We made an individual error in the first one [goal] which is nothing to do with shapes or team selections or two up front or one up front or five up front, whatever it is - nothing to do with that.

"Second one is a great pass from Spencer, gets in behind, gets a goal and third one's, again, we tried to overplay a little bit in the edge of the box and the boy puts it in the top corner.

"Is it tactics, is it shapes? It's easy for people to say that, I absolutely get it, everyone's entitled to their opinion."

He added: "I understand the obsession with two strikers. We just scored three goals with one striker on the pitch."

During the lengthy interview, Caddis did say there were positives from the first half such as I-Lani Edwards getting on the ball and Gus Mutafa and Charlie Cooper being calm in midfield.

But now he hopes the players take the second half performance as they travel to Oxford City on Tuesday.

Saturday's National League North results and updated table

Saturday's National League North results are as follows:

Alfreton Town (0) 1-1 (1) Kidderminster Harriers
Hereford (0) 3-3 (3) Curzon Ashton
Marine (0) 0-1 (0) AFC Fylde
Merthyr Town (2) 3-1 (0) Darlington
Oxford City (1) 1-2 (1) Bedford Town
Peterborough Sports (1) 2-1 (1) Chorley
Southport (0) 0-0 (0) King's Lynn Town
Worksop Town (0) 1-0 (0) Scarborough Athletic

The updated league table can be found here: https://bullsnews.blogspot.com/p/league-table.html

First Half Pictures From Hereford v Curzon Ashton

A selection of pictures from the first half of this afternoon's game at Edgar Street.

Had This Chance Gone In.......

 

Remembrance At Edgar Street

A one minute silence to remember those who have given their lives for the country took place at Edgar Street this afternoon.

Members of the Royal British Legion marched onto the pitch.

 

Players From 1972 At This Afternoon's Game

Peter Isaac, Ricky George and Dudley Tyler and were at this afternoon's game.

Isaac was the guest in hospitality before the game.

Then at half time both Isaac and George spoke to Matt Healey.

 

OSJ rescues Hereford

A big week for Hereford - with three crucial matches in eight days - started in the most dramatic fashion. A goal down within five minutes, three behind at the break, then a brilliant Omari Sterling-James hatrick to rescue a point deep into added time. 

Going into November in 18th place in the table wasn’t part of Paul Caddis’ plan, but recent showings away at high-flyers South Shields and AFC Fylde had been encouraging. And the signing of Harley Hamilton, an attacking 21 year old, plus the loan of Charlie Cooper have strengthened the squad. Hamilton was suspended for this one, so we’ll have to wait for him to make his Bulls league debut. Hereford made two changes, with Keenan Quansah and Kyle Howkins returning to the starting eleven, with Lewis Hudson and Aaron Skinner missing out completely.

Before kick-off, a poignant reflection for Remembrance as members of Royal British Legion joined the players on the field. And on six minutes, there was an applause to remember Colin Addison, whose leadership brought Hereford United its most famous moment in 1972. 

But by that point, Hereford were behind. A corner was fumbled by Bulls goalkeeper Theo Richardson, with Alex Curran on hand to capitalise and score his fifth goal in five matches. 

Picture Courtesy Of Ollie Biddle

And it got worse, much worse. Despite spells of possession and some attacking threats from Andy Williams and Sam Osborne, Hereford were 2-0 down after 21 minutes. Jack Spencer’s pass found Tony Weston in space. He beat a Hereford defender and scored Curzon’s second. 

 

Then Ben Darby made it 3-0 with a drilled effort from 30 yards out. 

I-Lani Edwards’ shot late in the half bounced back off the post, but Hereford were booed off at half time. 

The second half presented a more settled Hereford performance. With Curzon having a healthy lead, the Bulls needed to show resilience and patience. First, Edwards’ effort went inches wide, and then Omari Sterling-James fired a 30 yard attempt home to give Hereford a lifeline and make it 3-1. 

 Sam Osborne With The Ball

He passed it back to Omari Sterling-James (On The Right)

And The Keeper Could Only Watch

The Bulls had nervous moments defensively as they attempted to find a way back into the game. Weston’s effort was pushed away by Richardson, and Howkins had some last-ditch defending to do to keep Curzon at bay. 

Edwards needed treatment after picking up a knock, and that along with eight substitutions led to four minutes of added time.  

Cue Sterling-James.  First, a ball 30 yards out - driven home to make it 3-2. 

 

Sterling-James With A Low Drive

Through A Crowd Of Players

And Into The Back Of The Net

Then, with seconds left, another long-range effort, smashed low off the post to earn an unlikely equaliser, and a stunning hatrick. 

D'Ath Took A Corner Passing It To Osborne

Osborne Picked Out Sterling-James

And Sterling-James Beat The Keeper For His Hat-Trick

A point rescued, and an improved second half. Taking this into Tuesday’s match at Oxford City is pivotal if Hereford are to build on any of the positives from today. 

Hereford: Richardson, Mafuta, Preston, Osborne, Williams (Campbell, 68), Quansah (Nto, 68), Sterling-James, Cooper (D’Ath, 75), Parker, Edwards (Rooney, 84), Howkins. Unused subs: Lewis, Richards, Bitemo. 

Curzon: Hawkins, Poscha, Amado, Curran (Holmes, 79), Spencer, Tony Weston (Sobowale, 88), Charlie Weston (Stobbs, 85), Darby, Richards (Rodwell-Grant, 88), Barton, Ezennolim. Unused subs: McLean, Ollerenshaw, Olufowobi. 

Attendance: 2,450