This game has now been postponed.

TODAY’S visit to York is one of Hereford’s longest trips of the season - but the Bulls may not be too dismayed about being away from Edgar Street right now.

After five games of this National League North season, Hereford sit second-bottom - above only Darlington, who have played two games fewer - with two points (and two goals) from five games.

It has been the away games which have provided the Bulls with this crucial lift off the foot of the table. Having reformed in 2014 after Hereford United were wound up, this phoenix club was promoted to Step 2 football after three successive title-winning seasons. It is still very early days in the season but they will not want to drop back down to the Southern League.

At home, Hereford have gone down 1-0 to Farsley Celtic (whom York beat 4-2 last Saturday), 4-1 to AFC Fylde and, most recently, 2-0 to Spennymoor Town.

On the road, the Bulls have fared marginally better, picking up a 1-1 draw at Bradford (Park Avenue) and a goalless stalemate at AFC Telford United.

Even in pre-season, the two wins Hereford amassed from their eight fixtures were away from home, meaning that Edgar Street has not seen a Bulls victory since the final game of last season, on February 16.

A 400-mile round trip to the LNER Community Stadium, then, might not be the worst thing for home-sick Hereford.

With one goal each, summer recruit Miles Storey and midfielder George Forsyth top the scoring charts.

Striker Storey has arrived at the Bulls from Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The 27-year-old from West Bromwich spent three seasons in the Scottish top flight between 2015 and 2018, first with Caley Thistle before campaigns with Aberdeen and Partick Thistle.

Joining Storey in the front line is 22-year-old striker Dan Smith on loan from Eastleigh. A product of Portsmouth’s academy, Smith scored 26 goals for Eastleigh in a shortened 2020/21 campaign.

Bringing experience to the back line is Krystian Pearce, a 31-year-old defender who graduated from the Birmingham City youth ranks. He was playing most recently at Boreham Wood, while his international career has seen him turn out for England Under-17s, the U19s, and the Barbados senior team.

Bolstering the midfield is Afghanistan 23-year-old international Maziar Kouhyar, signed from Walsall, and 27-year-old Albania-born former Wolves man Zeli Ismail.

They join a couple of players who will feel like new signings, Ryan McLean - who missed a penalty in Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Spennymoor Town - and Richard Whittingham. They made one appearance each last season before impressing on trial in the summer and earning themselves new deals.

There is also a new deal for keeper Brandon Hall, who kept seven clean sheets in 12 appearances last season.

He is supported in the rearguard by Mitch Hancox, a 27-year-old left-sided defender who made 33 appearances for Birmingham City in the Championship and signs from Solihull Moors.

The last time Josh Gowling’s side visited York, they inflicted on City Steve Watson’s then joint-heaviest competitive defeat, winning 4-1 at Bootham Crescent.

It was the fourth time in four games this incarnation of Hereford avoided defeat against the Minstermen.