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The players and 400 or so supporters, in a crowd of 1,012, of Hereford United were left very frustrated when they failed to take all three points at the Lamb yesterday evening. Hereford didn't play well but, having taken an early second half lead and having a one man advantage against their lower placed opponents they were pegged back and took only a point.
Rumours that David Brown had left the club seemed were only enhanced when he did not appear at the Lamb and it was later confirmed that he's left the club to sign for Accrington Stanley. Jamie Pitman was again out for the Bulls as was Rob Purdie, who was injured on Saturday. Adam Stansfield returned to the side, but had to settle for a place on the bench as Lee Mills was preferred to partner Danny Carey-Bertram in attack. His physical presence was obviously intended to trouble the massive Matt Redmile in Tamworth's back line.
United were once again slow out of the blocks and for the second time in four days found themselves behind early on, after five minutes on this occasion. Graham Hyde misplaced a pass in the midfield and the ball was cleared long. Bob Taylor and Tamika Mkandawire battled for the ball and the experienced front man came away with it and had the simple task of sliding it into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Craig Mawson.
Hereford failed to get a shot away in the early stages; when Carey-Bertram found Danny Williams his effort was blocked before, at the other end, Mawson punched a free kick away to Mark Cooper, who shot wide. Craig Stanley shot harmlessly over the bar after a throw in on the left before United grabbed the equaliser with their first real effort on target after thirty three minutes.
Brian Smikle chased a pass over the top of the defence when the attack looked to have gone, but he beat the hesitant Ryan Price in goal to the ball and squared it to Williams whose shot beat two defenders before hitting the far bottom corner. Williams then took a free kick which was cleared a couple of minutes later, but Stanley turned it back in for Mills who volleyed over the bar at the far post. Carey-Bertram had a powerful effort which the sting was taken out of by a touch off a defender and it fell easily for Price.
Moments later the referee showed another card to Adie Smith. It was his second yellow, picked up for a late challenge from behind on Williams, and he was sent off on the stroke of half time. Scott Stamps was replaced by Aaron Brown as Tamworth reshuffled following the dismissal.
The second half began with Graham Turner having to make a change, Simon Travis limped off and was replaced by Ryan Green. Two minutes after his introduction United made the numerical advantage pay and took the lead, six minutes into the half. Smikle won a corner on the right, which was swung in to the near post by Mark Robinson. Player-manager Mark Cooper sliced the ball into the danger area and Mkandawire turned and fired past a crowd on players into the back of the net.
Mills ran at the defence as United almost immediately won possession and looked for the run of Williams, but it was knocked behind for another corner by Redmile. Mkandawire again met the cross, this time at the far post, but he knocked his header wide. Taylor fired a reminder that The Lambs were not yet out of it but shot over the bar before Tony James had to clear a header off the line following a corner.
Hereford then created the perfect opportunity to seal the game when Carey-Bertram found Mills, who then played Stanley ahead of the defence with thirty five yards of space in front of him. However, he seemed to take forever in making his way to the penalty area where he had only Price to beat but he took too long and Brown was back to block the shot when Stanley finally got it away, much to the annoyance of the travelling fans behind the goal.
A similar move involving Mills and Williams set Carey-Bertram away on the left was well worked, but Carey-Bertrams first time powerful shot was beaten away by the palms of Price. Smikle then met William's cross with his head but it was saved as it travelled towards the bottom corner. He was then replaced by Stansfield who teamed up with Mills in the strike force, as Carey-Bertram had been operating on the left for much of the game.
Then, with eight minutes remaining, Hereford were punished for failing to take their chances and take advantage of the extra man. Cooper, known for his free kicks, blasted one in when his side needed it the most from around thirty yards. It moved in the air causing Mawson all sorts of problems, but despite getting his hands to it he couldn't stop it from rocketing into the top corner.
Hereford then finally showed some urgency as they attempted to nick a winner but failed to trouble the 'keeper. Stanley's tame effort, which went wide was the only effort they managed. Perhaps if the Bulls showed some of the same urgency that they did in the last eight minutes earlier in the half, especially when counter attacking, they would have had no problems in beating the Lambs. They didn't however, and now can only rue their wasted chance to move firmly back into the play off places.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, James, Mkandawire, Robinson, Williams, Stanley, Hyde, Smikle, Mills, Carey-Bertram. Subs: Green, Tretton, Smith, Scott, Stansfield.
TFC team: Price, Simpson, Adie Smith, Redmile, Stamps, Soares, Ebdon, Cooper, Whitman, Rose, Taylor. Subs: Brown , Marcelle, Storer, Francis, Douglas.
