.jpg)
Hereford United and Stevenage Borough, following their 1-1 draw yesterday evening, will play for a place in the Conference play off final in what will be a "one off" match at Edgar Street. This game will be similar to the encounter between Hereford and Aldershot in the semi-final second leg at Edgar Street last season.
The Bulls lined up pretty much as expected at Broadhall Way, with Andy Tretton and Tamika Mkandawire retaining their place in the defence, although Tony James returned to bench, and made a late appearance in place of Adam Stansfield, following a lengthy injury lay off. Simon Travis was preferred to Danny Williams in the midfield as he lined up against his former side. Lee Mills was chosen to partner Stansfield up front.
A tightly fought first half saw few great chances for either side, but it was Stevenage who will have been more pleased with their efforts. Jamie Pitman had to be quick to steal the ball off the feat of Jon Brady as he worked space in the Hereford area early on. Jon Nurse crossed well to the far post and Anthony Elding went close with a header, which was just the wrong side of the post. Travis was at the heart of United's first notable attack, breaking from the back and winning a corner once the ball was returned to him. Man of the match Mark Robinson's corner was headed back into the danger zone by Mills, before being cleared to Travis who slammed a volley wide.
Hereford's best chance of the half came following Rob Purdie's run on the left and pass into the feet of Mills. The ex-Premiership marksman had his back to goal, but got in a decent shot on the turn but it was narrowly over the bar. Mawson made a couple of saves before half time, firstly after Tretton's poor clearance and then from Dino Maamria's twenty yard snap shot. Elding came closest to opening the scoring before half time with a low drive from twenty five yards that flew past Mawson but skimmed the outside of the post, much to the relief of the noisy 1,400 Bulls fans behind the goal.
Hereford came out a different side for the second half and almost immediately went in front. Ryan Green bombed down the right and delivered a cross which Stansfield and 'keeper Alan Julian battled for. It fell to the onrushing Purdie at the far post and he smashed a shot over the bar from close range, when he really should have hit the target. Brady blasted wide after a short corner for the hosts and then saw his shot deflected into the arms of Mawson. Boro were given a lift with just over half an hour left. Nurse was subbed off for fans favourite George Boyd on the wing and his introduction seemed to inject confidence into the rest of the side. Graham Turner reacted by bringing on Danny Carey-Bertram in Mill's place and the sub soon paid dividends.
Having been on the pitch for just eight minutes, Carey-Bertram collected the ball twenty five yards out and hammered the Bulls into the lead out of nothing. He lifted his head, picked his spot, and sent a rocket of a shot beyond the reach of Julian and saw it fly in off the post, sending the away following absolutely barmy. Hereford's second change soon after saw Danny Williams taking Travis' role on the wing as Stevenage began to dominate.
A long ball into the Hereford area bounced and fell just over the bar, having taken a touch off a Hereford player. Then, just as it was looking like Hereford were heading for a fantastic 1-0 victory, Maamria popped up with three minutes left and headed in the equaliser. It was the result of a very well worked move and a good Brady cross from the right. Elding shot into the side netting in the last minute, before Hereford put some pressure on the home defence in injury time, but to no consequence.
It was a very closely contested game of football, much like the past two meetings between the sides this season. Hereford will be pleased with the draw, although they may be slightly disappointed in the manner they threw away the lead. The travelling support in a crowd of 6,520 were brilliant throughout and were no doubt a huge boost for the players.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Green, Tretton, Mkandawire, Robinson, Purdie, Stanley, Pitman, Travis, Mills, Stansfield. Subs: James, Scott, Danny Williams, Leroy Williams, Carey-Bertram.
SBFC Team: Julian, Warner, Goodliffe, Henry, Gregory, Brady, Maamria, Bulman, Nurse, Stamp, Elding. Subs: Westhead, Quinn, Laker, Boyd, Hocking.
