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Hereford United were held for the third successive league game this afternoon. Although their current form remains impressive, with just one defeat in the last ten games, it was Torquay United, lieing in the lower reaches of the table and struggling with injuries at the moment, who took a point away from Edgar Street. Once again The Bulls will be rueing missed chances in a game they should have really won.
Hereford were struggling from the start as The Gulls netted in just the second minute. Stevland Angus had collected the ball to the right of the box and drove in a low ball that took a massive deflection, totally evading Wayne Brown who had gone down to save, flying up just inside the far post. This gave the visitors a big confidence boost, as they hadn't won in their previous ten league outings.
Torquay went on to control the opening exchanges as Hereford couldn't get into the game, more often than not conceding possession when they attained it. However, as the half progressed the host improved, and Phil Gulliver almost levelled things up with a header from a John Eustace corner, which was sliced away off the line. Goalkeeper Brown then triggered a good attack for his side, releasing Rob Purdie on the right into space. Alan Connell, a former Gull, was stretching to meet the excellent cross, and his slight touch wasn't quite enough to divert the ball away from Nathan Abbey who made the save.
Purdie's next cross, just as good as his first, proved to be the vital one as Hereford equaliser on thirty three minutes. Purdie had received a short pass into feet after some good build up, and delivered to fellow wing-back Alex Jeannin at the far post. The Frenchman however, mis-hit his first attempt, but the ball took a lucky bounce, setting up nicely for Jeannin to convert across the 'keeper and inside the far post. The Bulls pushed on from this, generally improving their play, but Abbey only had to keep out a low speculative effort from Neil MacKenzie before the end of the half.
Hereford continued after the restart in similar fashion, though now they were looking more likely to score again. The corner combination of Eustace and Gulliver almost paid off, as Gulliver this time forced Abbey into a good save before the ball worked its way back to Eustace whose inswinging shot was gathered at the second attempt by Abbey. Tim Sills had the best chance yet to give The Whites the lead but, having fended off a defender to a long ball, was brilliantly denied by a diving save from the goalie. Stuart Fleetwood collected the ball, but his low shot was turned behind by a defender. This was one of Fleetwood's last actions as the striker, still regaining match fitness, was replaced by Andy Williams on fifty four minutes.
The substitute was involved when Hereford were given the perfect opportunity to take the lead. Williams burst down the right then crossed to the far side of the box to Jeannin. Jeannin clipped the ball back into the box towards Connell, who was pushed to the ground and the referee Mr. Sutton awarded a penalty. Up stepped Purdie in front of the Meadow End, as he has done many times this season, but this time, and for the first time this season, the goalkeeper got the better of him and made the save. Purdie's penalty, destined for the top corner, was not a poor one and he still boasts an impressive penalty record.
Obviously this was a blow to The Bulls, but things almost got worse as Sills gifted the ball to Jordan Robertson, selling Tamika Mkandawire short, and giving the striker a run through on goal. Gulliver came across to cover, but couldn't stop Robertson shooting for the far corner, it was the finger tips of Brown that kept the scores at 1-1 though. On seventy two minutes Luke Webb came on to replace Connell who, despite all of his effort, didn't have the best of games against his former club.
What followed was a very odd incident indeed, as the referee gave Torquay a penalty. However, it wasn't a Hereford player who commited the "foul", as one Torquay player felled his own man, as both went for the same ball. The Bulls players raced to the referee to protest their innocence, but Mr. Sutton seemed to be having none of it. Eventually, though, he was persuaded to go and consult his linesman, and then changed his decision and continued play from a drop ball. It's worrying though that the players had to make the referee go to consult his assistant, and that the linesman didn't try to make Mr. Sutton aware of his view himself.
The Bulls had survived this scare and Eustace was soon to be denied at the other end, as Lee Andrews threw himself in front of a dangerous looking half volley. The Edgar Street side had another penalty shout before the ninety minutes were up as Dean Beckwith released Jeannin with a ball inside the full back Andrews, who then made a sliding challenge bringing Jeannin down in the process. Only a corner was given though. Four minutes of added time were signalled, and it was in the third of these that Hereford had a final effort to steal the win. A good pass-and-move combination resulted in Williams centring low to Webb, who fired just over the bar from twelve yards out, much to the disappointment of the majority of the 3,078 fans.
Another draw, although not a disaster, will not satisfy Hereford, who were looking to win this fixture. The fact that they are not converting the chances created is probably what will concern Turner and Trewick the most. It seems a tad odd that Fleetwood, who is nowhere near full fitness, is being selected over Williams. Also, the scoring record of Sills may worry them, as he has scored just one goal for the club. Maybe, with Webb getting more a look in, it is finally time for Connell to be played as a striker and Webb to take Connell's place, in the whole.
HUFC: Brown, Beckwith, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, Eustace, MacKenzie, Connell, Sills, Fleetwood. Subs: Travis, Ferrell, Thompson, Webb, Williams.
TUFC: Abbey, Andrews, Woods, Villis, Reed, Angus, Murray, Critchell, Hill, McPhee, Robertson. Subs: Mansell, Horsell, Motteram, Hockely.
