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Hereford United's promotion chase was dealt a major blow this afternoon as they went down 2-1 at Sincil Bank against Lincoln City. The blow has been softened by Darlington's failure to beat Morecambe at home, but The Bulls lie just one point in front of Dave Penney's outfit following today's results. Danny N'Guessan opened the scoring in the first-half, after a fine run and finish, just minutes after Mark Kerr saw red for a reckless challenge. Gary Hooper levelled the proceedings mid-way through the second-half, but N'Guessan had the final say by slotting home a late penalty.
The Bulls were unchanged once again following three wins out of their previous four, and four clean sheets in a row. There was one change on the bench, with Stephen Gleeson away on international duty, meaning Sam Gwynne returned to the sixteen. Lincoln named experienced striker Jamie Forrester up front, with another veteran of the game, Mark Stallard, sitting on the bench.
United looked good in the early stages, with a Clint Easton cross towards the back-post allowing Simon Johnson to send a half-volley goalwards, but it was blocked. Pinball in the home side's box saw Ben Smith slam a shot towards goal but again, the Lincoln defence did their job and blocked it. Hooper had a good opportunity to open the scoring, when sent racing through by Toumani Diagouraga, but the on loan man failed to beat Alan Marriott from 10 yards, as they goalkeeper closed the angle down and made a good save. Minutes later, a slice in the box by Nat Brown allowed another chance for Hooper, but this time, he failed to hit the target with a snapshot volley going over. Forrester showed his class, with some neat touches up front, and beat two men before curling into the arms of Wayne Brown from 20 yards.
Lincoln were reduced to ten men just shy of the half hour mark, after Kerr jumped in two footed on Easton. The referee was quick to react, and showed no hesistation in dishing out the red. Yet, the home side didn't seem to mind being down a man, as they went up the other end to score immediately after the free-kick had been cleared. N'Guessan collected the ball inside his own half, and his pace and skill took him inside United's box before he sent a low left foot shot across W. Brown and into the far corner. Forrester was sacrificed for young midfielder Martin Pembleton, as the hosts looked to sure up their midfield. United had much more possession following the red card, but created little in the final stages of the first-half. Hooper's mis-kick at the back-post from an Easton free-kick, and a deflected Richard Rose effort, which had Marriott scrambling, was all The Bulls could muster up.
The second half continued to be dominated on the whole by United, but Lincoln still looked threatening on the break. N'Guessan again went on a direct run towards goal, unchallenged, he shot past the post from 25 yards. Trent McClenahan's burst down the right hand-side, and cut in saw the Aussie shoot narrowly over with a powerful effort, whilst Johnson also cut in from the right wing, and set a curling left-foot shot wide of the far post. A neat through ball by Johnson found the forward run of Smith, who got in front of the Lincoln defence, but lacked composure as he slammed a shot at Marriott, who palmed it out for a corner.
Rose wasted a fine chance to equalise as he headed an Easton corner over the bar, despite losing his marker. Luckily, Hooper didn't follow suit as he equalised. Theo Robinson, who again looked out of sorts with the frustration of the young man visible, managed to knock a ball through to Hooper, whose speed took him past the last defender, and he toe-poked into the back of the net. The Bulls really should have gone onto to win the game against ten men, but they failed to take their chances. Johnson controlled a weak clearence in the box, but blasted over after setting himself nicely.
Steve Guinan made a long awaited return to the first-team, replacing Johnson, whilst an injury to Lee Ridley meant his game was over, with Adie Moses coming on in his place. Hooper smashed a free-kick into the body of Marriott, whilst a Dean Beckwith header was gathered with easy by the Lincoln goalie. Just seven minutes from the end, Lincoln got themselves ahead once again, courtesy of a foul by Easton. Pembleton nodded dangerously into the box to the un-marked Ben Wright. The striker was about to pull the trigger when his heels were clipped by Easton; the linesman awarded a penalty, and Easton was booked. N'Guessan stepped up from 12 yards, and sent W. Brown the wrong way.
The Bulls threw everything at Lincoln in the final moments with Robinson's 25 yard effort narrowly missing the top corner. The youngster was frustrated moments later, when Guinan and Hooper linked up and the former played in Robinson on the right-hand side of the box; it was a fine chance to seal a point for United, but he shot weakly and Marriott gathered. In the five minutes of stoppage time, Hereford continued to press, leaving them prone to the counter, and Lenell John-Lewis took advantage, by going on a fantastic run, past two defenders before shooting towards the top corner. It took a fine diving save from W. Brown to deny him as he pushed the ball onto the crossbar. The final chance, right at the death fell to Robinson. Hooper's strength and pace took him past a defender, and he set up Robinson in a similar position to his earlier chance, but in the same outcome, he could only find the hands of Marriott with his placed shot.
If The Bulls aren't to make automatic promotion, the Easter weekend could well have be their downfall. A host of missed chances in both today's game and Bury on Saturday has contributed to a disappointing couple of days. However, Darlington have had the same set of results as The Bulls have managed, and United are still in the driving seat with regards the third automatic promotion spot. A twelve day break before Chester could do Hereford the world of good, or could have a negative effect on the run-in, with make or break time now upon them. Graham Turner will have to make decisions too; in particular, the strike-force. Hooper has cemented his place, but who should partner him is another question. Robinson looks short of confidence, and can't buy a goal; the return of Guinan could well be the answer.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, McCombe, Rose, Johnson, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Hooper, Robinson.
Subs: Esson, Collins, Gwynne, Taylor, Guinan.
Lincoln: Marriott, Green, Brown, Hone, Ridley, N'Guessan, Kerr, Clarke, John-Lewis, Forrester, Wright.
Subs: Duffy, Pembleton, Moses, Stallard, Dodds.
