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Hereford United failed to put 'daylight' between themselves and Darlington after a 0-0 draw at home with Bury. On a bitterly cold day, The Bulls failed to create much in the first-half but upped their game in the second half, with only the crossbar and away goalkeeper Darren Randolph denying both Gary Hooper and Theo Robinson.
The Bulls were unchanged once again after their recent winning run. There were changes on the bench however, with recent signing Ryan Esson replacing the injury Michael Ingham, whilst Robbie Threlfall and Trevor Benjamin also made way; Stephen Gleeson and the long-awaited return of Steve Guinan made up their places. Bury named leading goalscorer Andy Bishop alongside Glynn Hurst up front, whilst much travelled defender Efe Sodje started.
The first-half was poor, and was overshadowed by the blustery and snowy weather conditions. Robinson came closest to breaking the deadlock with a fierce shot across goal which flashed past the post, after Clint Easton had touched the ball to him on the right. Easton then tried his luck himself with a free-kick which dipped over. Bury's tactics were to play on the counter-attack, and it nearly paid dividends when Hurst broke and played Elliot Bennett in, but the on loan Wolves winger dragged his shot past the post. The final chance of a lifeless half, Bishop broke in the middle but failed to extend Wayne Brown with a weak shot.
The second half started in similar fashion to the end of the first, with Bishop picking the ball up 30 yards out, and running forward, but again the former York City man dragged his shot harmlessly wide. A weak Richard Rose clearence sat up nicely for Nicky Adams to strike on the half-volley but Brown was equal to it with a routine catch. The best moments of the game came immediaetly after each other; firstly, a cross from Bennett went past Dean Beckwith and Bishop headed goalwards with a downward header but Brown managed to claw it to safety, before it was cleared. Within seconds, United were at the other end, after Hooper had latched onto a forward pass; he nutmegged former Southend team-mate Sodje, before curling a left-footed shot against the cross-bar. The striker hadn't given up hope of scoring, as he followed the ball-up by volleying it after it had fallen nicely off the cross-bar but this time Randolph denied him.
The chance had given The Bulls confidence, and Hooper used the right wing to good effect to send a low cross in for Robinson; only a brave save from Randolph denied the Birmingham born striker from scoring his first league goal in nearly three months. Paul Scott tried his luck from long-range but failed to test Brown as the ball ended up at the back of the Blackfriars End. Gleeson replaced the ineffective Simon Johnson, and the Irish international helped Hereford push forward and create more chances.
However, it was Bury who went close soon after the sub, when a free-kick from Adams fell to Bishop in the box; the striker turned before shooting with his left-foot but he was denied by a strong hand from Brown. The follow up from Sodje was blocked by the ever consistent John McCombe. Randolph continued to frustrate United in front of the Meadow End, with another fine save. Toumani Diagouraga latched on to a pass from Gleeson, and played in Robinson but again Randolph was there to parry a powerful left foot effort out for a corner. The set-piece was taken by Gleeson, and Robinson rose above Randolph from close-range but his header was cleared off the line. Good link-up play from the midfield duo of Diagouraga and Smith resulted in the Frenchman bursting into the box, but once more, Randolph's strong-hand denied Diagouraga after a powerful half-volley towards the near post.
Bury finished the final ten or so minutes creating chances of their own, with some quick breaks. Bishop cut in from the right hand-side to send a shot into the arms of Brown, whilst Adams did the same from the left wing but struck a fine effort inches over the crossbar from 25 yards. Richie Baker took the place of Bennett, who had run himself to the ground, as Bury looked for a creative spark in the closing moments. Yet, it was United who mustered up the best chance. A corner from Gleeson wasn't dealt with, and Hooper hooked the ball goalwards from 12 yards, but it was blocked once again. Bishop ended the game with two half-chances as Bury could have nicked the points. A swivel 25 yards out ended with him curling a shot past the post, before sub Adam Rooney, who had replaced Hurst mid-way through the half chipped to Bishop. The marksman chested, before firing a half-volley narrowly past Brown's near-post.
With Darlington losing at struggling Chester, it was a perfect opportunity for The Bulls to push themselves clear, but they failed to take advantage in front of 3420 supporters, including 125 from Bury. They gave it a good shot though, and did just about everything but score. Again, the defence was excellent and if they can continue to keep clean sheets, it gives United a great basis for victory. The return of Guinan to the bench is a boost, with the striker likely to play a big role in the coming weeks. Next up is an Easter Monday trip to Lincoln; memories of the 4-1 victory The Bulls had last season will still be fresh in the memory, especially for Guinan, who grabbed the headlines that night with a hattrick.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, McCombe, Rose, Johnson, Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Hooper, Robinson.
Subs: Esson, Collins, Taylor, Gleeson, Guinan.
Bury: Randolph, Haslam, Futcher, Sodge, Barry-Murphy, Bennett, Scott, Buchanan, Adams, Hurst, Bishop.
Subs: Provett, Parrish, Rouse, Baker, Rooney.
