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Hereford United picked up a point in their Boxing Day encounter with Tranmere Rovers at Edgar Street. Edrissa Sonko twice put the visitors into the lead in either half but on both occasions, they were pegged back by Hereford through goals from Toumani Diagouraga and Steve Guinan. Both sides pushed for the winner late on with The Bulls looking likely but they failed to find the winner in front of 3495.
Graham Turner named an un-changed team following the encouraging display at Huddersfield Town, although there was one change on the bench with 'goalkeeper Jose Veiga appearing on the bench after a spell with Tamworth. Rovers were looking to gain revenge on their FA Cup defeat at Edgar Street last season and Ronnie Moore included the 'moon-walker' Bas Savage up front, whilst Steve Jennings started in central midfield; the Scouser spent a three month loan spell with Hereford in 2006/2007.
Former MK Dons midfielder Gareth Edds sliced wide following a corner from the left whilst Kris Taylor's huth up field was chased down by Andy Williams but the local lad couldn't beat 'keeper Danny Coyne after he had rushed from his line, and the second effort by Williams was deflected out for a corner. A neat turn from Guinan following a quick throw allowed him to fire goalwards but his effort was straight at Coyne. Soon after, Ben Smith tried his luck from 20 yards but didn't catch it cleanly and Coyne again made a routine stop. Lionel Ainsworth should have opened the scoring when he controlled a Guinan flick and ran directly towards the visitor's goal, a lucky deflection fell back to Ainsworth who was through on goal but he couldn't compose himself and Coyne made a vital block from his strike.
Savage put himself about in the final third for Tranmere and went close for the visitors following a dangerous Andy Taylor cross from the right but the big striker could only volley over from six yards out. Edds tried his luck from long-range again but like the first-time, failed to trouble Samson. Guinan used his body to hold off the challenge of defender Ian Goodison and play in Matty Done with a neat pass but a rush of blood to the Welshman's head saw him smash over from a fine position.
The away side managed to take the lead towards the end of the half when a ball straight through the middle of the defence caught Josh Gowling out of position and Sonko raced onto the pass to neatly toe-poke past Samson and into the corner of the goal. United made a positive response to going a goal behind with Ainsworth's long-range effort surprising Coyne who pushed the ball away, before moments later, Hereford drew level in stoppage-time. Diagouraga picked up the ball just inside the Tranmere half and burst forward on the right; a neat one-two was played between Diagouraga and Ainsworth and the Frenchman continued his run into the box with the ball before blasting into the far top corner to equalise with his first strike of the season.
Both sides came out in the second-half with attacking intent straight from the restart with an early Edds header dropping past the post and Diagouraga's excellent control allowed him room to shoot, but he dragged his shot wide. Flowing football from Hereford starting with Ainsworth on the right saw him find the run of Diagouraga up the line; the midfield sent a low cross into the danger area where Williams tried his luck but saw a shot blocked before falling to Ainsworth who tamely struck into the body of Coyne. Rovers, playing towards their travelling support of 468 in the second-half, went close through Terry Gornell as he collected a pass inside the box and turned Gowling but his effort flashed past Samson's far post. The visitors made no mistake soon after however, as they restored their one goal advantage.
After some sloppy play on the edge of the box from Smith, the ball fell to Sonko was showed good skill to turn and fire past the 'helpless Samson from 20 yards. The lead lasted all of four minutes though as Hereford found an equaliser after some sustained pressure. An under-pressure Ainsworth found Smith on the right and his neat lifted pass into the box was chested down and hit first-time into the net off the post by Guinan to the delight of the home fans. The Bulls pushed on for the remainder of the match and were looking threatening although Rovers also created opportunities, with Sonko hitting a shot goalwards from 25 yards and narrowly missing the near post. Done was giving the Tranmere right-back John Johnson a torrid time on the left-wing and his cross was deflected to Guinan who hit a volley goalwards forcing Coyne into a smothering stop.
Charlie Barnett replaced Gormell as Ronnie Moore looked to shake his attacking options up and his delightful cross from the left was touched wide by Sonko from inside the six-yard box. In the latter stages, Hereford continued to threaten with Done instrumental. The winger put a chance on a plate for Williams with a low-cross but the Bristol Rovers loanee somehow failed to make a connection. Done then picked up a pass from Dean Beckwith, running in from the left before hitting a 30 yard left footer just over the bar. As injury time loomed, Guinan switched the play to Done once more and he ran into the box but flashed a shot past the far post. In stoppage-time, Gowling's back-header put Samson in trouble with Savage closing in and the striker won the battle for the ball but his strike was well off-target.
The visitors are pushing for the play-offs and a point, on paper, is a relatively decent result. However, on the balance of play Hereford deserved more with their attacking play, at times, a delight to watch. Guinan has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be happening for Williams although his effort cannot be faulted. A proven goalscorer at this level is a must in January because Hereford need someone in the box to feed off the service from Ainsworth and Done. United's next encounter is a trip to table-topping Leicester City in just two days time.
Hereford: Samson, Rose, Gowling, Beckwith, Taylor, Ainsworth, Diagouraga, Smith, Done, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Veiga, Broadhurst, Gwynne, Johnson, Chadwick.
Tranmere: Coyne, Johnson, Goodison, Kay, Taylor, Shuker, Edds, Jennings, Sonko, Savage, Gornell.
Subs: Achterberg, Antwi, Barnett, Creswell, Henry.
