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With Ryan Green back from suspension and Danny Blanchett injured, Hereford boss John Trewick sprung no surprises in his starting line-up. On a bright and breezy afternoon at Edgar Street, Hereford, for the third game in succession, took on opponents from the dizzy heights of the promotion race. The hope at start of play was that the performance should emulate that against Bournemouth rather than the tame capitulation shown in the Rochdale encounter.
In a busy opening period, the Bulls showed their attacking intentions with some neat interplay between Marc Pugh, Craig King, Mark Marshall and James Walker. Shots from Pugh and King were comfortably dealt with by the Daggers' Tony Roberts. Meanwhile, at the Meadow End, Darren Dennehy attempted to shepherd a harmless ball out of play, only for Danny Green to get in a dangerous cross which luckily whistled across the face of the goal. Marshall was showing speed, determination and no little creativity on the right wing. After one comically overhit cross, he then found his range and delivered two excellent balls into the area, but on both occasions could not find a Hereford contact.
Hereford were on top, with Walker showing some neat turns and King playing some intelligent passes . Darren Jones was obstructed by a Dagenham forward and was then harshly penalised for a push in trying to retrieve the situation. The resulting free kick hit the wall and the ensuing cross was confidently claimed by Adam Bartlett, his first meaningful action of the game after half an hour. A delightful move involving King, Kenny Lunt, Sam Gwynne and Pugh ended with the latter skewing his shot wide of goal. After a sandwich on King, the resulting free kick was cleared to Gwynne, whose long range attempt narrowly cleared the bar. The half came to a close with a stalemate, but no lack of entertainment.
HT: HUFC 0 DAG.andRED. 0
Again, the Bulls took the game to Dagenham after the interval. A glorious backheel from Pugh released Ryan Valentine, who showed an impressive desire to join in with attacks down the left flank. Unfortunately, his cross on this occasion came to nothing. On 57 minutes, King chased a lost cause and charged down an attempted clearance by Richards. With the Bulls in possession and the keeper stranded, a promising situation was cut short by the referee's strange decision to penalise King. At the other end, after a bout of pinball in the home area, Bartlett punched to safety.
Gwynne, King and Marshall again combined well but Marshall shot weakly. Hereford continued to press and were becoming frustrated by their inability to finish. A long range Jones effort was deflected for a corner and Valentine, set up by King and Walker, almost managed to curl the ball beyond Roberts and into the far corner. Dagenham's Danny Green was somewhat fortunate to control the ball, but then smashed a volley narrowly over from range. Darren Dennehy even contributed to the Bulls attack with a marauding run(!)
Finally, on 80 mins., Hereford's pressure was rewarded. There seemed little danger when James Walker collected the ball, fully 30 yards from goal. With a trademark swivel, he turned his marker, cleverly created space, and in one movement unleashed a fierce shot. Although the flapping Roberts got a hand to it, scenes of celebration were triggered as the net billowed.
HUFC 1 DAGandRED 0
Anxious to avoid a second defeat in a week, the Essex visitors tried to claw their way back into the game. The Bulls defence seemed comfortable until, after 83 mins, the lively Green crossed to find second half substitute Wesley Thomas unmarked. He duly bundled it over the line to record a gleeful, and somewhat undeserved equaliser.
HUFC 1 DAGandRED 1
Hereford now had 7 minutes to retake the lead and set about the task with gusto, as the visitors settled for a draw. The closest call was from Gwynne, put through deliciously one to one but the stopper blocked his effort with his leg. As two minutes of injury time passed, there was a possible penalty shout for a tug on Walker, but this was waved away, and both sides had to settle for a point.
FULL TIME: HUFC 1 DAGandRED 1
Attendance 2253 with 71 (!) Essex boys.
HUFC
Bartlett, Green, Jones, Dennehy, Valentine, Marshall, Gwynne, Lunt, Pugh, Walker, King.
Subs not Used: Rose, Constantine, Sonko, McQuilkin, Done, Adamson, McCallum
DAG AND RED
Roberts, Arber, Green (Nurse 85), Thurgood, Scott (Thomas 77), Griffiths, Benson, Ogogo, Spiller, Antwee, Gain
Subs not Used: Doe, Montgomery, Tejan-Sie, Lewington, Bingham.
A measure of the improved performances of late that this felt like two points lost against a team in the promotion race.
Ledburybull
