From the Archives - Bulls Draw with Forest Green

With no match for Hereford United this afternoon we go back to December 28th 2002 and a Conference home game against old rivals Forest Green Rovers.

GRAYSON GOAL HAUNTS HEREFORD

Hereford United 1 - 1 Forest Green Rovers

Colin Addison will be the happier of the two managers as his Forest Green Rovers side snatched a point at Edgar Street through ex-Hereford United favourite Neil Grayson.

The veteran atacker popped up in the Hereford area on 72 minutes, leaving Matt Baker with no chance as he nodded home a Steve Cowe cross from six yards out.

Cowe's move down the Rovers right wing saw him beat Rob Sawyers, who was filling in for the suspended Michael Rose for Hereford. Jamie Pitman, out through injury, was replaced by Rob Purdie who came off with a knock midway through the second period.

Grayson's goal was a bitter blow to a Hereford side who had taken the lead just a minute earlier. Steve Guinan had flicked a through-ball to John Grant, who knocked it home past the stranded Steve Perrin in the Forest Green goal.

The away side sported a different type of strip for the match - they wore Hereford United's red away tops due to clashes with both their home and away shirts. The Hereford kit sported squad numbers and Herefod player names, which meant identifying the players even more complicated than normal!

The first half was a relatively drab affair. Hereford had the better of the possession and attacking play, although the two most promising openings came at the other end. Neil Grayson had a header turned over the bar by Matt Baker, and Kayode Odejayi nodded a cross wide at the far post, missing the target by inches.

Any hopes Hereford had at scoring seemed to be almost eliminated by the Forest Green defence, which consisted of ten outfield players at times. On the rare occasions the Bulls did break through the back-line, Perrin was on-hand to make saves, although there were few of note.

Hereford's best effort on goal came on the hour, when Steve Guinan volleyed the ball onto the top of the bar from twenty yards out, and Michael Husbands, making his debut from Aston Villa, came on to liven things up just before the goals.

The most influential player for the Bulls on the afternnon was Danny Williams, who battled away in his midfield role, chasing after every ball and covering every blade of grass on the field. The team was also boosted by a bumper crowd - some 3271 turned up, including 129 from away, to bolster the club's coffers.

However, the win wasn't to be and Forest Green defended deeply but effectively after Grayson had equalised Grant's first league goal for Hereford. Despite dropping points, Hereford make ground on the sides around them, going level on points with Morecambe who are in the last play-off position.

Hereford: Matt Baker, Matt Clarke, Rob Sawyers, Andrew Tretton, Tony James (captain), Ben Smith, Rob Purdie, Danny Williams, Steve Guinan, John Grant, Paul Parry.

Subs: Ian Wright, Ken Griffiths, Richard Teesdale (on 79mins), James Fox, Michael Husbands (on 66mins).

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