Despite plenty of possession, Hereford played second fiddle for long periods of tonight’s game with Macclesfield Town. After conceding a ridiculous opener, the Bulls managed to work themselves into a winning position, but then pressed the self destruct button to gift a last minute equaliser to the Silkmen. Individual errors and some naïve decisions were to blame, although at least we remain above today’s opponents in the league table.
Jake Jervis was moved to the sub’s bench and Kenny Lunt returned to bolster the midfield as the sole change from Saturday’s line-up. In a cagey opening period, both sides seemed content to stroke the ball around the midfield, with little threat to either goal. A speculative, long-range effort from Emile Sinclair then smacked into the woodwork with Adam Bartlett well beaten, and the same player should have found the target when given acres of space, but nodded the ball wide of the post. Joe Colbeck was the main source of encouragement for home fans, with some energetic runs, and Stuart Fleetwood was caught marginally offside on several occasions.
18 minutes had elapsed when Adam Bartlett had one of those “You may want to look away now” moments. A corner by Matt Hamshaw was only partially cleared by Richard Rose, but it was behind Macclesfield’s Tony Diagne. He managed, rather awkwardly, to propel the ball goalwards, where Bartlett was waiting to make a comfortable catch. Inexplicably, the ball squirmed from the keeper’s grasp and trickled over the line.
Fleetwood almost got into a shooting position, but went to ground rather theatrically, and penalty claims were denied. Hamza Bencherif met an accurate cross, but fired straight at Bartlett, and then Sinclair rose unchallenged to meet a needlessly conceded corner but planted his header just wide. Michael Townsend pushed the lively Tyrone Barnett just outside the area, and the Bulls wall proved fit for purpose. Jimmy McQuilkin had one strike stopped with a suspicion of handball. Referee Mr Stroud whistled away merrily, and was somewhat fussy over exact locations for throw-ins and free kicks.
With 5 minutes of the half to play, the Bulls were thrown a lifeline. Colbeck burst into the box and was brought down by Izak Reid. The linesperson immediately signalled for a foul, though Mr Stroud took some time before agreeing to the award of a penalty. Rob Purdie waited patiently before smashing a shot past Jose Veiga. Cue a bout of celebratory leap-frogging by Messrs. Purdie and Fleetwood- I can’t help thinking this is going to end in tears one day. Boosted by their equaliser, Hereford then produced a good move culminating in Mcquilkin’s cross-field pass for Colbeck who was in painful collision with Veiga. At the other end, Bartlett had to be alert to save with his legs from Sinclair.
HT: HUFC 1 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 1
The visitors came close to restoring their lead in the early stages after the break. Bartlett opted to punch when under pressure, and it fell invitingly for Paul Bolland who smashed a shot against the underside of the bar and onto the goal line before being hacked to safety. A dangerous through ball to Barnett was then headed clear by an alert Bartlett. Ross Draper then shot from fully 35 yards, and he inadvertently found a surprised Barnett who turned rapidly but fired wide.
Michael Townsend then fouled Barnett and Mr Stroud invited the guilty party to discuss the offence. Reluctant to do so, and reacting rather petulantly, Townsend was shown a yellow card. The resulting free kick came to nothing, but Townsend would not let the matter lie and was shown a second yellow, presumably for what he said to the official. Down to ten men, the home side now had a difficult task on their hands. However, after one or two scares, notably when Reid fired in a threatening centre and then as Bartlett saved well from Diagne, a quick break saw them take an unlikely lead. On 70 minutes, a splendid through ball from the hugely impressive Harry Pell (on for a rather weary McQuilkin) found a rampaging Fleetwood who expertly drove the ball into the corner of Veiga’s net.
A goal up and a man down, lasting out the remaining 20 minutes was now crucial, and the Bulls managed to do so with one or two minor scares. Indeed, the ninetieth minute had arrived, when the visitors were presented with an equaliser. A free kick was awarded on halfway which in the modern game is, in such a situation, an invitation to “run the clock down”. So, do we make two completely unnecessary “tactical”substitutions, with the players leaving walking very slowly from the far touchline? Or possibly get some treatment for that nagging injury? Or what about passing it between ourselves all the way back to the keeper who could then launch it into the night sky? It may be cynical. It may be ugly. But it works. I know, I saw Lincoln on Saturday. Instead, Rose plays an aimless ball to Veiga, who instantly hoofs it down the right wing where Hamshaw crosses onto Barnett’s barnet. 2-2 and game over.
Overall an odd game, from which Hereford could so easily have gleaned three points. A moment’s ineptitude, some pointless ill-discipline and some unfortunate naivety meant having to share the spoils.
FT: HUFC 2 MACCLESFIELD TOWN 2
Attendance :1975, including 33 (!) Silkmen- another 1/3 and we would have a record.
HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath, Rose, McQuilkin (Pell 63), Colbeck, Purdie, Fleetwood, Lunt.
MACC. TOWN: Veiga, Reid, Brown, Diagne, Gray, Bencherif (Daniel 88), Draper (Sapperton 73), Sinclair, Bolland, Hamshaw, Barnett.