WHADDON POINT FOR BULLS

The Bulls continued their record of never having lost a league game to local rivals Cheltenham Town, and deserved the point gleaned from a goalless encounter. Chances were at a premium at either end, though United can take some heart from the greater degree of stability shown by the inclusion of Stefan Stam, Kenny Lunt and Delroy Facey in the starting line up.

Simon Clist played Facey (pictured during the warm-up) in early on, but the striker’s effort went wide. The combination of James Spencer and Darryl Duffy posed a real threat for the Robins, but the calming presence of Stam and Ryan Green frustrated their attempts on goal. Rob Purdie too was ever watchful, and robbed the lively Kaid Mohamed just as he lined up a shot. A Keith Lowe cross was nodded behind by Green, and after some alarming ricochets, there was Stam once more to the rescue. Another episode of the Duffy and Spencer show saw the latter shoot wide when well placed, and David Cornell raced out of his area to baulk a marauding Russell Penn; the resultant yellow card was probably justified.

Hereford’s best moments came with some neat passing from Kenny Lunt and Nicky Featherstone, and some promising runs from Tom Barkhuizen on the right flank. Sam Winnall again looked lively, picking up a deft Featherstone pass and firing wide of Jack Butland’s goal, and then creating another chance for himself with a clever turn. The over-eager Mohamed was again thwarted by Purdie, and Duffy was just offside in another attack. Spencer burst through again, but Green’s timely tackle allowed Cornell to dive on the loose ball. Joe Heath rightly took no chances with a Danny Andrew cross and conceded a corner, from which an unsighted Steve Elliot stabbed wide.

As the half time oranges were being sliced, the game entered a quiet phase, leaving your reporter to ponder on such matters as why our opponents seemed to have borrowed Northampton’s kit, and for how long the stadium clock had been stuck on ten to eleven. And indeed, whether there would be “honey still for tea”. I knew that pre-match Jaeger bomb, or whatever it was, was not a wise idea. Back to the game!

HT: CHELTENHAM TOWN 0 HUFC 0

The Bulls emerged from the rather pretentious telescopic tunnel with renewed purpose. Barkhuizen turned his marker on halfway and sprinted clear. His low shot was smothered by Butland at the near post. Then Winnall’s shot needed some attention from the home ‘keeper. Facey flicked a pass to a determined Barkhuizen, and his near post cross was met by the late-arriving Clist, whose shot was deflected beyond the timber. Andrew played a deep cross to Josh Low who laid it back across goal, where the dependable Stam was on hand to clear. Cornell then raced out to clear, and the ball cannoned into Green, who seemed to be having his shirt tugged. Low then took careful aim with a chip that cleared the defence, but also the crossbar.

Barkhuizen again collected a Facey pass and drilled a dangerous ball across the area, where Elliot’s hesitancy served to put off Clist, and the chance had gone. Facey then flicked a header to Winnall, who was to be denied by an offside flag. Our Sam then caused some confusion amongst the home defence, and Clist did well to get a shot in, though the save was a comfortable one. There were not really any clear cut chances at either end in the remaining minutes, with some reasonably promising approach play lacking the finishing touches. Jamie Pitman earns a stay of execution with this hard earned point, and his side seem to have put last week’s shenanigans behind them. The “goals for” column is next in line for some attention.

FT: CHELTENHAM TOWN 0 HUFC 0

Attendance: 3011

ROBINS (though I have never seen one that colour): Butland, Lowe, Andrew, Elliott, Bennett, Pack, Low, Penn, Duffy (Goulding 60), Spencer (Smikle 81), Mohamed.

HUFC: Cornell, Purdie, Green, Stam, Heath, Featherstone, Lunt, Clist, Barkhuizen (Pell 93), Winnall (Arquin 83), Facey.