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Despite a very encouraging performance at Vale Park, The Bulls conceded a late Marc Richards goal and came away empty handed.
Richard O’Kelly made five changes with Ryan Green, Stefan Stam, Joe Colbeck, Nathan Elder and Sam Clucas all making the starting line-up. Former Bull, John McCombe started for the hosts.
Michael Townsend conceded an early free kick for holding. The kick was cleared and Barkhuizen was unlucky with his effort on the counter. Both sides showed good footballing intent as the passing game was played mainly along the ground. Yates produced a deep cross which McCombe fired into the side netting before Cornell came to collect a cross from the opposite flank.
Kenny Lunt, frequently involved, was probing for a breakthrough but found the lack of movement up top required or more sideways approach. Purkiss was harshly penalised for what was little more than a firm challenge on Doug Loft and then referee D’Urso comically awarded the home side a free kick just outside the Bulls’ box when a Vale player fell over his own team-mate. Fortunately, the kick went wide of the post. As the half drew to a close, a fine move involving Barkhuizen and Feather stone finished with Kenny Lunt dragging a fine effort inches wide of the post.
HT Vale 0 Bulls 0
The hosts had probably had the better of the chances in the first period although Cornell had only really been troubled on a couple of occasions. The second half saw The Bulls more on the front foot. Lunt released Clucas down the right but his cross was blocked for a corner. Colbeck’s driven cross was cleared and when Lunt picked up the ball just inside the Vale half, Colbecks benefited from a cracking through ball. Unfortunately, Colbeck’s first touch was heavy and the opportunity was lost.
Dodds provided a chance for Richards but his shot on the turn went a couple of feet wide. Lunt put Colbeck away down the right but the wideman was outwitted by makeshift fullback Loft and the move came to nothing. Barkhuizen jinked his way into the box but his cross was glanced wide by Elder before another opportunity fell to Colbeck. With a clear run at goal, he chose to shoot at the near post when both Clucas and Elder were well placed.
With twenty minutes remaining, Will Evans replaced Featherstone and Stam made way for Anthony. The Bulls were having the greater share of possession and Tomlinson brought off a point blank save from Clucas before Barkhuizen saw his follow up blocked on the line. McCombe collected a yellow for a foul on Elder and when Lunt laid the free kick square to Evans his shot rifled just inches wide of the upright. Evans then produced a whipped cross from the right but Clucas and Elder both failed to get the required touch on the ball to divert it into the net. Then with just four minutes of normal time remaining The Bulls let themselves down on two counts. Firstly, Pope was allowed too much time and space to prepare his cross from the right and secondly, Richards was unmarked on the edge of the six yard box to head home.
With little time to respond, Peniket (on for Barkhuizen) broke into the box to receive a Lunt pass but his shot grazed the wrong side of the post.
FT Vale 1 Bulls 0
Hereford: Cornell, Purkiss, Stam (Anthony 71), Townsend, Green, Barkhuizen (Peniket 85), Clucas, Lunt, Featherstone (Evans 71), Colbeck, Elder. Subs not used: Hanford, Facey.
Port Vale: Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Davis, Loft, Shuker, Morsy, Marshall, Dodds (Pope 71), Richards, Rigg (Williamson 82). Subs not used: Martin, James, Roe.
Whilst the goal came from a couple of defensive lapses, it’s probably fair to say that United didn’t deserve, on the balance of play, to loose this one. Cornell did little wrong and the back division had looked reasonably sound until the fateful moment although it has to be said the Greener did not look entirely comfortable on the left. The Midfield all worked hard with Lunt at the heart of most of the good moves. Colbeck was guilty of some poor decisions at crucial times and Elder, although workmanlike, did not hold and bring other players in with the quality of Facey.
The 150 odd Herefordians among a crowd of 3959 would, like me, have been disappointed that the efforts had come to nothing. Port Vale were a more than decent mid-table team. The will be less difficult games between now and the end of the season.
All is not lost.
