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Hereford United played out a goalless draw at Worcester City, in their first encounter with their geographical rivals in thirteen years. All the excitement came in the first-half, with both Marlon Jackson and Lloyd Macklin fluffing glorious chances from close-range, whilst Danny Glover looked a constant thorn in United's side, forcing Dan Hanford to tip past the post from twenty yards. The second-half, disrupted with numerous substitutions, offered little in goal mouth action and petered out to a lacklustre draw.
Trialists Jon Brown and Macklin occupied the wings, whilst Ryan Bowman partnered newly signed Jackson up top. Tyler Weir, who joined the hosts in the summer from Edgar Street, wasn't included in the squad but former Bull Glyn Thompson was named amongst the subs, following his release from Newport County.
Promising link up between Jackson and Bowman allowed the former Darlington striker to hit a volley into the side netting from the left edge of the area, whilst at the other end, Michael Taylor fired over from inside the area after a weak header clear by Stefan Stam. Glover looked lively up top for City, first collecting the ball after a slip by Simon Clist before firing goalwards, with Hanford having to palm behind for a corner, before minutes later, Glover's clever lofted shot from twenty yards had Hanford motionless but the ball sailed past the top left hand corner.
Hereford had the better of the closing stages of the half and created three golden chances to open the scoring. Jackson controlled a long boot clear by Hanford before setting himself up on the left, curling a right-foot shot against the far post before it was cleared. The former Bristol City man then blazed over from six yards, after good work from both Bowman and Macklin who provided the cut-back for Jackson. The same two players combined moments before the half-time whistle when Jackson span his marker and poked a ball through to Macklin, who managed to shrug off the intentions of the chasing defender but his right-foot shot one on one lacked accuracy and flew over the bar.
Martin Foyle made a host of changes at half-time, which certainly disrupted Hereford's rhythm, making for a poor spectacle in the second period. Chances were few and far between with Will Evans shooting straight at the Worcester 'keeper after chesting the ball down whilst James Mcquilkin couldn't get enough on a low cross from Marley Watkins, after the trialling winger had shown good pace to burst into the box. It was the hosts who had the best chance to snatch victory, when Phil Green collected a pass from the middle of the park but his crisp strike towards the near post struck the side netting.
This was my first viewing of the new look Hereford team and there were a number of positives to be taken. In particular, the defensive unit looks fairly organised and will be difficult to break down. Impressing were Jackson up front, who looked half a yard faster than anyone else on the pitch, and played with intelligence and desire. Macklin also looked sharp and caused the City back-line a host of problems. Yet, for all their effort in the first-half, and in particular, the lack of chances in the second, United's forward line looks worryingly weak. I'd be happy to see Watkins and Macklin added to the squad; with our strongest line-up there, we wouldn't be far away from having a team capable of challenging for the play-offs, minus potentially that fifteen to twenty goal a season striker. Next up for for Foyle and co is the visit of Gloucester City on Tuesday night. Don't forget the open day though in the morning at Edgar Street, followed by the fans vs legends encounter, in which this Bulls News reporter will be starting up front and hoping to run rings around Tony James, Ian Wright and so on.
Hereford: Hanford, Gallinagh, Graham, Stam (Trialist), Clucas, Macklin (Mcquilkin), Clist (Pell), Bird (Evans), Brown (Watkins), Bowman (Smith), Jackson (Canham).
Subs not used: Bittner, Townsend, Heath.
Worcester: Sargaent, Haynes, Deeney, Brooks (Khan), Whitehead (Ayres), Thorley (Smith), Birley (Reece), Elvins (Denny), Taylor (Symons), Glover (Green), Edwards (Breeze).
Subs not used: Thompson, Rowe.
Attendance: 867
Attendance: 867
