Bulls stutter to draw at Woking

Two poor sides played out a 1-1 draw at Kingfield this afternoon with a first half own-goal from Woking’s Brett Johnson was cancelled out by Kevin Betsey just after the break.

Martin Foyle gave a debut to Chris Bush at left back in an otherwise unchanged side that saw Marlon Jackson make a remarkable recovery from his reported injury on Tuesday to start behind Chris Sharp in what appeared to be a 4-4-1-1 formation.  Former Bull Gavin McCallum started for The Cards.

The hosts hoisted a long ball into Bull’s territory but Luke Graham launched a counter attack down the right.  Marley Watkins played a line ball for Chris Sharp but his cross went beyond Sam Clucas who was the only attacking player in the box.  Billy Knott forced a corner off Graham but Stam cleared without danger on Bittner’s goal.

Marley Watkins Kept At Arm's Length

The impressive Kevin Betsey got in a low cross and Mike Cestor’s speculative effort was blocked away by the well-positioned Joe Heath.  Another Betsey run finished with a pull back from the byeline which Kingsley James hoiked upfield.  Chris Sharp got a shot on target but keeper Seb Brown got down to save.

Betsey was allowed to run on the right and got in a dangerous cross which Heath turned away at the back post then Marley Watkins made a charging break from midfield going past three players before a final touch was heavy and the ball ran through to Brown.

Bittner Towers Above Everyone Else

Bush sent a crossfield ball to release Watkins on the right and when his cross found Chris Sharp the former Telford player saw his shot blocked on the line.  Joe Heath whipped a cross in from which Clucas’ back post header drew another save from Brown before a Watkins/Heath combination produced a driven cross that Sharp was inches away from converting.

Bradley Butt got between Graham and Stam but dragged his shot wide of the mark then Sam Clucas was blatantly body checked as he broke from centre-field.  Kingsley James freekick was overhit and O’Keefe’s snap shot was well wide.  Betsey threatened again on the right before The Bulls took a somewhat fortunate lead on 43 minutes.

In The Back Of The Net

Clucas earned a throw on the left and Chris Bush launched a monster chuck into the box, which finished in the net off the head of defender Brett Johnson.

Chris Bush's Throw In Led To The Goal

HT Woking 0 Bulls 1

The Bulls were first on the attack after the break with James and Clucas setting up Bush but the debutant’s effort was wild and wide.  Then, just five minutes into the second period, the hosts got a well-worked equaliser.  Bradley Bubb pulled wide right onto a ball from midfield and when his cross came in Betsey steered in from the edge of the six-yard box.

McNearey glanced a header over Bittner’s crossbar and Sam Clucas pinged a 25-yarder just over at the other end before McNearey hauled Jackson to the ground for an uneventful free kick. 

Woking made a couple of subs and Foyle responded by swapping Bowman for Sharp.

The change seemed to revitalise The Bulls up top but Woking were slightly unlucky when McCallum’s shot came back off the foot the post.  Watkins capitalised on a poor back pass to square back to James but the midfielder’s shot deflected just wide and from the corner, Stefan Stam head inches over.

Bowman showed strength and determination to win a corner from an apparent lost cause and was desperately unlucky not to get on the end of Sam Clucas’ delightful through ball when McNearey just got a toe in to poke the ball back for Brown to clear.

Woking substitute Stockley missed a glorious chance to settle the match when through on goal but was more intent on going down to try for a penalty when a clean finish was the better option.

James Creates An Opening

Clucas and Watkins created a half chance for James that was blocked and Betsey tested Bittner from distance before referee Ford brought proceedings to a close in front of a very respectable 2303 included approximately 180 Bulls.

FT Woking 1 Bulls 1

Hereford:- Bittner, Heath, Graham, Stam, Bush (McDonald 75), Watkins, James, O’Keefe, Clucas, Jackson, Sharp (Bowman 66).  Unused: - Smikle, Connor, Jones.

Woking:- Brown, Newton, Cestor (Sawyer 60), McNerney, Parkinson (Ricketts 79), Johnson, Nutter, Betsey, McCallum, Knott, Bubb (Stockley 66).  Unused:- Putnins, Frith.

Whilst not suggesting for one moment that this was anything other than a drab mid-table Conference fixture, the BBC statistics do fail to acknowledge at least three on target efforts from The Bulls.  Sharp was twice denied in the first half and James and Clucas both saw efforts deflected wide after the break.

Chris Bush will be grateful that his throw produced a goal but the rest of his game showed some rustiness although he’s certainly a substantial unit.  Messrs Graham and Stam put in another impressive shift but without some creation in midfield the choice of Chris Sharp as a lone striker with Marlon Jackson playing deep failed to produce any concerted threat.  The system looked far more likely with the introduction of Bowman but a proper midfielder must still be a requirement.

Captain Stam Applauding The Hereford Support

I have a lovely heading ready if we defeat The Lambs of Tamworth on Monday.

See you at The Street.

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