Bulls battle back to draw at Lincoln

Goalscorer Frankie Artus Pictured After The Final Whistle

After dominating the first half, The Bulls fell behind to a Ben Tomlinson goal just after the break but Frankie Artus drilled home on 88 minutes to earn a valuable away point and stretch the unbeaten run to three games.

Sam Smith Back In The Starting Eleven

Martin Foyle made two changes bringing in Sam Smith for the departed Ross Dyer with Jon Brown being preferred to Dan Walker out wide.  Luke Graham returned to take a spot on the bench while Youth keeper Owen Evans joined him for his debut in the first team squad.  Former Bulls Waide Fairhurst and Marlon Jackson were among the subs for the hosts.

Sporting an all white kit, The Bulls were first to show attacking intent when Chris Bush fed Sam Smith but the Bulls’ striker lost possession and the ball was cleared.  Danny Leadbitter was upended on the halfway line and from the free kick Frankie Artus saw his shot fly wide of the mark.

A long throw from the hosts was confidently punched away by Dan Lloyd Weston in a rare attack on The Bulls’ rearguard.

United were having the lions share of possession in the opening quarter and Damon Lathrope was unlucky with a snap shot while Ranks was penalised for a couple of boisterous challenges.  Josh O’Keefe glanced a header wide from a Bush long throw and home keeper Paul Farman had to scramble to get down to a low shot from Rod McDonald.

Nolan picked up a yellow for a late one on Jon Brown before Fofana’s long-range effort was comfortably dealt with by DLW.  The Bulls had a good shout for a penalty on 38 minutes when a clear handball in the box was not spotted by referee Whiteley. 

Handball?

Jon Nolan popped an effort straight at Lloyd-Weston and on the break, Leads was floored by a poor challenge but Bushy blasted the free kick well wide.  As the half closed, Smith headed back across goal from a Rankine cross but no one was on hand to fore the ball home.

HT Lincoln 0 Bulls 0

The Imps emerged from the break in a more determined mood and took a rather fortunate lead early on.  A long punt down field by Farman was not dealt with by The Bulls back line and Tomlinson nipped in the drive a low shot past Lloyd-Weston.

Lincoln pressed forward again with United looking shaky for the next ten minutes and DLW pulled off a fine save before Bush completed the clearance.

Another Possible Handball?

As The Bulls started to regain some composure, Bush sent in a cross which Frankus fired agonisingly wide of the upright.  Lathrope found O’Keefe in an advanced position but a petty foul halted his progress and the free kick was cleared.

Sheridan replaced the niggly Nolan on the hour mark in an attempt to stifle the resurgent Bulls.  Rankine was battling away up top with little support but it was a wide player exchange that came first as Dan Walker replaced Brown.

Lathrope fed Smith but once again his control was poor and the ball was cleared.  A McDonald header rebounded off the bar before a Lincoln corner was cleared by Rankine at the other end.

Odhiambo replaced the ineffective Smith with 8 minutes of normal time remaining before a crazy dangerous challenge by Tomlinson on Leadbitter earned him an early bath following a straight red.

Danny Leadbitter Fouled

Don Collins stayed in attack following a corner as The Bulls pushed for the equaliser.  Sheridan fouled Leadbitter and following pressure after the free kick The Bulls got their deserved goal.

Bushy launched a long throw into the box, it was flicked on by Ranks and Frankie Artus seized on the ball with just a couple of minutes left and struck a half volley that fizzed into the net past the despairing dive of Farman.

Artus Gets A Hug From Leadbitter

In the four added minutes another Artus effort that whistled past the upright before referee Whiteley brought the game to an end in front of 1874 spectators that included a convenient round figure of exactly 100 from The Shire.

FT Lincoln 1 Bulls 1

Hereford: Lloyd-Weston, Leadbitter, Collins, MacDonald, Bush, J Brown (Walker 68), Lathrope, O’Keefe, Artus, Smith (Odhiambo 82), Rankine. Unused: Evans, Edwards, Graham.

Lincoln: Farman, Miller, Foster, N Brown, Newton, Fofana, Tomlinson, Nolan (Sheridan 64), Jordan, Power, Wright (Dixon 78). Subs unused: Fairhurst, Gray, Dixon, Jackson.

BN MOTM – Frankie Artus (again)

The Bulls thoroughly deserved their point today particularly after the commanding performance in the first period.  Frankie Artus was, again, the inspiration was his neat skills, work-rate and movement.  DLW put in another assured performance behind a back four that has settled following the blow of losing Luke Graham while Damon Lathrope looks the part in the defensive midfield role.

Michael Rankine was his usual self while J’OK had a quiet game, as did Jon Brown.

The point means that The Bulls go into Tuesday’s match against Halifax unbeaten in three and will carry the confidence of five points from nine forward looking to extend the run.

See you at The Street on Tuesday.

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