Bulls net useful point at Grimsby

A Rod McDonald header levelled the scores after Ross Hannah had converted from the spot as an energetic Bulls team grafted out a well deserved draw at Blundell Park.

The Bulls who were unchanged from Saturday’s starting XI at Braintree were first on the attack but Kingsley James looping cross was gathered by home keeper McKeown.  Danny Leadbitter chased a long ball and McKeown had to be quick off his line to clear into Row Z.  A similar chase by Chris Sharp produced another hasty heave that almost cleared the Main Stand. 

Apart from a couple of darting runs by Hannah, the hosts hadn’t posed much of a threat until Lenell John-Lewis cleverly got in front of Dom Collins to draw the contact and went down to win a penalty which Hannah dispatched past Danny Lloyd-Weston to give The Mariners the lead on 16 minutes.

Lloyd-Weston Can't Quite Deal With Hamman's Penalty Attempt

The Bulls were straight back on the offensive with Leadbitter bursting forward from the right only for him to be halted by a naughty challenge from Craig Disley that saw the former Bristol Rovers player go straight through the ball into Leadbitter.  The free kick was awarded but Leads was forced to leave the field.  The lack of a yellow card for Disley was compensated for as United grabbed an equaliser from the restart.

Artus clipped a delightful ball to the back post and Rod McDonald rose to send a header firmly into the net.

Rod McDonald Scores The Equaliser

Leadbitter was unable to continue and was replaced by Jon Brown in a right sided swap.   The goal seemed to energise Martin Foyle’s men and good pressure high up the pitch by Walker and Sharp kept the hosts pined back in their own half for good periods while Frankie Artus saw a fine effort whistle just past the upright.  Bushy launched a couple of trademark throws into the box and The Edge saw an effort go wide.

Hannah brought a save from DLW as the half closed with the scores level.

BN Man Of The Match Lloyd-Weston

HT Grimsby 1 Bulls 1

An early second period dash by Jon Brown provided a chance for Artus but his shot was, again, narrowly wide of the target.  McDonald was forced to concede a free kick when Bushy sliced a clearance and duly collected a caution from the referee as The Bulls were put under increasing pressure by the home team.

Kinsley James and The Edge got through a mountain of work in front of a back four that were in no mood to concede again and when the Mariners’ wide-men did manage to get in a cross DLW was always quick to react to snuff out the danger.

Grimsby manager, Paul Hurst tried to freshen his attack by throwing on a couple of lofty lumps in Jennings and Cook but all that produced was a couple of headers that sailed high over the crossbar.

At the other end, Dan Walker forced a save from McKeown before Sam Smith replaced Sharpie to give a pleasingly bright and effective contribution for the final 12/13 minutes.  A couple of nice touches and some decent hold-up play helped run down the clock before Jon Brown produced the cross of the game only to see a late block deny Smith a chance to steal all three points.

The attendance of 3007 included 24 in black and white packed like sardines in the specious visitors enclosure.

FT Grimsby 1 Bulls 1

Hereford: Lloyd-Weston, Collins, Graham, McDonald, Bush, Leadbitter (Brown 24), James, Edge, Artus, Walker, Sharp (Smith 80). Subs unused: Purdie, Murphy, Williams.

Grimsby: McKeown, Bignot, Thomas, Pearson, Boyce, Kerr, Thanoj, Disley (Neilson 63), Rodman, John-Lewis (Cook 81), Hannah (Jennings 73). Subs unused: Hatton, McLaughlin.

This was a very encouraging effort by United whose overall play lacked only a winning goal.  Despite the hosts having the lions share of possession, and probably over a dozen efforts at goal the solid defence and second line of four restricted the on-target shot to just a few.

More of the same on Saturday please.

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