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Hereford United had to be content with a point this afternoon despite a good team performance against Walsall. The game finished 1-1 with a goal in either half. Troy Deeney tapped in from close-range to hand the hosts a half-time lead but a penalty from Steve Guinan levelled up proceedings in the 60th minute to the delight of the 899 fans in the away end, in a crowd of 4,438.
Following the transfer activity of the past few days, Lionel Ainsworth's position on right-wing was replaced by Jennison Myrie-Williams, who has joined on loan from Bristol City. Sam Hewson missed out due to injury with Ben Smith replacing him in the middle. Kris Taylor lined-up against his former club, who themselves named a mixture of experience and youth in Chris Hutching's first match in charge. Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool and England star Steve, captained the Saddlers whilst Chris Palmer, who once spent a short loan spell with The Bulls began the game on the left-hand side of defence.
The game started openly with both sides playing some neat football; the first opportunity of note fell to Deeney after good work down the right from Richard Taundry with the striker's acrobatical effort falling past the post. Tricky winger Sofiene Zaaboub, who caused Richard Rose a handful of problems throughout, sent a powerful left-foot strike goalwards with Craig Samson not holding the effort but Karl Broadhurst cleared out to safety. Hereford's best chance of the first interval fell to the out of sorts Andy Williams; a slip by Gerrard allowed Williams a one on one chance with the experienced 'keeper Clayton Ince. The Trinidad born 'keeper did enough to knock Williams off his stride and his eventual effort was blocked by Emmanuele Smith.
Following Williams miss, Hereford began to take control creating a number of chances. Quick distribution from Samson found Myrie-Williams on the right and he ran some 70 yards directly goalwards before dragging a low-shot past the far post. Taylor saw a curling free-kick held by Ince before Williams went close with an excellent long-range effort. It came about from neat control and vision from Guinan to send a ball into Williams' path and the striker his a half-volley early and narrowly missed the top of the goal. Walsall took the lead in the 33rd minute following good-work from Zaaboub. The former Swindon winger went into the box unchallenged and cut-back for Deeney to tap in from six yards to hand the home side the slender advantage.
United looked to respond quickly and some good link-up between Guinan and Williams saw the former send a right footed shot on target but it was straight at Ince. Gerrard rose above the Hereford defence to meet a Zaaboub corner but it lacked direction and ended up in the away end. Hereford again had a chance from a set-piece to score with Taylor again taking the responsibility; this time the ball was to the left of the centre of the goal but he failed to hit the target. Mark Bradley sliced a shot harmlessly wide from 20 yards after being put under pressure by Broadhurst whilst just before the half-time whistle, Guinan went close to equalising. Good work from Williams in the channel and on the by-line saw him see off the challenge of Gerrard before picking out Guinan who saw his place shot cleared off the line by Palmer.
The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first with proceedings relatively equal in terms of possession although Hereford again were creating the best chances. Taylor seemed adamant that he was going to get a goal against his former team and his burst from left-back allowed him to strike just over from 25 yards. United rode their luck slightly after the lively Deeney had collected a pass from Jabo Ibehre and took an early shot goalwards; it took a slight deflection off Broadhurst leaving Samson motionless as the ball struck the inside of the post before the Scottish goalie eventually claimed the loose ball. Walsall had their 'keeper to thank for a wonder-save to keep them in the lead. Ince, who entertained the away fans with some banter during the second-period, may be recalled by Hereford fans for making a world-class save from none other than Tim Sills two years ago at Edgar Street and he did the same again to deny Broadhurst. Done did well to keep the ball in play down the left wing and he crossed for Hereford's captain who made a strong connection but Ince somehow got to the downward header to stop the ball on the line before claiming it.
However, Ince could do nothing about the equaliser which came minutes after Broadhurst's chance. Some neat short-range passing allowed Smith into the box and his pass found Done's burst which was stopped by a trip from Bradley and the referee awarded a penalty in front of the away fans. Guinan stepped up to superbly place the ball in the corner past Ince, despite the 'keepers best efforts to keep it out. Smith saw a half-volley held by Ince although the effort was lacking power whilst at the other end, Deeney connected well with a cross from Alex Nicholls but the ball fell the wrong side the post for the home side.
Samson kept the scores level after a deep cross from the right had eventually made its way to the back-post for Zaaboub to control but Samson's quick reactions saw him rush out to block the close-range shot. Myrie-Williams' run down the right allowed him to find Done, who sent an effort into the body of Ince. Marco Reich replaced Zaaboub as Walsall upped the tempo in the last fifteen minutes although Hereford seemed content with trying to catch them on the break. Ibehre tamely headed at Samson after a cross from Nicholls before United introduced Simon Johnson for Williams late on, with the local lad picking up a knock. In stoppage-time, Nicholls met a cross from the right at the back-post and saw his header fall on the roof of the net.
The Bulls will be pleased with a point on Hutching's debut as Walsall boss although it could have so easily been three points but for some wasted chances and a brilliant save. Like last week, Williams showed his lack of confidence by fluffing a one on one chance. There were good performances from Broadhurst and Joshua Gowling at the heart of the defence whilst Done is improving with every game. Next up for United is the visit of Millwall on Tuesday, before the trip to Edgeley Park for our annual three points at Stockport!
Hereford: Samson, Rose, Broadhurst, Gowling, Taylor, Myrie-Williams, Diagouraga, Smith, Done, Guinan, Williams.
Subs: Veiga, Jackson, Beckwith, Gwynne, Johnson.
Walsall: Ince, Palmer, Smith, Gerrard, Taundry, Nicholls, Mattis, Bradley, Zaaboub, Deeney, Ibehre.
Subs: Gilmartin, Boertien, Sansara, Davies, Reich.
