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| Tristan Plummer Scored For Hereford |
Hereford picked up a point at second placed Tiverton in the top of the table clash at Ladymead, in front of 853 supporters. Tristan Plummer put Hereford in front in the 72nd minute, but Levi Landricombe equalised with a long-range free-kick that beat Alex Harris at his front-post.
Peter Beadle named an unchanged team after last weekend's last gasp victory at Sutton Coldfield. Mike McGrath was named among the subs following his switch from Alvechurch. The hosts included Jamie Price in their squad; Price was born in Hereford and had started his career at Birmingham.
Tiverton created the first opportunity of the game when Owen Howe sent a shot from 20 yards into the arms of Harris. Johnny Mills headed weakly straight at the home 'keeper after a Jamie Edge cross. Ben Carter replaced Rob Norrish after an innocuous challenge by Plummer. Tiverton looked stronger as the half progressed; Harris came a long way out of his box to try and clear but Landicrombe beat him to the ball, and after cutting past Chris Barker, attempted to shoot into the empty net from an acute angle, but was off-target.
Ross Staley had a superb opportunity to open the scoring for Hereford, after a quick throw by Jimmy Oates found Plummer, who turned his man before delivering a pin point cross but Staley, who had got goalside of his marker, failed to find the target from six yards. Tiverton then had two golden chances themselves to go in front; firstly a corner from the left evaded Harris and hit the inside of the post before being cleared, and a minute later, Barker's challenge broke nicely for Price to burst into the box, and he cut back to Landicrombe who was unmarked but Harris somehow dived to his right to deny the striker, and a follow up effort was straight at the 'keeper.
The second-half was a bit of a non event for the large part; Beadle reacted after few chances in the first fifteen minutes by introducing Jake Sinclair for Staley. The former Southampton youngster was soon involved, switching for Plummer, who took an early shot but hit the side netting. Home sub Jordan Walton looped a header over the bar after beating Oates in the air. McGrath replaced Edge, as he picked up a slight knock and soon after, Hereford stepped up their game.
A long Harris boot forward was nodded on by Mike Symons into the path of Mills, and his rasping half-volley was tipped over the bar. In the 72nd minute, the Bulls went one up. It was a superb move down the left which led to the goal; Symons holding up and passing to Mills, who then found Sinclair who had cut in from the left. His neat slipped pass found Plummer and he confidently finished with his left-foot, finding the far corner underneath the 'keeper.
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| Tristan Plummer's Goal |
Yet, Tiverton reacted well and equalised within five minutes after Chris Parry had conceded a free-kick. Landicrombe, from fully 40 yards, caught Harris off his guard at the near-post and leveled proceedings. It was a poor goal to concede by Harris, and one that frustrated the Hereford management.
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| Tiverton's Free Kick Sailed Past Alex Harris |
As the game drew to a close, Ryan Green found himself in the Tiverton box, seeing an initial shot blocked and then blazing over the rebound after Symons had set him up. It was Tiverton though who ended strongly; Landicrombe again involved, lifting a lobbed shot over the bar after Parry had misjudged a goal-kick. A similar chance also followed as again, Hereford were guilty of not dealing with a long-ball; Harris denied Howe's poked shot on the edge of the box and another Landicrombe lob was again off-target.
It was one of Hereford's poorer displays this season, guilty of over-playing the long-ball and not getting the ball on the deck. There were very few clear cut chances for Hereford, and this itself is a rarity. Tiverton battled well and were a physical outfit, but had a couple of players up front who looked tricky and kept Green and Parry busy. To add to a number of injuries for Hereford, Oates left the ground on crutches after landing awkwardly late on, before being replaced by Jamie Willets for the closing moments.
Slimbridge, who along with Hereford and Tiverton, were the only unbeaten teams in the league before today's game, lost today against North Leigh. Slimbridge visit Edgar Street this coming Tuesday.
Hereford: Harris, Oates, Green, Parry, Barker, Plummer, Purdie, Edge, Staley, Symons, Mills.
Subs: Horsell, Willets, Edwards, McGrath, Sinclair.
Tiverton: Perry, Price, Hurst, Mammola, Gardner, Kingdon, Short, Norrish, Howe, L. Landricombe, M. Landricombe.
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