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Hereford United came away from Christie Park with a one all draw in the first leg of the play off semi finals against Morecambe this evening. It is the third time in as many seasons that The Bulls have earnt an away draw before having to settle the match at Edgar Street, with the first leg effectively meaning nothing at all.
Graham Turner decided to play the same team that defeated York City last weekend, meaning Adam Stansfield and Andy Williams led the front line; and it was the latter who volleyed a Simon Travis cross wide of the near post in United's opening attack. Michael Twiss had seen a volley saved by Wayne Brown before the hosts broke the deadlock, with Twiss the supplier. Though there was some controversy about the goal, as Gary Thompson appeared to quite blatantly pushed Alex Jeannin in the back, forcing a corner for Morecambe. Twiss delivered to the far post, out of the reach of Brown, and onto the head of the flying Jim Bentley.
It had taken twenty two minutes for the first goal, and it was just a few minutes later when Rob Purdie almost grabbed the second. Stansfield found a pass for Purdie in behind the defence, but he fired low and wide of the near post from a tight angle. Wayne Curtis then broke for The Shrimpers, played a one-two, and then shot hard towards the near post, where Brown turned the ball around the post. United couldn't quite force an equaliser before the break, but went close following a counter attack led by Purdie and then Jeannin, who crossed for Williams but United gained just a corner, which Stansfield headed over.
United were unchanged for the second half in personel, but in performance there was every change as they began to completely dominate. Craig Stanley was played in on goal by Stansfield, but was forced slightly wide and then saw his shot saved by Steven Drench, and Ferrell's follow up shot was saved as United signalled their intentions from the off. However, United were struggling to create all that much in the way of real chances, they were dominating play, until Bentley almost doubled the lead with a repeated corner move to the far post.
It was nine minutes into the second half though, when a vital decision by the man in the middle put Hereford back on level terms. Fraser McLachlan appeared to clear the ball behind for a corner when the referee strangely pointed to the penalty spot, though many Hereford fans behind the goal thought he'd given a goal kick. Delighted, as well as shocked, they were when they realised that Purdie had a chance to level things up - which he did, shooting low into the corner, to the 'keepers right.
Wild celebrations by the 1,100 + travelling army (in a crowd of 5,208)followed, as well as an onslaught from the team. Purdie shot over from outside the box, before Stanley fired just wide having robbed the ball in the middle, in a period when both he and Purdie excelled. Stanley headed inches wide of the far post minutes later and then Purdie picked out Travis on the right, who crossed for Williams, but his header was inches over the bar.
United couldn't find a second, and another dubious decision actually kept them in the game as Twiss had a goal, totally against the run of play, ruled out by the linesman for offside. Thompson then flashed a shot across the goal as Morecambe came back into things. Turner realised the need for changes after this, and bought Guy Ipoua and Stuart Fleetwood on, with little more than five minutes to go, to little avail.
The two sides will meet again on Thursday to decide the tie, which is finely balanced between two sides who have had three close encounters this season. If the form books are anything to go by, which they usually are not, then perhaps United have the upper hand, as Morecambe have a far better home record than away record. Then again, Hereford seem to do fair better away from home than at Edgar Street.
HUFC: Brown, Green, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Jeannin, Purdie, Stanley, Ferrell, Travis, Stansfield, Williams. Subs: Mawson, Pitman, Carey-Bertram, Ipoua, Fleetwood.