Despite the lack of a goal, the League Two encounter provided an entertaining spectacle for the 2,309 people who turned up at Edgar Street this evening. The Bulls were full of confidence following the F.A. Cup success on Saturday, but their opponents Peterborough United were also coming off the back of a cup triumph, and are also going well in the League.
Graham Turner made three changes to his side, two of which were expected and the other more suprising. John Eustace and Neil MacKenzie replaced Luke Webb and Andy Ferrell, while Stuart Fleetwood made his first start since his lay out on the sidelines, though he looked off the pace in general.
Mark Tyler in the Posh goal was the busier of the two 'keepers, firstly being called into action by Tim Sills. Fleetwood had slipped a ball to Alan Connell who then layed on for Sills, but his low effort was turned around the post from sixteen yards out. The resulting corner was swung in by Eustace and should Tamika Mkandawire have made a better connection, The Bulls may have found themselves in front, rather than ruing a missed chance.
Fleetwood though, had a far better opening which came from absolutly nothing. One minute Boro had control in their defence, the next Fleetwood was running through with just Tyler between him and the goal. The 'keeper stood up well though and, as Fleetwood attempted to slide the ball beyond his reach, got a vital touch to divert the ball just wide of the far post. The Boro attacking threat was coming from the massive throw ins taken by Jude Stirling, but Brown wasn't forced into any real work in the first half. Hereford, on the other hand, were playing some good football and were almost in front thanks to Posh defender Ben Futcher. Eustace and Fleetwood had linked up before Alex Jeannin burst onto the scene and drilled in a low cross that, somehow, Futcher sliced over his own bar from inside the six yard box.
The visitors survived the first twenty minutes, much like Port Vale on Saturday, and then began to get into the game. Hesistancy in the Hereford defence allowed Richard Butcher a shot, which was off target, but once again it was The Whites who went closest to taking a lead before the half time whistle. The break began with Brown and, via Beckwith and Fleetwood, ended up with Eustace whose low powerful attempt was well held by Tyler.
The second half saw, in general, more of the same as the hosts continued to enjoy the better of the game. Peterborough though did pose an early threat, and seemed to attack the Hereford left side to try and make a breakthrough. Again though they couldn't force Brown into a save and it was at the other end where the action came. Rob Purdie had crossed to Fleetwood at the far side of the box, but he mis hit his attempted volley. The second half in particular saw The Bulls make good use of the wings with Purdie getting forward well, but it wasn't until the introduction of Andy Williams in place of Fleetwood after sixty seven minutes when they began to look as though they might net.
Williams was straight in on the act and almost scored with his first touches, but his curling effort from a tight angle was deflected away from the top corner by the back of Mark Arber. Eustace then forced Tyler into a flying save as Purdie and Williams played a one-two on the wing, with the former finding Connell to lay on for the midfielder. Turner's next move was to introduce Luke Webb, who impressed in the Cup game on Saturday, and Connell was withdrawn with thirteen minutes left.
Tyler was busy again minutes later as Eustace whipped in a free kick, thirty yards out on the right, and Dean Beckwith's header needed a full stretch save to keep it out, before another free kick from a similar position fell to Webb on the edge of the box, who slammed a volley just wide of the near post. Tyler had one final save to make to ensure his side escaped with 0-0 draw, as he stopped Williams' downward header from Purdie's cross at his near post.
All in all a pretty good result for Hereford, but they will be slightly disappointed that they didn't make at least one of their openings count. Some good flowing football was played, and some of the approach play really did warrant a goal at the end of it, but it wasn't to be. There were plenty of positives to be taken from the evening, and they will be looking to go that one better against Torquay on the weekend.
HUFC: Brown, Beckwith, Gulliver, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Purdie, Eustace, MacKenzie, Connell, Fleetwood, Sills. Subs: Travis, Thompson, Ferrell, Webb, Williams.
PUFC: Tyler, Holden, Futcher, Branston, Arber, Newton, Butcher, Stirling, Huke, Crow, McLean. Subs: Morgan, Smith, Gain, Opara, Benjamin.