VALUABLE POINT AS BULL DENIES BULLS

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As goalless draws go, this was an entertaining affair with the Bulls securing a point against their promotion-chasing opponents. The home side were unchanged from the one that had frustrated Gillingham at the weekend, but showed considerably more confidence and intent tonight. Stuart Fleetwood once more played the role of lone raider, and was visibly tiring towards the end; curiously Jason Price was only called on as a replacement when the full 90 minutes had elapsed.

Early on, Ryan Green sent in an inviting cross which skidded off the turf and thus evaded Joe Colbeck’s lunge, and shortly afterwards a weighted through ball sped away from the scuttling Fleetwood. The decision to water the playing surface heavily before kick off seemed open to question. Beavon then shot wide and the enterprising Betsy fired over as the Chairboys showed glimpses of the reasons behind their success this year.

Steve Leslie received a clever pass from Fleetwood, only to see the ball bobble as he took aim, and Jimmy McQuilkin, returning to form, and Nicky Featherstone contributed to some pleasing passing moves. Leslie’s clever flick then almost found Fleetwood but the ball was hacked to safety. The hirsute veteran Gareth Ainsworth then drew a smart save from Adam Bartlett as he smashed a vicious cross/shot from a tight angle.

McQuilkin was tripped near the corner flag, and it was a refreshing change to see Leslie fail to deliver a hanging cross, but to square the ball back for McQuilkin, whose shot flew over the bar. Nikki Bull, the ex Shots stopper, then showed his class as a current shot-stopper by diverting a terrific Green strike for a corner, and then dealing confidently with an awkward shot from Fleetwood. The visitors contributed to the entertainment too, the nearest they came to a goal being when Donnelly pounced on a ricochet after the ball had been given away cheaply, but he lashed his attempt on goal over Bartlett’s bar. Colbeck showed a willingness to chase lost causes, and did well to outpace McCoy before setting up Featherstone. Bull once more dealt with the threat by conceding the last corner kick of the half.

HT: HUFC 0 WYCOMBE W. 0

In the early part of the resumption, it was Wycombe’s turn to call the shots. Betsy continued to prove difficult to shake off the ball and his incisive pass to Ainsworth caused some concern before Joe Heath got in a timely blocking tackle. Stefan Stam, a calm presence at the heart of the Bulls defence, was then adjudged to have pushed Beavon, and Bartlett did well to catch the resultant free kick. Ainsworth then delivered a tricky cross which bounced around the home area before Michael Townsend dispatched it to that mythical region known as “row Z”.

Despite being under this pressure, Hereford slowly played their way back into the game. Green slightly over-hit a through ball for Colbeck, and Mcquilkin found our Joe whose centre caused consternation as it was hacked away wildly by a desperate defensive boot. The corner which followed was then played short to Kenny Lunt who angled the ball to the far post. In the ensuing melee, Fleetwood almost pounced but Bull was first to the loose ball. As play continued from end to end, Leslie’s misplaced pass was picked up by Betsy, who outran the covering Lunt, only to shoot weakly.

McQuilkin’s astute flick for Fleetwood created Hereford’s best chance, and a terrific shot was bound for the far corner before Bull finger-tipped it around the far upright. The driven flag kick was met with a forceful header by Johnson, and the follow up was dealt with in an identical manner by the same player. Johnson also found time to make a contribution at the other end as he finished off a fine run with a long range attempt which failed to trouble Bartlett. The Bulls then gave the ball away unnecessarily, and it bounced erratically across the goalmouth. Luckily for the home side, Sandell had problems controlling his shot, and the woodwork came to the rescue.

There were still half chances at either end, but a stalemate seemed the most likely outcome. Fleetwood was at last withdrawn, having run himself into the ground, though there was not sufficient time for Jason Price to have any influence on the result, or indeed to show what he could do, which seemed a shame. Still, overall, a worthy draw against a team placed second in the table was a just reward for United efforts. Now bring on the leaders!

FT: HUFC 0 WYCOMBE W. 0

Attendance: only 1633, even including the 178 Chairboys from Bucks.

HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Townsend, Stam, Heath, McQuilkin (Purdie 74), Lunt, Featherstone, Colbeck, Leslie, Fleetwood (Price 90).

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Bull, Foster, Winfield, Johnson, Ainsworth (Sandell 65), Rendell (Pittman 65), Betsy, Montrose, McCoy, Beavon, Donnelly (Murtagh 70).