The Bulls came away from Whaddon Road with a hard-earned draw to take the tie to a replay at Edgar Street. Shaun Harrod had put the hosts in front on 16 minutes but a Josh O’Keefe equaliser just four minutes later squared the scoreline.
Martin Foyle named Ryan Bowman in the starting line-up with Brian Smikle getting the nod in the wide right position.
The Bulls’ travelling support was in fine voice in the packed visitors sections from the start. McGlashan sent over an early cross from the right but it was cleared upfield to Bowman although his cross came to nothing. Will Evans blasted an effort high and wide before another cross from the dangerous McGlashan was competently dealt with by Bittner. A Billy Jones corner was headed goalward by Elliot but, again, Bittner was equal to the task. Pell was hauled back when breaking from midfield but the freekick produced no threat on goal. Then, just after the quarter hour mark The Robins took what looked like a fortunate lead.
McGlashan got behind Heath to fire a low cross in and Harrod, looking suspiciously offside, turned in from close range. Roared on by the fans, The Bulls returned to the attack. Smikle was chopped down in centre field before a fine move produced the reply.
Clucas and Bowman combined on the left before the latter got past Lowe to dink a cross into the danger area. O’Keefe’s header was blocked by keeper Brown but O’Keefe blasted in the rebound from six yards. Bowman was clattered from behind on more than one occasion with little reward before Lowe, on the overlap, sent in a cross that was cleared at the back post. Sam Clucas raised the tempo with a surging run to supply Pell but the Essex boy’s effort was a shade high and then Clucas’ own attempt just cleared the crossbar.
Carter brought Pell down for the third time without any sign of a card from referee Pawson but it was the hosts that were applying most of the pressure albeit with troubling Bittner too much. Smikle turned inside his marker to deliver for Clucas but the header drifted inches wide of the upright.
HT Cheltenham 1 Bulls 1
The Robins had probably shaded possession in the first period but The Bulls had shown good ability on the break with several delightful interpassing moves.
Clucas again started brightly with a couple of darting runs but the early stages of the second half were largely a keep-ball exorcise from both sides. Bowman was again fouled when holding up the ball, this time by Bennett before Marlon Pack dished out a clattering to Pell.
On the hour mark, Mark Yates threw on Jeff Goulding and Russ Penn for Harrod and Taylor. Penn was almost immediately penalised for a late challenge on Pell as Harry threatened to break away. A deep cross to the back post found Smikle but his lack of height enabled Jones to clear.
Pell and Bowman were both tripped as they burst towards goal but neither challenge drew a whistle from Pawson. The Bulls worked the ball nicely from left to right but Harry’s cross was too long and fell for a goal kick. Pack fired straight at Bittner and then a smart move involving Pell, Heath, Clucas and O’Keefe finished with a shot which Brown just managed to tip over the bar.
Mohamed cut in from the left to test Bittner but The Bulls’ custodian went full length to save as play brightened towards the final quarter. Heath, on a rare excursion, forced a corner, which was scrambled away before another corner was met at the back post by a thundering header from Stefan Stam that cannoned off a defender to safety. Marsh replaced Smikle for the final ten minutes and despite some typical Mark Yates longball tactics The Bulls survived fairly comfortably to earn an Edgar Street replay.
FT Cheltenham 1 Bulls 1
Hereford: Bittner, Heath, Graham, Stam, Gallinagh, Clucas, Pell, Evans, O’Keefe, Smikle (Marsh 79), Bowman. Unused: Hanford, Clist, McQuilkin, Perry.
Cheltenham: Brown, Lowe, Bennett, Elliot, Jones, Pack, Carter (Penn 60), McGlashan (Deering 80), Taylor (Goulding 60), Mohamed, Harrod. Unused Duffy, Roberts, D’Ath, Jombati.
Attendance 5070
The Bulls were far from outplayed by their supposedly higher graded opponents and on occasions produced some fine football despite the robust attentions of the home team. Elliot and Carter were particularly fortunate to avoid the notebook in a game that, remarkably, referee Pawson was uncharacteristically lenient. Another fine team performance from Martin Foyle’s men with Pell, Clucas and Bowman being the picks of the bunch. I somehow doubt that the NLL’s of Cheltenham will muster 1350 for their Cup Final at Edgar Street.
See you in Barrow.