Bulls storm back to defeat Lincoln

Hereford United twice came from behind to deservedly beat Lincoln City in today’s match at Edgar Street. Two goals from Chris Sharp and another from captain Stefan Stam overcame an unfortunate own-goal by James Musa and a spot kick by Alan Power.

Martin Foyle brought back James Bittner following Tuesday evening’s narrow defeat to Wrexham but kept faith with the outfield players.

Attacking the Blackfriars end, The Bulls were the first to threaten when Ryan Bowman pulled wide to the right and showed a clean pair of heels to his marker but his cross to the back post was cleared. The Imps forced the first corner of the game, which Bittner confidently came to catch.

Gallinagh whipped in a deceptive centre from the right that keeper David Preece had to collect low down at the near post before The Bulls conceded on nine minutes. The ball appeared to be harmlessly going through to Bittner when James Musa headed the ball out of Bittner’s reach and into the empty net.

The Bulls were swiftly back on the attack and Musa, keen to rectify his error, got on the end of Sharp’s feed following a determined overlapping run to win a corner. Marley Watkins’ flag kick was met at the back post by a powerful Stefan Stam header to level the score with just 13 minutes on the clock.

Stam Put The Bulls Back In The Game - Pictures From Andy Compton Of The Hereford Journal

United came close to adding to their tally when Sam Clucas glanced a header goalward from Bowman’s cross but Preece was on hand to palm away for a corner which was over hit and sailed beyond the far post for a goal kick. Jake Jones set up Vadaine Oliver for a shot that Bittner had to tip round the post and Connor Robinson saw his effort from just outside the box miss to Bittner’s right.

Marley Watkins sent Bowman on a run on the right and his shot from a narrow angle just cleared the bar. Clucas was felled 35 yards from goal and the quickly taken free kick saw Kingsley James try his luck but the shot was blocked. O’Keefe picked up the rebound and a nice touch enabled him to feed Bowman but Preece was able to gather before a soft penalty at the other end provided a second goal for the visitors.

Power pushed the ball wide of James and then made sure his foot caught Kingsley’s leg to justify the aeronautics that convinced referee Rees to point to the spot. Power drove the ball past Bittner to give The Imps the lead for the second time in the game.

Kingsley James

Bowman was dragged to the ground by Miller but Watkins’ free kick failed to beat the first man.

HT Bulls 1 Lincoln 2

Scott Garner brought down Chris Sharp but the free kick was blocked before Oliver was forced to leave the field with what appeared to be a twisted knee. Replacement Hobson tried a shot from distance which Bittner watched sail wide of the target just before The Bulls got back to level on 57 minutes.

Sam Clucas intercepted a clearance and released Chris Sharp who drilled home from outside the box to beat Preece low into the corner. 

Chris Sharp And Josh O'Keefe

Four minutes later, The Bulls took the lead with another from Sharp. A Clucas corner from the right was deep to the back post and when the ball was squared back to Stefan Stam his shot from 25 yards was only half blocked and Sharp was able to stab home from a couple of yards out.

Sharp Beats The Keeper For His Second Goal Of The Game

The Bulls might have had a penalty themselves with twenty minutes remaining. Power tangled with Watkins outside the box but continued his run before a second challenge from Power brought him down well inside the area. Referee Rees, strangely, choose to award a free kick for the first challenge when he had apparently decided to allow play to continue initially.

Watkin's Penalty Appeal

Watkins and Fofana exchanged handbags to collect a yellow card each before a couple of very sketchy offside decisions by the Merton Stand side linesman earned him some less than complimentary comments from the A block contingent.

Not to be outdone, blocks C and D were quick to offer advice to substitute Jamie Taylor when he tugged Stam back before falling to earn a very dubious free kick late in the game. The Bulls’ captain was harshly carded but the free kick came to nothing and despite six generous minutes of added time the improved crowd of 1914 (inc 144 from The Golden Eagle) were not treated to further goals although a further outbreak of handbags finished with Gilbert receiving his marching orders for an apparent headbutt on Sharp.

FT Bulls 3 Lincoln 2

Hereford: - Bittner, Gallinagh, Graham, Stam, Musa, Watkins, O’Keefe, James, Clucas, Sharp, Bowman (Jackson 81). Unused: - Heath, Curruthers, McDonald, Smikle.

Lincoln: - Preece, Boyce, Garner, Miller, Gilbert, Power, Jones (Larkin 82), Turnbull, Fofana, Oliver (Hobson 53), Robinson (Taylor 72). Unused: - Farman, Gray.

This was another improved performance by The Bulls. Both the visitors’ goals fell into the fortunate category whereas United’s came from good open play. Chris Sharp took his opportunities well but was guilty of some poor touches on several occasions while, out wide, Clucas and Watkins were a constant threat.

Another three points on Tuesday will be well received.

BN Joint MOM – Graham and Stam.

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