Bulls draw in highly entertaining match

After a slow start that saw visitors Gateshead take a first half lead through Carl Magney The Bulls stormed back in the second period to earn a well deserved point with a goal from Player Of The Year Sam Clucas and arguably should have taken all three.

Martin Foyle honoured a gentleman’s agreement with the Heed manager not to start on loan Chris Bush instead opting to play Rod McDonald at left back.  Stefan Stam returned to central defence with Craig Jones added to the substitute’s bench.  Former Bull Adam Bartlett started between the sticks for the visitors.

Gateshead Clear Out Of Their Area - Pictures From Andy Compton Of The Hereford Journal

 The Bulls kicked off attacking the Meadowend with Connor feeding Clucas but the wideman’s back-heel from the bye-line failed to find a United player.  Rod McDonald found himself on the right to force a corner that was cleared before Chris Sharp broke on the right and delivered a low cross that Josh O’Keefe hit on the run but a defender blocked his shot with Bartlett struggling to make his ground.

Sam Clucas

Sam Clucas sped infield from the left only to be body checked just outside the box.  Marley Watkins free kick brought a desperate punched clearance from Bartlett before Watkins was guilty of delaying a shot when well placed to strike from the edge of the box.  James Brown broke forward but Stam bided his time before making a timely interception.

Gateshead were having their share of the ball and showed some tidy build up play with Gillies and Brown both impressing and it was The Heed that took the lead on 24 minutes.  The ball was played in from the right, Hatch laid it off and Magney swivelled to fire home from 8 yards.

Joe Connor With Gateshead's Carl Magney

O’Keefe headed wide from a corner then, at the other end, Gillies whipped in a cross that Stam hooked away for a corner.  Marley Watkins showed a clean pair of heels to his marker and pulled back to the edge of the box from where Kingsley James was unlucky to see his first time shot skid inched wide of the upright.  Bartlett fielded Stam’s header from a Graham free kick before Bowman charged down a hesitant Bartlett clearance only to see the ball fall wide of the goal.

Another Gateshead Clearance

Clucas’ cross looked destined for a Bowman tap-in before Curtis snaked out a leg to divert the ball to safety before the referee brought a halt to the first half in which the visitors had probably shaded possession.

HT Bulls 0 Gateshead 1

Chris Sharp spurned a great opportunity soon after the break.  A corner was only partially cleared and when Watkins delivered into the danger area, Sharp scooped over from just three or four yards out with the goal unguarded.  

Chris Sharp Should Have Scored (BN Pic)

Kingsley James effort cannoned off the boot of Chandler and over the bar but the referee strangely awarded a goal kick. 

Joe Connor did well to nick the ball away as Brown shaped to shoot and then McDonald played a superb crossfield ball to release Clucas.  Sam’s cross was half cleared and Marley Watkins screwed his shot wide from 12 yards. 

Marlon Jackson replaced Sharp on the hour and immediately brightened the proceedings with some darting runs from his position in the hole between Bowman and the midfield.  Kingsley James was producing plenty of threatening balls into the final third and was involved when The Bulls equalised on 65 minutes.

Ryan Bowman pulled to the left and duped the defender before delivering an inch perfect cross, which Sam Clucas gleefully turned into the net from close range.

Player Of The Season Sam Clucas Put Hereford Level (BN Pic)

Jackson drew a full length save from Bartlett and Watkins also warmed the hands of the former Bull with a twenty-yarder before creating an opportunity that really should have produced a winner.  Watkins’ good work on the left brought a through ball across the six-yard box but the normally reliable Bowman miss-kicked and the ball ran for a goal kick.

Marley Watkins

At the other end, Brown broke dangerously into the box but Bittner was smartly off his line to smother.  Watkins and Clucas continued to run the flanks to great effect but despite some of the most enjoyable passages of play for many months The Bulls were unable to find a second goal to the disappointment of all but 21 in a crowd of 1599.

FT Bulls 1 Gateshead 1

Hereford: Bittner, Connor, Graham, Stam, McDonald, Watkins, James, O’Keefe, Clucas, Bowman, Sharp (Jackson 59). Subs not used: Gallinagh, Heath, Jones, Smikle.

Gateshead: Bartlett, Cummins, Magnay, Curtis, Galpin, Gillies, Turnbull, Chandler, Donaldson (Marwood 57), Brown, Hatch (Fisher 78). Subs not used: Boyle, Nixon, Bore.

BN MOM – Kingsley James for loads of hard work and a stream of forward balls into attacking positions.

The visitors started well following improved recent results and provided a worthy test for a Bulls side now unbeaten in six.  The slight indecision that resulted in a goal masked an otherwise solid defensive performance in which Stefan Stam once again showed his class and was backed by responsible support from his fellow defenders.

Marley Watkins was occasionally guilty of delaying the release of he ball but he and Sam Clucas were a constant thorn in the side of The Heed.  Kingsley James was my pick of the bunch while Josh O’Keefe was unlucky not to add to his impressive goal tally.  Chris Sharp, as usual, ran the legs off the defenders but, sadly, missed probably the best chance of the game.  Ryan Bowman should also have scored but still looked a threat, as did Jackson during his 30 minutes.

Really looking forward to what should be a cracking game on Tuesday.  With Mansfield desperate for a win there is every chance that they could leave the sort of gaps that our lads can exploit.

Bring ‘em on.

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