Beaten by Nuneaton

With manager Martin Foyle opting to make 3 changes from the side that lost to Woking last weekend, Luke Graham, Damon Lathrope and Eric Odhiambo returned to the starting 11 in place of Joel Edwards, Dan Walker and Sam Smith respectively.

After observing a one minute silence commemorating the life of Nelson Mandela, the Bulls starting attacking the Blackfriars End. Left back Rod McDonald, sent in an early and promising cross into the danger area but it was easily gathered by visiting keeper Kelle Roos.

Nuneaton won an early corner which was cleared with ease by the Hereford defence; the ball was cleared to Evans who showed both his pace and skill to win a throw in some way into the Nuneaton half. From the throw, the ball found Artus, whose shot narrowly went wide of the upright.

Great Chance For Frankie Artus

Both teams created half chances in the first period, with Nuneaton wasting the opportunity to go ahead when they headed the ball well over from the back post after a corner, not giving Lloyd-Weston much to worry about; Hereford fans were equally as disheartened when Odhiambo showed some good footwork, but his shot was saved by Roos.

Keeper Lloyd-Weston pulled off a couple of great saves in the first half, especially after Danny Sleath crossed  for Louis Moult to head powerfully at goal but Lloyd-Weston dived full length to his right to stop the visitors taking the lead.

Streets Ahead Of Rankine

However, despite Hereford being the better of the two, the only goal of the game came when Louis Moult sent Lloyd-Weston the wrong way from a spot kick. The linesman allegedly gave the penalty for McDonald pulling York’s shirt, but Artus was equally in the wrong as it could be argued he pushed York to gift Nuneaton the penalty. A controversial penalty nonetheless.

Dan Lloyd Weston Couldn't Stop Moult's Penalty

HT: Hereford 0 – Nuneaton 1

The returning Luke Graham saw himself being robbed of the ball, allowing Moult to force Lloyd-Weston to make another impressive save minutes into the second period.

Artus was replaced by Walker on the left wing, and not long after being on the field of play, Walker had two good penalty shouts, both for handball; the referee and his assistants saw no offense and waved play on.

Handball?

Loanee Micah Evans gave Michael Rankine the chance to drag the hosts back into the game when he crossed the ball into the box, only for the onrushing Rankine to be beaten to the ball by Roos.

FT: Hereford 0 – Nuneaton 1

Att: 1,292 with 105 from Shakespeare’s County.

Sponsors’ MOTM: Michael Rankine

Hereford: Lloyd-Weston, Graham, Leadbitter, Collins, McDonald, Artus (Walker 66’), O’Keefe, Lathrope, Evans, Rankine, Odhiambo (Williams 81’). Subs not used: Edwards, Murphy, Bush.

Nuneaton: Roos, Bell, Gordon, Dean, Trainer, Walker, Streete, Sleath, York (Ladapo 78’), Moult (Armson 86’), Hibbert. Subs not used: Adams, Belshaw, Taylor.

All in all this was a pretty dull affair and a 0-0 draw would have probably been a fair result. In the first half, Hereford actually played some nice passing football at time albeit without any result in the final third – but as soon as Nuneaton took the lead, just before the break, the confidence drained away and the players went for the easy option of hitting long, aimless balls.

See you in two weeks when top team Cambridge come to the Street.

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