Bulls News: Hereford 1 - Merthyr Town 1

In Monday's bank holiday derby at Edgar Street, Pete Beadle was forced into making one change to the side that picked up three points at St Neots on Saturday. Mark Preece had recovered from his illness to replace the injured Dan Preston in the heart of defence.

Keyon Reffell lined up against his former club, winning the first corner of the afternoon in the fourth minute, but James Bowen's delivery was an easy catch for Oliver Davies.

Davies, who had been greeted with a less than a warm welcome by the Meadow End, failed to catch James Bowen's cross, but the Martyrs' defence cleared the ball ahead of John Mills at the far post.

As the hosts kept up the pressure, Mills saw a snapshot from 25-yards whistle wide of the target.

James Bowen was inches away from taking the lead moments later, as his corner came close to sneaking in at the back post, but as the ball was half-cleared as far as Keyon Reffell, the effort was blazed wide.

With 27 minutes on the clock, Merthyr registered their first shot on target. Ex-Bull Stuart Fleetwood's cross was played back across goal by Jimmy Oates into the path of Cory Jenkins, but Dara O'Shea did well to block the powerful effort.

Martin Horsell was then called into action in the 34th minute, Jarrad Wright latched onto the end of Eliot Richards' corner, but Horsell claimed the diving header.

In the moments leading up to half time, Merthyr began to find their feet in the game, limiting Hereford's chances, but a blatant handball in the box by Scott Tancock wasn't spotted by the officials, with Bulls fans fuming as a free kick was then given against John Mills.

HT: Hereford 0 - Merthyr Town 0

A slow, scrappy start to the second half saw little in the way of goalmouth action. It wasn't until the 57th minute when the Bulls properly tested Oliver Davies. Eliot Richards was booked for a late challenge on Keyon Reffell, but O'Shea's header was straight at the keeper from the resulting free kick.

In the 65th minute, substitute Kyle Copp broke the deadlock for the Martyrs. Mike McGrath conceded a free kick 35-yards out, with Copp able to curl his shot around the four-man wall and beat Martin Horsell at the near-post.

After taking the lead, Merthyr were reduced to ten-men after Eliot Richard picked up his second yellow for throwing the ball away after Hereford were awarded a free kick.

In the 79th minute, Pablo Haysham was dispossessed in the box after Rob Purdie found him with a neat through ball. Keyon Reffell then did well to get onto the end of the loose ball, but his low drive was an easy save for Davies.

Hereford finally pulled a goal back six minutes from time. After doing well to control an accurate long ball, Gethyn Hill turned and got a shot away, firing diagonally into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.