Hereford were without Calvin Dinsley and Garyn Preen, whilst Mike Symons started his suspension after his recent red card against Farnborough. Jimmy Oates started in an unfamiliar left-back position, whilst Jamie Bird was preferred to Keyon Reffell on the right-wing.
The first opportunity of the evening fell the way of John Mills; McGrath whipped in a free kick from the right towards the back post, where it was headed back across the penalty area towards Mills but he could only fire off-target from an excellent position.
It was the former Didcot man who was looking lively; a long boot broke to Mills and after a chop bamboozled his defender, his right foot shot lacked power and was diverted away from danger by the 'keeper.
Hereford took the lead on the 20th minute when Haysham netted. Oates made good progress on the left before cutting back on to his familiar right foot and his deep cross was met by Haysham lept well to power a header into the back of the net.
Eight minutes later though and Tiverton were level. A hopeful ball forward saw hesitation in the Bulls' backline and, from the far end, looked as though Oates felled his man inside the box, with few protests from Hereford. Up stepped Howe who sent Martin Horsell the wrong way to make it 1-1.
Further chances followed at either end with Bird missing a golden opportunity to regain the lead for Hereford. Mills slide pass found Dara O'Shea who made a strong burst from right-back and into the box and his dinked cross from the by-line was met by Bird but his header strayed agonisingly past the post. Horsell was grateful that a headed effort also fell wide after a free-kick from the right was crossed into the box before Hereford went back in front. A lofted ball over the back-line was chased down by Mills and he timed his cross to perfection, firing powerful to the back-post where Smith dived to head home emphatically.
From the restart that followed, Hereford were nearly caught out but a low bobbling shot from the edge of the box back across Horsell was diverted against the post before being cleared for a throw.
After a lively and entertaining first-half, the second-half was a much scrappier affair with Tiverton intent on stamping their authority on the game, posing a much more physical approach. It was the hosts who were threatening; Horsell had to be on hand to block a close-range header by the home side's number 8 after he had found himself free in the box whilst the same player then lashed a right-foot shot past the post from an acute angle. At the other end, McGrath's free-kick was pushed away by the home 'keeper.
The Bulls best opportunity to add a third goal fell to Smith, after good work from Bird on the left. He shifted on to his right-foot and whipped a dangerous cross towards the front-post where Smith nodded in front of the 'keeper but his header flew over the bar. This was to be Hereford's last chance of the game as Tiverton stepped up a gear in the final ten minutes. Their centre-half could only find Horsell's arms after a free-kick from the left was headed down into the penalty area.
Minutes later though, they were level; Tiverton launched a throw into the danger area and after it wasn't fully cleared by Hereford, it was fired back across goal and Bath got his foot to it to divert it past Horsell.
After a lively and entertaining first-half, the second-half was a much scrappier affair with Tiverton intent on stamping their authority on the game, posing a much more physical approach. It was the hosts who were threatening; Horsell had to be on hand to block a close-range header by the home side's number 8 after he had found himself free in the box whilst the same player then lashed a right-foot shot past the post from an acute angle. At the other end, McGrath's free-kick was pushed away by the home 'keeper.
The Bulls best opportunity to add a third goal fell to Smith, after good work from Bird on the left. He shifted on to his right-foot and whipped a dangerous cross towards the front-post where Smith nodded in front of the 'keeper but his header flew over the bar. This was to be Hereford's last chance of the game as Tiverton stepped up a gear in the final ten minutes. Their centre-half could only find Horsell's arms after a free-kick from the left was headed down into the penalty area.
Minutes later though, they were level; Tiverton launched a throw into the danger area and after it wasn't fully cleared by Hereford, it was fired back across goal and Bath got his foot to it to divert it past Horsell.
Having been booked in the first-half, McGrath was then given his marching orders for speaking out of turn to the referee - his frustration clear for all to see on his walk to the changing rooms.
Peter Beadle introduced Reffell for the last five minutes in place of Bird and although he showed some lively touches, he was unable to make an impact and the spoils were shared.
Having held the lead twice, it will be a disappointing back to Herefordshire for the players and management team alike this evening. Tiverton are always a difficult team to come up against, physical, with a couple of tricky players up top but to drop the points with seven minutes to go will be a real disappointment for Beadle. On an evening where there were limited candidates for man of the match, the Bulls News award goes to Haysham, who was a constant threat in the first-half, causing all sorts of problems down the right-wing, although he did fade in the second-half.
Next up for Hereford is the visit of Weymouth in the FA Trophy at Edgar Street on Saturday.
Hereford: Horsell, O'Shea, Deaman, Green, Oates, Haysham, Purdie, McGrath, Bird, Smith, Mills.
Subs: Harris, Preston, Franklin, Reffell.
Having held the lead twice, it will be a disappointing back to Herefordshire for the players and management team alike this evening. Tiverton are always a difficult team to come up against, physical, with a couple of tricky players up top but to drop the points with seven minutes to go will be a real disappointment for Beadle. On an evening where there were limited candidates for man of the match, the Bulls News award goes to Haysham, who was a constant threat in the first-half, causing all sorts of problems down the right-wing, although he did fade in the second-half.
Next up for Hereford is the visit of Weymouth in the FA Trophy at Edgar Street on Saturday.
Hereford: Horsell, O'Shea, Deaman, Green, Oates, Haysham, Purdie, McGrath, Bird, Smith, Mills.
Subs: Harris, Preston, Franklin, Reffell.