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| Edgar Street As Pictured In August 2008 |
Of particular note, given he's returned, was the performance of Josh Gowling in the Hereford side.
Bulls fail to take points
Hereford
United failed to overcome Hartlepool United at Edgar Street this
afternoon with the game ending 1-1. The first-half was dominated by the
home side yet Steve Guinan's close-range finish was all The Bulls had to
show for this and they were punished in the second period for failing
to take their chances when Dean Beckwith headed into his own net.
Following
on from the first away win of the season at Colchester last weekend,
Graham Turner made two changes with Craig Samson replacing the injured
Chris Weale. Richard Rose was also re-introduced to the starting-line up
with Richard Jackson making way. The visitors were hit by a number of
injuries with star players James Brown and Joel Porter out but Coventry
loanee Kevin Kyle started up front on his own.
Hereford
made a flying start to the game when Ben Smith sent a ball over Richie
Humphreys in the left-back position and Lionel Ainsworth raced on to it,
before firing goalwards with only a slight touch from 'keeper Jan Budtz
denying the Watford winger a second goal in as many games. Ainsworth
was the main threat and a cross from the right allowed Guinan to
challenge in the air before at the second attempt, an acrobatical effort
was clawed around the post by Budtz. At the other end, the tricky Matty
Robson, playing in a similar fashion to Matty Done, crossed from the
left but Kyle's header didn't trouble Samson. Guinan's vision saw him
chip a pass to strike partner Andy Williams who in turn set up Done but
the Welsh winger's low drilled effort was inches past the far post.
Hesitancy
from Samson saw a Robson cross challenged by Kyle, beating both
Beckwith and Joshua Gowling in the process but again, the big man's head
failed to hit the target. The first goal of the afternoon was scored
just before the 20 minute mark with Toumani Diagouraga starting the move
in centre of the park, finding Ainsworth on the right. The loanee
crossed into the danger area where Guinan was waiting and although his
first-effort was sliced, he made no mistake when the ball fell back to
him by poking it past Budtz. The veteran should have doubled his tally
after fine work from Ainsworth saw the winger skin three players before
feeding a pass to Guinan, who steadied himself but couldn't fire past
Budtz who stood strong and blocked with his legs. Gowling headed into
the body of Budtz from a Done corner late on in the half as Hereford
took the narrow lead into the half-time break.
Hartlepool
came out of the blocks quickly in the second-half with Robson
threatening firstly seeing his strike blocked by Gowling from 25 yards
before moments later he tried his luck with his right-foot and went
close as the ball fell just past the far post. As if Hereford hadn't
been warned about Robson's ability, he collected the ball inside the
area and span before crossing into an area where defenders have
nightmares about; under the challenge of two strikers, Beckwith tried to
head the ball out for a corner but could only find the back of his own
net to level up proceedings. It was a big blow for Hereford who had been
so dominant in the first-half and they looked for a quick response,
coming close through Ainsworth. The wide-man was found by a switch from
Done and a neat flick past Humphreys allowed him to fire goalwards but
his strike hit the side-netting.
At
the other end, the hard-working Ben Clark skimmed a low long ranger
past Samson's post whilst an eagerness from the Scottish 'keeper to keep
the game flowing nearly resulted in a goal for Hartlepool; Samson's
quick goal-kick put Rose under pressure and he was tackled by Robson who
ran directly towards goal before powerfully shooting but Samson
redeemed himself with a strong hand to deny him. Kris Taylor wasted a
free-kick in a useful position firing into the Blackfriars End. David
Foley took to the field with Michael Mackay making way as Hartlepool
gave Kyle a different strike partner. The former Sunderland man forced
Samson to make a diving save after a neat touch before turning and
shooting goalwards whilst Samson also denied Michael Nelson after the
defender was given a free-header from a corner but directed it straight
at the 'keeper.
Diagouraga
right-foot shot was held by Budtz in a rare Bulls' attack but it was
still Hartlepool who kept threatening with Robson again dangerous
shooting past the post after a strong-run, whilst minutes later,
following the introduction of Jamie McCunnie in place of Antony Sweeney,
a cross from Robson found Gary Liddle free but his left-foot shot was
held by Samson. A chorus of boos rang around Edgar Street as Clint
Easton replaced Diagouraga, who was struggling with a groin injury
whilst Andy Monkhouse replaced Clark. Monkhouse nearly made an instant
impact when he volleyed over from inside the box after Kyle had won a
flick. Guinan did well to win the ball inside the Pools' half before he
took on a snapshot from 30 yards which had Budtz scrambling but was
relatively harmless, falling wide. In the final moments, Foley forced
Samson to push a powerful strike away but the ball wasn't cleared fully
and it again made its way to Foley with the sub this time volleying wide
of goal.
It
was a game of two halves, with the first dominated by Hereford and the
second dominated by Hartlepool. At the end of the game, a draw seems a
fair result with both sides having many opportunities to score.
Ainsworth looked dangerous, especially in the first-half although fellow
winger Done must be given credit, playing very well despite having a
sickness bug. The Bulls will be annoyed that they couldn't put the game
to bed in the first-half and may see it as 'two points lost'; they'll do
their best to make up for this next Saturday when United visit
Huddersfield.
Hereford: Samson, Rose, Beckwith, Gowling, Taylor, Ainsworth, Diagouraga (Easton), Smith, Done, Guinan, Williams.
Subs Not Used: Broadhurst, Gwynne, Hudson-Odoi, Chadwick.
Hartlepool:
Budtz, Sweeney (McCunnie), Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Liddle, Rowell,
Clark (Monkhouse), Robson, Mackay (Foley), Kyle.
Subs Not Used: Power, Cook.
Attendance: 2490, (109 from Hartlepool)
Final Score: Hereford United 1-1 Hartlepool United