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| Lane headed home the equaliser |
There was a carnival atmosphere at Edgar Street as the Bulls went into the game knowing a win would be enough - but they found themselves 2-1 down at half-time. Despite Aaron Skinner scoring a penalty in front of a packed Meadow End in the eighth minute, goals for Dan Jarvis and Max Booth before the break saw the relegated visitors have the advantage.
But substitute Mikey Lane - replacing Andy Williams in what was his final game as a footballer - headed home an equaliser eight minutes from full time, having earlier missed a sitter.
Despite a premature pitch invasion after a late goal for Curzon Ashton saw them just one goal away from relegating Hereford, the full-time whistle went at the Impact Arena and the Bulls could finally celebrate safety after the worst season since 2014.
With just one change going into the crunch final day tie, Lawson D’Ath made way for Keziah Martin, who had a big impact on the game when he came on in midweek’s 2-1 win over Marine.
Playing down the slope towards the Meadow End in the first half, as has been the case in recent weeks, the Bulls started the encounter strongly as they threatened from an early corner. Despite Matt Preston getting a good connection on Martin’s inswinger from the right, the ball glanced the outer side of the upright, as the referee spotted a Kyle Howkins foul elsewhere in the 18-yard box.
Keeping the early pressure up, the Bulls launched a spirited attack as Williams, George Munday and Harry Tustin all combined well, with the latter hacked down as he tried to turn the loose ball towards goal.
Despite every effort to put Skinner off, he placed the ball on the spot.
And with more than 4,400 fans watching on expectantly, repeated Tuesday night’s routine and planted the ball firmly in the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Buoyed by the early goal, Hereford continued throwing bodies forward and just three minutes later, Preston played a nice one-two with Munday on the edge of the box, but couldn’t control his shot from 15-yards as keeper Mackenzie Chapman watched it wide of his goal.
While Freddy Willcox blocked a vicious Sam McLintock effort, Hereford continued to push as Howkins threatened with a headed effort from a corner and Tustin forced Chapman into a save to deny his low strike.
With another Sports chance in the 20th minute as the Bulls were caught napping, allowing Connor Wood to get a shot a way, albeit wide, Aaron Downes’s side was at risk of being punished for not taking their chances. After Willo glanced a header from a Skinner cross wide, Sports grew into the game and started to test the Bulls’ defence with more regularity.
Theo Richardson was well-placed to save McLintock’s forceful 25-yard strike, before punching clear a booth cross ahead of the lurking forwards, but then the equaliser came. A simple corner routine in the 39th minute proved Hereford’s downfall, as Jarvis squeezed the ball home at the far post from Maliq Cadogan’s delivery.
Four minutes later and the Bulls had surrendered their early lead, unable to stop a surging counterattack where Cadogan crossed into the far post for Booth to volley home. As captain Lewis Hudson stopped Booth having a shot on goal, Cadogan could’ve made it three in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time, though after getting the better of right-back Skinner, he curled his shot wide.
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| Munday With A Chance But The Defender Does Enough |
Half time: Hereford 1 - Peterborough Sports 2
Having come out the blocks strongly, Hereford were under the cosh by the end of the first period - but with Alfreton 3-0 up, they knew a draw would probably be enough to ensure their safety.
Weathering the storm in the opening five minutes as Peterborough continued to dominate possession, Hereford started to grow in confidence again. No penalty was given after Daly was clipped in the box, and then Willcox saw his 25-yard strike agonisingly curl wide of the upright. Desperate for an equaliser, Munday saw an effort sail wide after being teed-up by Willcox, before seeing another shot blocked.
Downes was then forced into a change as Preston went off with a head injury after colliding with Howkins as the pair challenged to meet Martin’s free-kick from near the corner flag on the left, with Keenen Quansah drafted in. A second change followed as Willo left the pitch for the final time,
to make way for Lane, and within six minutes had the perfect chance. A superb run from the hard-working Willcox, slipping in Lane who somehow slotted the ball wide from point-blank range with just the keeper to beat.
With Hereford in the relegation zone, nerves started to take over in the stands and with Peterborough defending heavily, it started to look as the Bulls might rue Lane missing his sitter… but he made no mistake in the 82nd minute. As Daly danced his way from left to right on the edge of the box, he was dispossessed in the area - only for Skinner to refuse to let the ball die.
The player of the season won possession back and delivered a perfect cross in to the Fleetwood youngster, heading firmly past Chapman and sending the home side into raptures.
With Curzon now back at 3-2 at Alfreton, the Bulls really wanted a winner to be comfortable - though that proved hard work as 6’6” centre-back Kevin Joshua headed over Richardson’s goal. Despite the seven minutes of injury time, Hereford couldn’t find a winner, and when the final whistle went, fans were split. Half invaded the pitch prematurely, seemingly unaware that Curzon were now level and another goal would relegated Hereford, but when news rang around Edgar Street of the full-time whistle in Derbyshire there was celebration but most of all relief.
Full time: Hereford 2 - Peterborough Sports 2
Attendance: 4,459 (48 away)
Sponsors man of the match: Cormac Daly
All in all, it’s a season to forget for Hereford. From woeful recruitment leading to a slow start to the campaign last summer, to pitch problems leaving them with a backlog of games and 11 points from safety, it is by far the most disappointing season since the club reformed.
But since Downes and his assistant Harry Pell arrived in February, there has been more hope than ever. Despite losing seven games straight, the Bulls refused to give up and took their survival fight to the final day. It could have been sorted weeks earlier, and a win would have made it more comfortable, but the Bulls finish out of the drop zone and that’s enough for me.
Hereford: Richardson, Skinner, Hudson, Preston (Quansah 64), Williams (Lane 66), Munday, Daly (James 87), Martin, Willcox, Tustin, Howkins.
Subs: Lewis, D'Ath, Oppong, Hamilton.
Peterborough Sports: Chapman, Fryatt, Jones, Jarvis, Booth, McLintock, Kamga, Miller, Oakley, Cadogan, Wood
Subs: Jeffers, Gash, Joshua, Coulthirst, Beresford