The Bulls were denied all three points at Vale Park yesterday evening when Tom Pope's late equaliser squared the game after James McQuilkin had given the visitors a 76th minute lead.
With Joe Colbeck missing through suspension, Pitman made four changes from the debacle at Southend. Out went Kovacs to be replaced by new loan signing Stefan Stam and Kovacs was joined in the detention room by Richard Rose and Waide Fairhurst as The Bulls started with a 4-5-1 formation that saw Stuart Fleetwood as a lone striker and the footballing quintet of Purdie, Lunt, Featherstone, McQuilkin and Leslie forming a fluid and tenacious midfield. Vale included big John McCombe and Lee Collins in their starting line-up with Kris Taylor on the bench.
As the game started the main interest was in how Stam would perform but attention quickly switched as it was soon obvious that the new midfield had brought a return of the crisp pass and move game that has been missing of late as Hereford made a bright start. Anthony Griffith earned a yellow card just two minutes into the game for a disgraceful late challenge on Ryan Green before Marc Richards met a cross from the right but his header went wide. For The Bulls, a Green crossfield ball found Fleetwood who turned two defenders before firing a rising shot just over the bar. Then Joe Heath got a good block on a snap shot from Dodds and Steve Leslie slipped a ball to Kenny Lunt but his 20-yarder was a shade high before a Leslie effort grazed the bar and rebounded to safety.
Play continued to swing from end to end with both sides playing some very decent football. Defensively, McCombe was showing good anticipation and composure in possession while at the other end, new boy Stam, seemed to bring a calm and discipline that was both welcome and overdue. The Yeovil loanee was noticeably barking out instructions and the improved confidence was transferred to the quality of distribution as the fullbacks found themselves receiving the ball from both Bartlett and their fellow defenders as United built confidently from the back. In midfield, the extra man provided the opportunity to retain the ball by moving it quickly to a colleague as the hosts attempted to close down. With half time approaching, Lunt sent Fleetwood through on goal and it took a timely tackle from McCombe to deny The Bulls' top marksman.
The half finished goalless but it was proving to be a cracking game to watch.
HT Vale 0 Bulls 0
The Neat football from both sides continued after the break and the persistent Purdie soon forced a corner that was cleared by McCombe while Joe Heath was alert to throw himself in front of a point blank effort from Louis Dodds.
The Bulls seemed to be enjoying the revived footballing style and when Fleetwood released Leslie, the resulting corner drew a fine save from home keeper Stuart Tomlinson as Stam crashed a header on target. The advancing Ryan Green fed Steve Leslie who went on a mazy run before firing just wide with Tomlinson struggling to make his ground before another Leslie cross flashed harmlessly across the face of the home goal. The hard working Stuart Fleetwood received a standing ovation when Fairhurst replaced him on 73 minutes. Vale had their share of the ball but the quick closing of the visitors midfielders restricted their opportunities to mainly distance efforts and it was The Bulls who took the lead with fifteen minutes remaining.
Stam broke up a Vale attack and played the ball wide to Ryan Green who made ground up the right before playing a trademark low ball into the feet of Waide Fairhurst. The Donny striker laid the ball off to James McQuilkin who sidestepped a couple of challenges before firing into the corner of the net from 18 yards.
Gary Roberts was carded for a foul on Joe Heath as The Bulls looked to run the clock down in the corners but a free kick conceded near the halfway line was to prove costly nearly three minutes into the four of added time. Kris Taylor delivered to the back post and substitute Tom Pope rose to thump a header past Bartlett to give the hosts a share of the spoils at the death.
FT Vale 1 Bulls 1
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Stam, Townend, Heath, Purdie, McQuilkin, Lunt, Featherstone, Leslie, Fleetwood (Fairhurst 73). Subs unused: Hoult, Kovacs, Rose, Stratford, Thomas, Patulea.
Port Vale: Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Owen (K Taylor 83), Collins, Dodds (R Taylor 78), Roberts, Griffith, Loft, M Richards, J Richards (Pope 66). Subs unused: Martin, Haldane, Morsy, Sutton.
Gate 4869 (126 away)
This was a much-improved performance from The Bulls. Stefan Stam seemed to fit in well as, on the whole, the back division looked to play the ball out from the back. The extra man in midfield allowed the freedom for central players to break forward to support Fleetwood and his replacement, Fairhurst. The system worked, we played plenty of good football, I enjoyed it a lot more than the last two efforts and we got a vital point on the road to safety.
See you in church on Sunday.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Away At South Shields On Tuesday February 4th Kick Off 7.45pm