Michael Duberry was the talk of the day as his 'imperfect' hattrick sealed a 2-2 draw at the Kassam Stadium. Oxford took the lead early on through a Jon-Paul Pittman effort before Duberry diverted a Joe Colbeck cross into his own net. As the game neared a close, Duberry looked to have given Hereford the three points by heading past Ryan Clarke, from yet another Colbeck delivery but the veteran defender made amends at the right-end, neatly slotting home inside the area.
With Simon Clist injured at Dagenham last weekend, Ryan Green made a timely return, allowing Rob Purdie to start at left-back. James Constable started, following much speculation over the former Kidderminster Harrier's striker's future, whilst recent loan signing Oli Johnson had to be content with a place amongst the subs.
A lively opening ten minutes largely involved Purdie at either end; a low corner from Colbeck found Purdie and his chipped ball towards goal was cleared off the line by Simon Heslop. At the other end, Purdie shows his quality by superbly blocking a strike by Constable after good work down the left-wing by Alfie Potter. The U's took the lead in the 12th minute; Pittman was given far too much room inside the Hereford half, eventually firing a left-foot strike into the corner from 25 yards with Adam Bartlett rooted to the spot.
The home side could have doubled their advantage when Constable easily went past Will Evans but saw a powerful shot palmed behind by Bartlett. Purdie had a dipping half-volley fall narrowly over the bar before the Bulls equalised in the 32nd minute. Harry Pell's low pass found Delroy Facey, who flicked out wide for Colbeck, who was racing down the right-hand side. The winger fired a dangerous low ball along the six yard box and Duberry, under pressure from Facey, diverted into his own net. The first of the three part Duberry story. As the half drew to a close, Oxford nearly took the lead once again after a deep Peter Leven cross was flicked goalwards by Constable but again, Bartlett denied the number nine with a diving save to his right to push the ball around the post.
Jamie Pitman was forced into his first change at the interval, with Stefan Stam failing to re-appear for the second-period; Sam Clucas replaced him, with Purdie switching to right-back and Green shifting into a centre-half role.
The Whites started to play a little more football in the second-period, keeping the ball well in some tight spaces with a move allowing Yoann Arquin to whet his appetite by drifting a 35 yard strike past the post. Moments later, Oxford had a triple chance in the space of seconds. Pittman turned his man inside the box to force a save from Bartlett and a follow up effort by Potter was also blocked by the 'keeper; the ball looped in the air and a spectacular overhead kick by Potter was again blocked, this time by Green. Soon after, the hosts also had two penalty appeals turned down by the ref. Liam Davis cut past his marker in the area before falling the ground, whilst a handball shout against Michael Townsend was also waved away.
Pitman introduced some fresh legs with Tom Barkhuizen coming on for Facey, whilst Chris Wilder made his first change of the day, replacing Potter with Johnson. Barkhuizen instantly got into the game, shooting straight at Clarke after Featherstone had shifted the ball to the left to find him. A whipped delivery from the right-wing by Damien Batt found Constable inside the box but he could only prod the ball wide under pressure by Bartlett. Andrew Whing made way to give former Shrewsbury loanee Asa Hall the opportunity to impress as Oxford pushed for a winner. A corner from the left fell to Heslop, who struck powerfully towards goal but Bartlett managed to force it away; the ball was then picked up out on the left-wing and a precise cross was nodded over from close-range by Liam Davis.
With Oxford continuing to pressure the Bulls' back-line, a swift breakaway nearly caught the U's out. Barkhuizen picked the ball up just inside the Oxford half, and sent Arquin racing through on goal; the Frenchman steadied himself, sending a left-foot shot past Clarke but agonisingly past the far-post. Yet, following Tom Craddock's introduction for Heslop, Hereford went in front much to the despair of the home support. Sublime skill by Colbeck on the touchline saw him beat his man and a powerful cross was headed into his own net by Duberry, after Arquin had done enough to pressure the defender. However, it was Duberry who would have the last say on the game by drawing Oxford level with two minutes to go. Craddock pulled it back to Duberry who swept a right-foot shot into the far corner.
A highly entertaining encounter at the Kassam Stadium in front of 6,630 supporters. The 397 away fans will be the happier though, as Hereford claimed an unlikely point. Much like last season's match, they soaked up some immense pressure and made the most of it when they went forward. A number of players put in strong displays, although special mentions should be made for Purdie and Townsend, who were impeccable throughout. The remarkable scoring display by Duberry is something I have never seen before, and whilst his equaliser dealt a late blow to the Bulls, it still felt as though it was a point gained and not two points dropped. Next up for Pitman's men is the visit of Graham Turner and his Shrewsbury side in a week's time, with a scheduled one o'clock kick-off at Edgar Street.
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Townsend, Stam, Purdie, Colbeck, Evans, Featherstone, Pell, Arquin, Facey.
Subs: Cornell, Lunt, Clucas, Barkhuizen, Elder.
Oxford: Clarke, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Heslop, Whing, Leven, Potter, Pittman, Constable.
Subs: Tonkin, Worley, Hall, Johnson, Craddock.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Farsley Celtic At Edgar Street On Saturday 26th October at 3.00pm