Tamworth came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 home draw with Hereford United. An early strike from Marley Watkins gave the Bulls the dream start before Marlon Jackson saw red for petulant kick on Scott Barrow. Despite the red, Harry Pell stroked home a penalty to give Hereford a two goal advantage but Tamworth's intense second-half pressure paid off when Tommy Wright tapped in and then Adam Cunnington's late-header meant the spoils were shared.
After a slow start to the game, not helped by the lack of ballboys, Hereford took the lead; Chris Carruther's long punt forward evaded the Tamworth back-line and Watkins nipped in to fire a half-volley into the corner. Tamworth responded with a trademark ball in the box but former Bull Sam Oji couldn't make a connection at the back-post. In the 24th minute, Jackson saw red after clashing with Barrow. The striker had been the target of a number of heavy tackles previous but a kick-out at the Tamworth defender in front of the linesman left the referee with no alternative but to send the former Bristol City youngster off. The home side, boosted by the dismissal, pushed forward looking for an equaliser with Lloyd Kerry's effort tipped around the post by Dan Hanford and Peter Till's close-range strike again blocked by the 'keeper.
Despite being a man light, Hereford went two up in the 35th minute. Fine work down the right from Watkins saw him burst into the box after playing a one-two with Pell on the half-way line; the former Cheltenham winger was eventually crudely upheaded felled by Tom Marshall in the area and the ref pointed to the spot. Pell stepped up and made no mistake, sending Tony Breeden the wrong way. The Lambs continued to probe with Hanford's reactions put to the test after a stinging drive from Kerry, whilst a cross that followed was nodded past the post by Cunnington.
Having held on for twenty or so minutes in the first period, it took just three minutes for Tamworth to break through in the second. Cunnington managed to spin his marker inside the box before a low cross was turned in by Wright at the front-post from close-range. With that, Tamworth sensed Hereford were there for the taking and sent long ball after long ball in the direction of the United box. Till's strike from twelve yards after a head down was superbly diverted over by Hanford. Two headers from Connington, and then Wright, were just off-target with Hanford rooted to the spot.
Tom Nichols replaced a tiring Sean Canham, whilst the hosts introducing Jan Llado for Connor Gudger and a few minutes later, Stefan Stam took to the field as Martin Foyle looked to sure things up at the back, with Simon Clist making way. Yet, the Tamworth onslaught continued and Wright rose highest to meet a cross from Richard Tait but again failed to hit the target. Kerry was given too much space on the edge of the box to strike goalwards with Hanford doing enough to fumble it out for a corner.
Michael Townsend made way for Ashley Sammons, who looked to be struggling after an earlier aerial challenge yet United were being pegged further back in their half as Tamworth went in search of an equaliser. Marshall skipped past two as he ventured forward from the back but his shot floated harmlessly over before the home side's pressure finally paid off in the 88th minute. Jean-Paul Marna's cross from the right went through a number of bodies before reaching Barrow, who lashed a left-foot shot against the post but the ball broke out to the left-wing, where Barrow was again waiting, delivering a cross onto the head of Cunnington who made no mistake from six yards. Tamworth continued to pump balls into the Bulls' box but Foyle's men held on to claim a point.
After a promising start to the game, Jackson's dismissal proved to be the turning point. United played some good stuff before his red-card but once down to ten men, Tamworth were dominant. The referee was spot on with the red-card and the penalty decision, although some Bulls' fans thought Kerry should have been dismissed for a lunge at Jackson; however, the majority of the other decisions given by the referee left most Bulls' fans bewildered. Given the circumstances however, a point will be well taken and hopefully Hereford can take the three points when they visit Alfreton on Saturday.
Hereford: Hanford, Gallinagh, Townsend (Sammons), Graham, Carruthers, Watkins, Pell, Clist (Stam), Clucas, Canham (Nichols), Jackson.
Subs not used: Bittner, Mcquilkin.
Tamworth: Breeden, Tait, Marshall, Oji, Barrow, Marna, Kerry, Gudger (Llado), Till, Cunnington, Wright.
Subs not used: Wren, Ivey-Ward, Bottomer, Collins.
Attendance: 1,265 with 373 in the away end.
Man of the match: Dan Hanford - for a string of fine saves as Tamworth pressed forward.