Bulls fall to late goals after twice leading

A stoppage time winner from Robbie Willmott condemned United to defeat after Josh O’Keefe had twice given them the lead from the spot only for Lee Mishull to level with back post headers.

Martin Foyle was without top scorer Ryan Bowman who went down with an illness.  Joe Connor started in place of Andy Gallinagh while former Bulls Tony James and Byron Anthony started at the back for The Exiles.

The two sides opened in a cut and thrust mode that continued throughout the match.  Luke Graham cleared a cross from the left before Chris Sharp showed good energy to chase down and block a clearance from Newport keeper Lenny Pidgely.  Musa was harshly penalised but Sandell sent his free kick straight at Bittner and Bitts was again well placed when Jolley tested him from the edge of the box.

Stefan Stam intercepted a clearance and quickly made ground before unleashing a 35-yarder that brought a save from Pidgely.  Pipe whipped a cross in from the right and when it was blocked away, Crowe dragged his shot wide of the target in a period of sustained attacks from the visitors. 

On twenty minutes, Newport forced their first corner when the ball deflected off Clucas but the flag kick was cleared.  Then Jolley cut in from the left to fire across goal and out for a goal kick.  Newport got the ball in the net but it was rightly ruled out for offside and Sam Clucas blazed wildly over the bar when set up by Kingsley James.

Chris Sharp Watched By Former Bull Byron Anthony

Flynn duped the referee with a theatrical fall to earn an undeserved free kick but Yakubu’s dieing swan act in the box failed to impress Mr Whitton.  However, when Andy Sandell performed his usual hatchet job on Marley Watkins as he bore down on goal the yellow card was produced.  Watkins’ ball in to Clucas resulted in a shot under pressure skidding just wide of the post and Sharp stung the palms of Pidgely from the edge of the box as The Bulls started to take the initiative and took the lead from the spot on 42 minutes.

Marley Watkins About To Take Hereford's First Penalty

Sharp combined with Jackson who sprinted into the box only to be upended by Pipe.  In the absence of Bowman, Watkins took the kick and it rebounded off Pidgely’s legs.  When Watkins tried a header to force the ball over the line Pipe blocked with a hand and a second penalty was awarded.  This time Josh O’Keefe took responsibility and confidently fired to the left of the keeper.

Josh O'Keefe Ready To Take Hereford's Second Penalty

Mr Whitton then, strangely awarded Newport a free kick, which brought a fine save from Bittner, and Stefan Stam showed good defensive calmness to clear as the half ended.

HT Bulls 1 Newport 0

Watkins whipped in an early cross before Yakubu launched a desperate clearance into Edgar Street as Jackson closed.  Watkins then broke down the right and Sandell was very lucky that the referee did not see a nasty set of studs down the back of Marley Watkins achilles in a replay of the incident that saw The Bulls’ wideman miss three weeks after the Rodney Parade match.

James moved the ball wide left to Clucas who fed Jackson but Pidgely saved his effort low down.  The Newport antics continued when Crow pushed under Musa when he had already jumped for the header but the referee was wise to the old trick and waved away the appeal.  Marley Watkins, meanwhile, had failed to recover from Sandell’s clattering and had to leave the field to be replaced by the only forward player on the bench in Brian Smikle.

Newport forced three corners in quick succession before the equaliser arrived on 72 minutes.  Sandell was given too much time to get his cross in to the back post and Minshull headed in from close range.

The Bulls stormed back onto the attack and retook the lead with another penalty a couple of minutes later.

Kingsley James’ deft touch took the ball away from Pipe who handled just inside the box and Josh O’Keefe drilled home his second of the evening with fifteen minutes remaining.

O'Keefe Placing The Ball Ready For His Second Penalty

Sadly, the lead lasted just five minutes as Minshull also got his second with another header at the back post when Musa failed to intercept.  Lesson not learned?

Martin Foyle deployed Chris Curruthers in place of Jackson in a clear attempt to shut up shop but young Musa was again found wanting when Willmott beat him for pace to lob the ball over Bittner and into the far corner of the net two minutes into stoppage time. 

There was to be no meaningful response from United as the visitors played keep-ball in the corner to send the 1162 South-Walians, in a disappointing crowd of 2519, back home to celebrate.

FT Bulls 2 Newport 3

Hereford: - Bittner, Connor, Graham, Stam, Musa, Watkins (Smikle 58), James, O’Keefe, Clucas, Sharp, Jackson (Curruthers 82).  Unused McDonald, Gallinagh, Heath.

Newport: - Pidgely, James, Yakubu, Anthony, Pipe, Minshull, Sandell, Flynn, Jolley, Crow (Willmott 67), Griffiths (Donnelly 58).  Unused Julian, Hughes, Thomson.

This was a much improved performance from The Bulls who competed well against their high-flying opponents.  While the approach was hardly scientific from either side the intensity made for an entertaining encounter.  The loss of Marley Watkins again through a kicking is surely no coincidence and was a blow to the attacking threat of The Bulls.

There is little doubt that this type of showing on Saturday would have been enough to overcome a far poorer Nuneaton side.  Funny old game.

BN MOM – Stefan Stam

Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNjM3FTJE5w

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