Hereford's first half performance cost them this afternoon, having to settle for a 2-2 draw against the league's bottom side Nuneaton Borough.
Hereford took the lead as Tom Owen-Evans made the most of a goalkeeping error in the 25 minute, but two goals from Mike Calveley saw the Bulls 2-1 down going into half time. Owen-Evans then grabbed his second as he scored from the penalty spot six minutes after the break, but despite an improved performance they couldn't find the winner.
Before the game got underway there was a fitting tribute to two Hereford United players who sadly lost their lives after being involved in an accident 50 years ago tomorrow - particularly because they were on their way to meet the team coach to travel to Nuneaton.
The opening exchanges saw the game bogged down in midfield, with Kyle Finn's tame shot the only noteworthy chance for the Bulls within the first ten minutes. George Lloyd slotted straight back into the team and chased down a number of long balls with nothing materialising from his efforts.
The Bulls looked lively, but a lack of quality in the high balls up to target man Mike Symons saw Nuneaton regain possession too easily. In the 21st minute the Bulls started to play with a little more quality and chances started to follow. A foul on Kyle Finn by Cody Prior saw Hereford given a free kick in the centre-circle, but Mike Symons couldn't get enough on his header as he tried to take the lead from Theo Wharton's long delivery.
Marc Richards' side has a penalty shout waived away by the referee 60 seconds later when it appeared Josh Gowling was pushed as he tried to bring down Harvey Smith's free kick.
Despite Nuneaton's Ryan Edmunds getting the better of centre-back Josh Gowling, he blazed his shot wide of the upright before Hereford took the lead.
Continuing the theme of long balls forward, Tom Owen-Evans latched onto the end of one from Calvin Dinsley in the 25th minute. With keeper Cam Belford way off his line, he missed the ball and the challenge as Owen-Evans caught the last defender on the line flat-footed with his scrambled shot.
Having taken the lead against the league's bottom side, Hereford seemed panicked in their play and gave away a number of pointless free kicks which ultimately they paid the price for.
The Whites' inability to defend set-pieces cost them again before the end of the first half. A Taylor Allen corner was swung into the box and under very little pressure from Hereford, he planted the ball in the back of Matt Yates' net as the league's bottom side took the lead.
Yusifu Ceesay could've doubled Boro's lead on the stroke of half time, with another needless free kick the source of the chance. Thankfully for Hereford Ceesay fired wide of the target.
Half time: Hereford 1 - Nuneaton Borough 2
A minute into the second half Hereford had the ball in the back of the net in front of the Meadow End, but Kyle Finn was adjudged to have been offside as he connected with a neat ball through the defence from Tom Owen-Evans.
At the other end of the field, Ceesay was involved in a decent chance as he brought Taylor Allen into play but his powerful shot missed the target.
In the 52nd minute Tom Owen-Evans was held inside the area and the referee saw an infringement, pointing to the spot and dishing out a yellow card to Miles Addison. Up stepped Owen-Evans who drilled his spot kick straight down the middle to get back on level terms.
Even though the spent a decent amount of time in possession, including winning a number of corners, Hereford are still lacking a major goal threat. A cross from George Lloyd in the 65th minute was crying out to be redirected into the back of the net, instead flashing across the face of goal and the attack petering out.
Marc Richards then made two changes as he looked to give Nuneaton's defence a couple of new threats to deal with, and Keyon Reffell put his stamp on the game immediately. Reffell picked up a loose ball just ahead of Boro's back line, weaving through them before dragging his shot agonisingly wide of the target.
15 minutes from time an Eliot Richards' free kick was another opportunity for Hereford to try and take a step closer to securing a much-needed three points, but his ball into the box was missed by everyone and collected by the keeper.
Matt Yates did well four minutes later to keep the scores level. The keeper came charging off his line to block Reece Leek's shot after he was picked out in yards of space on the right-wing by Ceesay.
Nuneaton stopper Cam Belford then pulled off a some crucial saves as he denied goalworthy strikes from Mike Symons and Eliot Richards, both from similar positions on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Despite a final to attempts to snatch a win as Danny Greenslade tried his luck with an effort from range and James Roberts firing into the side netting, Hereford had to make do with a draw.
Full time: Hereford 2 - Nuneaton Borough 2
Attendance: 2,112 (48 away)
Man of the match: Tom Owen-Evans
Despite a final to attempts to snatch a win as Danny Greenslade tried his luck with an effort from range and James Roberts firing into the side netting, Hereford had to make do with a draw.
Full time: Hereford 2 - Nuneaton Borough 2
Attendance: 2,112 (48 away)
Man of the match: Tom Owen-Evans
Hereford: Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, Wharton (Richards 64'), H. Smith (c), Gowling, Dinsley, Owen-Evans, Finn (Reffell 68'), Lloyd (Roberts 84'), Symons.
Subs not used: Cullinane-Liburd, O'Sullivan.
Nuneaton Borough: C. Belford (c), Obeng, Sharpe, Calveley, Addison, Baxendale, Prior, Lundstram, Ceesay, Edmonds (Leek 65'), Allen.
Subs not used: T. Belford, Kelly-Evans, Morrison.