On This Day - May 7th 2011

It's back to May 2011 for today's first look back.

It was the end of Chairman David Keyte's first year in charge and Hereford United were at Macclesfield for their last league game of the season.

Bulls share points on final day

Hereford United came away from the Moss Rose with a deserved point when a first half Ryan Green first half goal was enough to match Lewis Chalmers reply from the spot in the second period.

Manager Jamie Pitman gave a rare start to Waide Fairhurst in a return to a 4-4-2 formation that saw Rob Purdie drop to the bench.


Fleetwood was his usual busy self from the off, closing down a defender to force an early throw before he combined with Fairhurst to produce a chance for Leslie which was deflected for a corner. Colbeck's cross from the right was laid off by Fairhurst but Fleetwood's shot bounced off the bar with former Bulls' stopper Jose Veiga recovering to claim the rebound. At the other end, Draper tested Bartlett but good positioning and a safe pair of hands were more than a match for the shot before Barts again came out on top when dealing with a snap shot from Wedgebury. Fleets combined with Fairhurst again and the Donny striker brought a fine save from Veiga.


The Bulls were playing the better football but the hosts direct style continued to pose occasional problems and Bartlett had to be on his toes to push away a decent effort by Daniel before the home woodwork was to rescue the Silkmen for the second time. Ryan Green fed Colbeck on the right then continued his run to meet the winger’s low cross only to see the ball rebound off the crossbar and into the arms of the waiting Veiga.


As the half hour mark approached, The Bulls won the first free kick of the game when Fairhurst was upended on the edge of the box. He picked himself up to fire a low shot which Veiga was only able to parry away and Ryan Green was on hand to force the ball over the line from close range. 

Greener obviously has a liking for final match goals. For Macclesfield, Barnett headed wide when well-placed and then Kenny Lunt lifted a shot over the bar, which was rumoured to have landed in Congleton. Not to be outdone, Townsend’s next clearance also found the far side of the turnstiles. As the half drew to a close, Featherstone was unlucky to see his looping shot go just wide with Veiga struggling to make his ground but Fairhurst’s final first half shot was screwed well off target.


HT Silkmen 0 Bulls 1


The Bulls had played the better football in the first half and fully deserved their lead. As the second period started, a moment of indecision by Townsend forced Bartlett to make a smart save from Barnett as the hosts looked to fight their way back into the game. The visitors looked to be weathering the storm when an unfortunate clash involving Townsend and Matty Hamshaw saw the latter tumble in the box and the referee point to the spot. Townsend, perhaps a little unluckily, was given his marching orders before Chalmers stepped up to fire home despite Bartlett getting a hand to the shot.

The dismissal brought an imbalance to the game and Macclesfield were able to make their extra man count as they mounted a concerted effort to grab the three points. Colbeck was sacrificed to make way for Kovacs but it was Ryan Green who kept The Bulls hopes alive with some timely interceptions on the flank. Hamshaw broke into the box but scuffed his shot wide and, for The Bulls, Leslie cut in from the right to send in a stinging shot which Veiga turned round the post before Bartlett brought off another fine full length save to beat away a Hamshaw shot from just inside the box.


Heath started a fine move on the left by advancing past the halfway line and a Lunt/Fairhurst link-up allowed Ryan Green to get in a low shot from the right which Veiga was grateful to see squirm to safety. Pitman replaced Featherstone with Purdie for the final quarter and the energetic McQuilkin came on for Leslie with seven minutes remaining as The Bulls closed out the game to hang on for a fairly comfortable share of the spoils.


FT Silkmen 1 Bulls 1

The first half was a decent spectacle for the visiting 400ish, some in fancy dress, from The Shire but the second period was scrappier, particularly after Towner's departure.

BN man of the match Adam Bartlett.

Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Townsend, Stam, Heath, Colbeck (Kovacs 61), Lunt, Featherstone (Purdie 74), Leslie (McQuilkin 83), Fairhurst, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Hoult, Rose, Canham, Stratford.

Macclesfield: Veiga, Hewitt, Diagne, Brisley, Tremarco, Hamshaw, Chalmers (Gray 87), Draper (Sappleton 80), Wedgbury, Daniel (Roberts 77), Barnett. Subs not used: Cudworth, Reid, Brown, Bencherif.

Manager's Reactions from Moss Rose

Both managers gave their reaction to BBC Sport after this afternoon's 1-1 draw at Moss Rose.

Firstly Jamie Pitman for Hereford United:


"Ryan Green (pictured) could probably have gone in with the match ball in the end as we had probably 10 shots and he had eight of them.

"What I think we have done today is shown that we can pass it and we can move it and we can compete with sides that are physically strong.

"But it is easy to do that when no pressure is on - you have got to do that when the pressure is on.

"I thought we probably shaded it first half with a number of chances but they probably shaded it second half."

Michael Townsend was sent off for bringing down Matty Hamshaw in the box.

"I think it was probably a penalty. It's just frustrating it's happened in this game."

Finally Pitman about the current crop of loanees at Edgar Street and whether some might sign for the Bulls.

"I haven't got a clue. They are all going back to their parent clubs.

"We've signed a few players we are able to and then we have to build again through the summer."

Secondly Gary Simpson for Macclesfield:

"It's been enjoyable, difficult but to be fair the lads have kept us all going.

"We put a young team out and it would have been a travesty if we would have lost it after the second half showing; their keeper was unbelievable.

"If we can keep most of them together and add one or two then who knows next year."

Russon Reflects on the Season

Hereford United vice-chairman Tim Russon has been reflecting on the past season.

"It's been about survival all season," Russon told BBC Hereford and Worcester after today's game at Macclesfield.

"It was a hugh relief last week against Bradford when that Fleetwood goal went in and we were safe. It's been a long hard season.

"I think we want to thank the fans. They've been really loyal. They've stuck with us.

"A great following here today which makes so much difference.

"We've got to learn the lessons from this season. We've had a great second-half. We've had a great year.

"Let's forget the first part of the season and let's build on what happened after New Year and go forward from there.

"I don't think you could have sat down and written a script this season. Everything that could have happened to a football club has happened to us.

"Managers come, managers gone. Record transfer deals. Points being taken off. Great Cup run. Desperate games. Vital victories. Bad defeats. All in all we have to take the positives from the season.

"We've got a great young manager in Jamie Pitman who is going to take us forward. We've got the basis of a strong team for next season."

Off the pitch Russon said that the idea is to promote support for the club to encourage people to come and watch Hereford.

"We want to try and improve the match-day experience at Edgar Street.

"Our aim is to push ahead with new development."

Russon has been around football for over 40 years.

"You don't get involved with football if you can't take the ups and downs. You would be a very unhappy man if everytime you lost, everytime something went wrong. That's football.

"That's the attraction."