Ten years ago today and Hereford United travelled to Cheltenham Town for a second round FA Cup tie.
A look back:
Battling draw at Cheltenham
The Bulls came away from Whaddon Road with a hard-earned draw to take the tie to a replay at Edgar Street. Shaun
Harrod had put the hosts in front on 16 minutes but a Josh O’Keefe
equaliser just four minutes later squared the scoreline.
Martin Foyle named Ryan Bowman in the starting line-up with Brian Smikle getting the nod in the wide right position.
The Bulls’ travelling support was in fine voice in the packed visitors sections from the start. McGlashan sent over an early cross from the right but it was cleared upfield to Bowman although his cross came to nothing. Will
Evans blasted an effort high and wide before another cross from the
dangerous McGlashan was competently dealt with by Bittner. A Billy Jones corner was headed goalward by Elliot but, again, Bittner was equal to the task. Pell was hauled back when breaking from midfield but the freekick produced no threat on goal. Then, just after the quarter hour mark The Robins took what looked like a fortunate lead.
McGlashan got behind Heath to fire a low cross in and Harrod, looking suspiciously offside, turned in from close range. Roared on by the fans, The Bulls returned to the attack. Smikle was chopped down in centre field before a fine move produced the reply.
Clucas and Bowman combined on the left before the latter got past Lowe to dink a cross into the danger area. O’Keefe’s header was blocked by keeper Brown but O’Keefe blasted in the rebound from six yards. Bowman
was clattered from behind on more than one occasion with little reward
before Lowe, on the overlap, sent in a cross that was cleared at the
back post. Sam Clucas raised
the tempo with a surging run to supply Pell but the Essex boy’s effort
was a shade high and then Clucas’ own attempt just cleared the crossbar.
Carter brought Pell down for the third time without any sign of a
card from referee Pawson but it was the hosts that were applying most
of the pressure albeit with troubling Bittner too much. Smikle turned inside his marker to deliver for Clucas but the header drifted inches wide of the upright.
HT Cheltenham 1 Bulls 1
The Robins had probably shaded possession in the first period
but The Bulls had shown good ability on the break with several
delightful interpassing moves.
Clucas again started
brightly with a couple of darting runs but the early stages of the
second half were largely a keep-ball exorcise from both sides. Bowman was again fouled when holding up the ball, this time by Bennett before Marlon Pack dished out a clattering to Pell.
On the hour mark, Mark Yates threw on Jeff Goulding and Russ Penn for Harrod and Taylor. Penn was almost immediately penalised for a late challenge on Pell as Harry threatened to break away. A deep cross to the back post found Smikle but his lack of height enabled Jones to clear.
Pell and Bowman were both tripped as they burst towards goal but neither challenge drew a whistle from Pawson. The Bulls worked the ball nicely from left to right but Harry’s cross was too long and fell for a goal kick. Pack
fired straight at Bittner and then a smart move involving Pell, Heath,
Clucas and O’Keefe finished with a shot which Brown just managed to tip
over the bar.
Mohamed cut in from the left to test Bittner but The Bulls’
custodian went full length to save as play brightened towards the final
quarter. Heath, on a rare
excursion, forced a corner, which was scrambled away before another
corner was met at the back post by a thundering header from Stefan Stam
that cannoned off a defender to safety. Marsh
replaced Smikle for the final ten minutes and despite some typical Mark
Yates longball tactics The Bulls survived fairly comfortably to earn an
Edgar Street replay.
FT Cheltenham 1 Bulls 1
Hereford: Bittner, Heath, Graham, Stam, Gallinagh, Clucas, Pell, Evans, O’Keefe, Smikle (Marsh 79), Bowman. Unused: Hanford, Clist, McQuilkin, Perry.
Cheltenham: Brown, Lowe, Bennett, Elliot, Jones, Pack, Carter
(Penn 60), McGlashan (Deering 80), Taylor (Goulding 60), Mohamed,
Harrod. Unused Duffy, Roberts, D’Ath, Jombati.
Attendance 5070
The Bulls were far from outplayed by their supposedly higher
graded opponents and on occasions produced some fine football despite
the robust attentions of the home team. Elliot
and Carter were particularly fortunate to avoid the notebook in a game
that, remarkably, referee Pawson was uncharacteristically lenient. Another fine team performance from Martin Foyle’s men with Pell, Clucas and Bowman being the picks of the bunch. I somehow doubt that the NLL’s of Cheltenham will muster 1350 for their Cup Final at Edgar Street.
Reaction from Martin Foyle
Martin Foyle spoke to ESPN after the live match between Cheltenham Town and Hereford United, which ended 1-1 at Whaddon Road.
"It's another replay and some more much needed money in the coffers. Times
have been very hard but as you can see from the players, they're all
fully committed. They deserve a pat on the back, thought we played some
really good stuff
Speaking about the first
goal, Foyle commented, "McGlashan is a good player. He got inside Joe
(Heath) and it was a good finish. Joe's learning, had alot of injuries
and he's just finding his feet again.
But Hereford soon levelled,
and the manager was delighted, "Great reaction. Wasn't planned. We were
looking for a foothold in the game. Ryan has been an unsung hero, it was
a gamble but he can play that one man role. Great celebrations behind
the goal
Foyle then spoke about Harry
Pell, who was outstanding throughout, winning the ESPN man of the
match, "He's only 20. Raw. But certainly up for it, great energy and
broke from that midfield area. Just needs to get goals in his game and
to keep things simple, he'll be a decent player."
Colin Addison was one of the
analysts for ESPN and was delighted with the result and full of praise
for the work that Foyle has been doing in difficult circumstances.
Both Harry Pell and Josh
O'Keefe were also interviewed by the television station, with Pell
confident that Hereford can overcome the Robins in the replay at Edgar
Street.