Bulls News: Match report: Strong Hereford come close to ending runaway leader's 12-game unbeaten run

Hereford put in a strong performance to earn a point against high-flying Tamworth who are 12 points clear at the top of the National League North.

Paul Caddis’s team, with two changes to the side that slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat against higher-graded Gateshead at home last weekend in the FA Trophy, had chances to win the game - and arguably better chances than Tamworth to claim all three points.

After opting to switch ends, accompanied by the compulsory boos from a well-populated Meadow End, Tamworth had an early speculative shot which easily cleared the crossbar from former Bull and the club’s top scorer Kyle Finn. The usually lively winger, who put two past Curtis Pond in the reverse fixture, got onto the end of an attempted clearance as the Bulls tried to deal with a long Tom Tonks throw from the right.

But then in front of the home terrace, a short Alex Babos corner - after Andy Williams’s cross was headed behind - was curled back into the box by Lewis Hudson, in for Ollie Southern, and Kyle Howkins, bursting through the back line, smashed a header against the upright for a goal kick.

Missing the width of both Yusifu Ceesay and Tope Obadeyi, but bolstered by Lewis Hudson on the left of the back five, a move down the left saw Babos cross in. Jason Cowley’s half-volley from the clearance forced Jas Singh into making his first save of the afternoon.

Caddis and a Tamworth staff member were then booked for some infringement, though not clear as to what, after a heavy and late challenge from Jordan Lyden, in for Lassana Mendes, on Ben Acquaye.

A melee ensued, with both players then booked by referee Samuel Reed.

As the quarter of an hour mark passed, Tamworth - moving the ball quickly and utilising the wings where the Bulls were thin on the ground - had a flurry of chances but Matthew Curley and Acquaye were unable to shoot on target.

As the Bulls then tried to pick up the pace, a corner was flicked into the area by Willo but half cleared, only for it to be recycled.

Nathan Cameron, playing alongside Paul Downing and Kyle Hawkins in the centre of a five-man defence, cut his way through Tamworth’s backline but was just beaten to the ball by the pouncing Singh.

The Bulls, prone to dithering at times with Caddis sometimes frustrated at Pond for not releasing the ball quickly enough, were bolstered by a Babos trying his level best to create chances, including a blocked effort from a Hudson free kick and playing through a lively Willo only to be brought down by the subsequently booked Callum Cockerill-Mollett.

First Alex Babos Is Brought Down

Then Andy Williams Is Brought Down

Before the end of the first half, Cowley took advantage of a mistake by beefy defender Liam Dolman and fired over and Tamworth’s Ben Milnes saw a shot deflected wide.

Lewis Hudson - the last player to score against Tamworth, now 10 games ago, while at Rushall Olympic - could’ve netted in the first half stoppage time after getting his head on the end of an Aaron Skinner cross. The left-back couldn’t keep his header down and Singh was able to watch on as the chance went begging.

Andy Williams Lifts The Ball Towards Jason Cowley

But The Hereford Striker Can't Quite Connect

Half time: Hereford 0 - Tamworth 0

After a first half which was frustrating at times, hampered by Tamworth wanting to play the game at a snail’s pace and officials who made questionable decisions to say the least, the second 45 continued in the same vein.

Two early Tamworth chances couldn’t get the better of Pond but he did finally play the ball quickly, sending Hudson on his way down the left. He was able to drift towards the box under little pressure before finding Willo, with the striker successfully winning a corner which ultimately came to nothing.

The Bulls then immediately fell asleep at the back and coupled with the linesman missing an offside, Lyden was alert to throw himself in front of a rasping shot from Nathan Tshikuna. Kyle Howkins, a strong contender for man of the match, did superbly to keep up with Finn racing into area, winning back possession after Skinner’s error with a well-timed tackle.

A series of corners then followed for the hosts, with the best chance being Willo’s effort cleared off the line. Tamworth, when they weren’t time-wasting and trying to kill the Bulls’ momentum, created problems, including substitute Dempsey Arlott-John firing straight at Pond before Matthew Curley repeated the move.

Home fans then had their hearts in their mouths as Pond almost gifted the visitors the lead 10 minutes from time, miss-controlling a back pass and just managed to scramble it off the line under pressure. Back in front of the Blackfriars End, Cowley popped up with late chances, a diagonal shot saved by Singh and a free-kick from 25 yards cleared, as well as a cross nearly connecting with Hudson at the back post.

All in all, it was a well-earned point for Hereford against a Tamworth side whose game plan to stifle momentum clearly bore results. The Bulls, as summed up by chairman Chris Ammonds, had the better of the chances to win the game and halt the league leaders’ 12-game run without defeat.