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| Jason Cowley opened the scoring |
With Alfreton content with long balls and time-wasting, the Bulls managed to stand firm in the second half to earn a vital point to keep their play-off hopes alive - with just two points still separating Chester in fifth and Hereford in ninth.
Despite Curtis Pond's stoppage-time heroics to create the equaliser, his first half performance left a lot to be desired.
Within the first two minutes of the game, a mix-up at the back saw Pond clatter an attempted clearance against Paul Downing, leaving Gerry McDonagh to cross in. Much to the relief of the Meadow End watching on in horror, captain Nathan Cameron managed to snuff the ball out ahead of Jake Day. The resulting corner was thankfully claimed by Pond.
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| Ceesay Went Close |
Hereford reacted quickly though, perhaps spurred on by the early scare, with youthful Jid Okeke on the right trying to cross to Lassana Mendes at the far post - but Josh Clackstone was alert to the danger and headed away.
Okeke wasn't done there being a nuisance, first having a header comfortably saved by George Willis before moments later bursting down the right and cruising past Nathan Newall. A low ball into the box was then prodded home by lurking lone striker Jason Cowley.
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| The Goal Came From An Aaron Skinner Pass Towards Jid Okeke |
An Alex Babos free kick, coming from a Clackstone's foul for which he was booked, saw Yusifu Ceesay fire low but not doing enough to beat Willis.
Back in front of the Meadow End and Jake Day's effort from a long-throw routine whistled wide of the upright.
Alfreton tried again and pulled themselves back level as more dithering at the back saw Pond and Aaron Skinner fail to deal with a cross. It allowed Jake Day to force the ball across the line after a scramble in the crowded area, with Pond hopelessly flapping.
Then content to time waste and earn a point from their Edgar Street trip, Alfreton frustrated Hereford by slowing the game down. But then it was Billy Fewster, the only change for the visitors after their 3-2 win at Farsley, who gave his side the lead. The 20-year-old midfielder, who went through the youth systems at Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, was well-placed to get on the end of deflection with his rasping shot smashing against the underside of the crossbar and, in the officials' eyes, across the line.
After that goal on the half-hour mark, things went from bad to worse for Hereford as Alfreton extended their lead five minutes later. A trademark long throw from Adam Lund was partially cleared before being recycled, with former Hereford defender Kennedy Digie powerfully heading home under little pressure.
The Bulls tried to reduce the two-goal deficit before the break, but neither Ceesay's spirited solo run while fighting off three defenders, nor a late Mendes volley, able to do so.
Half time: Hereford 1 - Alfreton Town 3
With the Bulls facing an uphill battle in the second half, within minutes Ceesay had forced Willis into a fine save. The Bulls' left winger skillfully carved his way into the area before a shot from an acute angle nearly got the better of the keeper.
Okeke also came close as he glanced a header just wide after Hudson's powerful run into the box saw a save ping the ball into the air.
While the air is where the ball spent a lot of time, it spent enough time on the ground for Alex Babos to claw a goal back. A superb run against his former club saw Babos, playing in a three-man midfield alongside Aurio Teixeria and Mendes, beat a handful of yellow shirts and kept his balance to smash the ball home.
The chances kept coming as a Babos free kick was headed just wide by Cameron and Hudson crossing into Cowley who also headed just over Willis's goal.
Those chances coupled with another Cowley header, this time from a Skinner cross, going wide, left Hereford fans wondering when the equaliser would come. With Andy Williams already on in favour of Mendes, and now Louis Hudson for Kieran Phillips, a tactical gamble from Paul Caddis would eventually pay off.
In injury time, with Adam Rooney also on for Yusifu Ceesay and Nathan Cameron picking up a surprising left-back position, the equaliser came. As a free kick was awarded after a foul on Cameron high on the right, Babos' free kick saw the Bulls win a corner. And it was from that corner, with Pond having already run the length of the field, the Bulls stopper played the ball back to Skinner to fire home. Cue the scenes.
Apart from one breakdown in communication in defence in the second half leading to an Alfreton corner, the Bulls were much better after the break. They had the better chances throughout the game and deserved something from the game.
Full time: Hereford 3 - Alfreton Town 3
Attendance: 1,949 (20 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Dogged midfielder Aurio Teixeira, a firm defensive hand in the second half
Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Downing, Cameron, Hudson (Phillips 83’), Mendes (Williams 72'), Teixeira, Okeke, Babos, Ceesay (Rooney 90+4), Cowley.
Alfreton Town: Willis, Clackstone, Lund, Digie, Wiley, Cantrill, Day (Taylor 83’), Brisley, Fewster, Newall, McDonagh (Thewlis 45’).