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| Andy Williams nets Hereford's second goal |
Hereford's play-off hopes have suffered a setback after they only managed to claim a point against an average Buxton side.
But stranger things have happened and the dream is still alive thanks to a strong performance from Andy Williams who came off the bench to rescue a point, cancelling out a first half stoppage time goal from Diego De Girolamo and an own goal from Kyle Howkins.
He could have even scored with the last chance of the game to grab all three but it wasn't to be.
Williams was on the bench again, along with fellow forwards Jason Cowley and Adam Rooney, with recent addition Dom McHale out of the side for personal reasons to be replaced in the starting XI by Edgar Street's freshest face Lawson D'Ath.
Hereford got the afternoon at a sunny Edgar Street off to a strong start, being comfortably on top for the first 20 minutes.
The attacking-minded side saw an early effort go Buxton's way as the unmarked Jake Wright headed high and wide from a Jak McCourt cross.
But after that the Bulls looked strong, with Lewis Hudson's powerful cross being nabbed by the young visiting keeper before Kieran Phillips' weak header fell to Tope Obadeyi who struggled to get a shot away.
Jid Okeke - whose work rate on the right should be commended - linked up well with Phillips before he played the ball into the path of Babos. The midfielder, who has probably had better afternoons, was unlucky not to break the deadlock as his shot was kept out by the keeper's feet.
The game changed direction after the halfway point of the first half as Hereford were sucked into Buxton's frustrating - and typical National League North - style of play.
With Hereford still trying to search for the opener, Jordan Lyden - he himself being dragged into arguments - played in Okeke who saw his first shot blocked before the second just beat the crossbar.
In front of the Meadow End, Diego De Girolamo got the better of the Hereford defence with his snap shot, but a diving Curtis Pond proved equal to the effort.
Hereford also saw a penalty shout waved away by referee Ashley Clarke as Lyden appeared to be brought down in the area, but Buxton continued to frustrate.
The fiery Jake Wright did work his way into the referee's notebook for a foul on Nathan Cameron, with jeers and applause from the home fans.
As the break approached, Obadeyi saw a shot from one of Hereford's countless corners go wide before the visitors broke the deadlock in the second minute of four added on. A poor Bulls defensive performance saw them fail to clear the ball as it was played over the top, before it was squared to De Girolamo to drive home.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Buxton 1
After half chances for Okeke, Babos and Lyden in the dying stages of the first half, Babos should have done better to find the back of the net after the restart. A long ball into the box fell perfectly to Babos but he couldn't get a shot away with the goal gaping.
Nathan Cameron, who ended up getting forward a lot during the second half, headed agonisingly wide at the back post after Obadeyi won a corner near the byline on the right.
But it was after another Cameron header missed the target that things went from bad to worse for Hereford.
A woeful mix-up at the back saw Howkins' backpass miss Pond and roll into the back of his own net.
But Hereford seemed fired up by the introduction of Cowley and Williams for Phillips and Lyden, with the former heading into the keeper's arms from a Babos corner.
After Howkins tried to redeem himself with a driven strike from outside the area, he watched that sail past the post before Willo reduced the deficit.
The experienced striker read a Buxton backpass beautifully, nipping in to nick possession before rounding keeper Aleksandar Petrovic and slotting home.
As Lewis Hudson then made way for Yusifu Ceesay, the formation and tactics seemed to go out the window as Paul Caddis once again through everything in the search for an equaliser or more.
It almost backfired though as Howkins missed a header and let and Eoin McKeown through on goal, but a well-placed Pond latched onto his chipped effort.
Substitute Connor Kirby also tried to restore the visitors two-goal lead as he capitalised on more questionable defensive work by Hereford, but Pond was able to make the save with his feet.
But it was in the 93rd minute that Willo rescued the point, latching onto the end of a deflected Yusifu Ceesay shot.
And then with the last chance of the game, Cameron headed the ball down to Williams whose effort looped over the bar as the striker fell to his knees.
Full time: Hereford 2 - Buxton 2
Attendance: 3,004 (39 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Aaron Skinner
The Bulls' performance today left a lot to be desired and now they will probably have to win their remaining four games to stand a chance of stealing a play-off place - and they're not easy games either as they still have to face Scunthorpe United, Warrington Town and Boston United.
Defensively Hereford were poor and throwing on so many attackers late on seemed to cause confusion rather than yield the desired results.
But, as they say, it's not over until the fat lady sings - and she's currently just sauntering into Merton Meadow car park.
Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Howkins, Cameron, Hudson (Ceesay 80), D’Ath, Lyden (Williams 65), Okeke, Babos, Obadeyi, Phillips (Cowley 65).
Subs not used: Rooney, Teixeira
Buxton: Petrovic, McCourt, Granite, Shiels, Wright (McKeown 66), De Girolamo (Kirby 66), Mottley-Henry, Andreucci (Elliott 80), Brogan, Etaluku, Hunt.
Subs not used: Livingstone, Ackroyd.