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| Tate Cambell netted the third goal for Hereford, earning his side a point |
No one has scored more goals than Hereford so far this season, but the side's defensive performance has left a lot to be desired after a 3-3 draw against Radcliffe on bank holiday Monday.
An own goal on top of Aaron Skinner and Tate Campbell finding the back of the net takes Hereford's tally after five games to 12, a total only matched by Scarborough Athletic.
But Radcliffe's goals from Jamie Morgan, Brad Roscoe and Josh Hancock, which could have all been avoided, saw the points shared in front of more than 3,000 at Edgar Street.
The game got off to the worst possible start for Paul Caddis’s side, which saw one change after Saturday's surprising 4-1 at Southport as Alex Babos started ahead of Preston Bitemo, as they conceded within the opening 10 minutes. Despite a couple of early, probing crosses from left-sided players Yusifu Ceesay and Sammy Robinson, it was a defensive mix-up which led to Radcliffe drawing first blood. Under little pressure, Scott Duxbury was able to get a cross in from the left to an unmarked Jamie Morgan at the back post to turn home.
Less than two minutes later, it was a carbon copy of an attack down the left, Duxbury once again crossing in for Morgan sliding in at the back post - thankfully the ball was just too far ahead of the forward as Radcliffe fired a warning shot at the Bulls.
Running rings around Hereford's defence, inside 15 minutes the newly-promoted Greater Manchester side doubled their lead. From a corner, Robinson was able to throw himself in front of a strong effort from Jordan Hulme, with nobody seeing him break free from the pack. From the second corner, Hulme was involved again as the ball pinged towards Brad Roscoe to head home from point-blank range.
Aaron Skinner then gave the side hope of an early comeback as he halved the deficit. A well-worked move saw Rose bring a ball over the top under control, teeing up Skinner to rifle home.
After a tame shot from Montel Gibson was easily gathered by visiting keeper Mateusz Hewelt the Bulls were still too easy to unpick, still with a somewhat confusing formation which most fans interpret as a back three with wingbacks, as Anthony Dudley curled an effort just wide. With Josh Hancock winning the ball back deep inside his own half, with Hereford's ability to retain possession leaving a lot to be desired, he sent Dudley away down the right flank, driving through the back line before unleashing a shot towards the top left corner of Aaron Chapman's net.
Hereford were able to draw themselves back level in the 44th minute, full credit must go to Tate Campbell for a run half the length of the pitch to find Ahkeem Rose - as he tried to find Gibson in the area, the ball deflected off Rick Smith and into the back of his own net.
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| Sorry no picture of the goal |
In the three minutes added on at the end of the first half, Ceesay pulled the ball back into a crowded area but Gibson's effort was hacked clear before a floated cross-shot from Campbell cleared the crossbar.
Half time: Hereford 2 - Radcliffe 2
Into the second half, Caddis rolled the dice to try and get his side to kick on, bringing on Andy Williams and Aurio Teixeira in place of Montel Gibson and Lawson D'Ath.
A scrappy start to the half saw little in the way of chances for either side, before the threatening Duxbury was forced off injured after a lengthy stoppage for treatment. Within two minutes of being on the pitch, Jude Oyibo left Aaron Skinner behind as he twisted and turned his way towards the byline, delivering a low cross into the box for Josh Hancock to net and regain the lead in the 58th minute.
It was then back in front of the Meadow End as Hereford desperately tried again to draw themselves back level, first an Aaron Skinner cross from the left was headed down into the path of Williams, but he couldn't direct the effort past the keeper as everything seemed to go in slow motion for the expectant home terrace. A second minutes later fell to Ceesay, with Williams creating the chance, but Hewelt was well-positioned to make the save.
Several Hereford Players Thought This Cross Had Struck An Arm
The Bulls' defence still wasn't alert to what Radcliffe could throw at them, with Oyibo nearly grabbing his second. This time it was Matt Sargent who slid the ball through for Oyibo, carrying on his run towards the goal, but Chapman was equal to the low effort.
With Radcliffe perhaps taking Hereford by surprise with their attacking prowess, they were once again able to cut through as Brad Jackson linked up with Tom Walker on the overlap to rattle the woodwork.
As the end-to-end game continued, one which would've been entertaining for a neutral, a rasping Alex Babos effort from the edge of the area stung the palm of keeper Hewelt - he could only parry it into the path of the onrushing Rose but he agonisingly missed the target from inside the six-yard box.
The striker then saw a second effort go wide, rising to get a head onto a Babos corner but unable to find the net.
With chances for both sides, it was the Whites who were next to celebrate. In what appears to be a marked improvement from set pieces since last season, a corner from Babos was met with a glancing header from Campbell to beat Hewlett.
In a second half which sometimes lacked urgency given the Bulls would've been hoping for - and expected to get - a win against their opponents, a tiring Ceesay on the left could've got an assist had his low ball into the box not just been inches too far ahead of Rose and Willo.
In nine minutes of added time, not helped by some time-wasting antics from the visitors, both sides turned more desperate. With fourth officials now present on National League North touchlines, Michael Pattison called over referee Luis Griffiths to first show a yellow to a member of Radcliffe's coaching staff but then showing joint manager Anthony Johnson a red card.
The visitors weren't done trying to get the three points they could have arguably deserved, with a short Walker free kick finding Hancock, but after turning and getting a shot away, it was blocked and cleared by the Bulls.
All in all, Radcliffe were good value for their point, their first on the road so far this season. Hereford meanwhile should have done better in this game against one of the smaller teams in the division and backed up Saturday's win. Is it a point gained or two missed? For me, it's the latter - had the Bulls not had lapses in concentration and been second-best in their own half then three points would've been coming with an efficient front line. Caddis's side were also guilty at times of clearly too quickly and instantly losing possession, and not winning aerial battles. Anyhow, onto Brackley...
Full time: Hereford 3 - Radcliffe 3
Attendance: 3,017 (74 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Tate Campbell
Hereford: Chapman, Robinson, Howkins (Preston 82’), Hudson, Skinner (Matwasa 67’), D’Ath (Teixeira 45’), Campbell, Ceesay (Bitemo 90+8’), Babos, Rose, Gibson (Williams 45’)
Radcliffe: Hewelt, Duxbury (Oyibo 56’), Smith, Maynard, Hancock, Hulme, Dudley (Jackson 69’), Roscoe, Wardle, Morgan (Walker 69’), Sargent.
Subs not used: L. Navarro, J. Thompson