Hereford picked up a valuable point at fellow promotion-chasers Scunthorpe United, with both goalkeepers starring to keep the score goalless.
The Bulls made two changes with Tate Campbell and Lawson D’Ath returning in midfield, Declan McGlynn dropping to the bench, and defender Ryan Bartley missing out through illness so Sammy Robinson slotted in at right back.
Given Hereford’s record against Scunthorpe last season – a 5-1 defeat at Edgar Street, and a 4-1 loss at Glanford Park – Paul Caddis’ side looked well-equipped and had the best of the first half.
While it was the home side who found the back of the net after 13 minutes following an offside flag, the Bulls approached this match with confidence and purpose. They created three corners in the opening seventeen minutes without giving Scunthorpe goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons a great deal to do.
Scunthorpe’s best first half chances came firstly from defender Andrew Boyce, who fired well over, and then when Robinson cut out a Will Harris effort. Mark Beck also drilled an opportunity over the crossbar.
Jaiden White flashed a shot across the face of goal to threaten at the other end. Then Lewis Hudson had Hereford’s best opportunity. After cutting in from the left channel, the defender flashed an effort towards goal and the goalkeeper was forced to push it upwards and out of danger. In the resulting move,, Fitzsimons was equal to Tate Campbell’s shot from 20 years.
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| Hudson, on the right, goes for goal. |
As the first half drew to a close, Hereford stopper Tom Donaghy was forced into action. On the break, Scunthorpe’s Harris drilled a shot goalwards. Donaghy saved it, then blocked the follow-up.
The second half saw further Hereford opportunities. White’s low shot from 25 yards went went of the target, while a spell of pressure saw a succession of Bulls corners.
But Scunthorpe grew in confidence and turned up the pressure. The introduction of Alfie Beestin and Carlton Ubaezuonu from the bench gave the home side increased energy. That meant a busy final half hour for Donaghy, who made one save on the line from Michael Clunan’s cross, and then scrambled backwards to prevent a follow-up effort reaching the back of the net.
Beestin managed to open up the Hereford defence late on and shot across the face of goal, but for all of the Scunthorpe pressure, they struggled to break down a resolute Bulls backline of Preston, Howkins, Hudson and Robinson. And while Yusifu Ceesay went down in injury time and had to be taken off, the Bulls did all they could to run down the clock and earn a point.
A bumper crowd of 3,865, including Hereford’s following of 245 away fans, was a bigger attendance than in six EFL matches.
This result extends Hereford’s unbeaten run to three games, is a third clean sheet in a row, and sets the Bulls up nicely for another promotion challenger – Kidderminster Harriers – at Edgar Street on Boxing Day.