Tranmere Rovers 2 Hereford United 2 GOALS from Ben Smith and Trevor Benjamin fired Hereford into the FA Cup 4th round draw for the first time in 16 seasons.

But the Bulls will have to overcome Tranmere in a third round replay at Edgar Street on Wednesday, January 16, to take their place in the next stage against Cardiff City.

After a first-half which ended with a goalless draw written all over it, the match unexpectedly sprang to life in the second period.

Smith and Benjamin twice fired the Bulls in front but Tranmere equalised on both occasions, the second leveller being the culmination of a dramatic four-minute spell which produced three goals.

Hereford, who made one change with Benjamin replacing Steve Guinan, were under the cosh in the first period.

Gareth Taylor blasted an early chance over the bar and blazed over again shortly afterwards.

As Hereford struggled to come to terms with the game, it was the home side who had much the better of the chances.

United enjoyed the occasional period of good play but Danny Coyne in the home goal was a virtual spectator.

Theo Robinson nipped in on one occasion but, in a one-on-one situation with the last defender, saw his shot blocked before he could test the Wales international keeper.

Fortunately for the Bulls, though, the home side's finishing was wayward with Steve Jennings, Paul McLaren and Calvin Zola all sending shots well wide of the target.

The up-shot of all this was that Wayne Brown was only once called upon to make a save.

It was a memorable effort, however.

The United keeper flew in his true Superman' style to tip over when a long-range effort from Craig Curran on 36 minutes seemed destined for the top corner of the net.

The Bulls keeper saved his side again twice at the start of the second period with one terrific block and then a tip-over as Zola threatened to break the deadlock.

But it was Hereford who opened the scoring on 65 minutes when, after a session of pin-ball in the home area, Smith smashed home a superb right-foot volley from 15 yards.

Hereford came to life after that and the equaliser when it came 10 minutes later was something of a surprise.

The scorer, however, was well-known to Hereford because Jennings spent an extended loan spell at Edgar Street last season.

He crashed the ball through a crowd of defenders and in off the bar.

But Hereford went straight back on the attack and Robinson slipped a pass through to Benjamin who showed why Leicester City once shelled out more than £1m for his services.

He flashed home an angled drive which gave Coyne no chance.

Within 60 seconds, Tranmere were level again.

Simon Johnson lost the ball in midfield and McLaren sped away down the right before delivering a cross which flew low through the Hereford six-yard box before being headed in at the far post by the stooping Taylor.

After that, although Brown saved well from the dangerous Taylor, it was Hereford who looked the more likely scorer.

But the two sides must do it all again at Edgar Street next week.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, Collins, Taylor; Gwynne (McCombe, 77 min), Smith, Diagouraga, Johnson (Rose, 87 min); Benjamin, Robinson. Subs not used: Ingham, Fitzpatrick, Palmer.

Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, McLaren, Sherriff, Kay, Zola (Jones, 71 min), Gareth Taylor, Jennings, Chorley, Andy Taylor, Curran. Subs not used: Tremarco, Mullin, Ahmed, Acterberg.

Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham).

Attendance: 6,909 (1,643 from Hereford).

Yellow cards: None.

Goals: Smith, 65 min, 0-1; Jennings, 75 min, 1-1; Benjamin, 76 min, 1-2; Gareth Taylor, 78 min, 2-2.