Hereford United 0 - Gillingham 0

HEREFORD United remain unbeaten two games into their League 2 campaign and have yet to concede a goal.

But it was goalkeepers Adam Bartlett and Alan Julian who took centre-stage in Saturday’s encounter with some fine keeping which ensured a blank scoresheet.

The first home league match of the season was preceded by two significant events, one happy and one sad.

The Edgar Street crowd had the chance to formally welcome the new regime, chairman David Keyte, vice-chairman Tim Russon and manager Simon Davey who were introduced to the gathered 2,915 from the pitch.

There was then a minute’s applause for former Bulls striker Adam Stansfield, who had died at just 31 from cancer the previous week.

With Exeter City’s game postponed as a mark of respect to Stansfield, a small band of Grecians’ supporters swelled the Edgar Street crowd to pay their own tribute.

The game which followed could have done with a striker of Stansfield’s tenacity and ability to conjure up a goal.

That’s not to say there were no chances in the game – there were, but the two goalkeepers largely had matters under control.

Bartlett was first in the action, saving well from Danny Spiller and Chris Palmer as Gillingham made a lively start.

But Julian had to come to the visitors’ rescue on 15 minutes, racing out to foil Sean Canham when the former Notts County man found himself in the clear.

Bartlett, however, was no more than an interested spectator on the half-hour when a neat free-kick movement opened up a shooting chance for Palmer and the former Bulls loanee rattled an upright with a fierce drive.

The second period brought less in the way of clear openings but Julian had to react quickly to push away a powerful shot from Joe Colbeck.

The save of the day came deep in stoppage time, however, when Bartlett flew high to touch over a shot from Spiller which threatened to take the three points back to Kent.