Hereford produced by some way their most competitive showing of the season to hold the league leaders to a well deserved draw.

And the Bulls’ performance was all the more meritorious considering that they played 62 minutes with only 10 men.

Sean Canham, who put Hereford ahead early on, was then dismissed, somewhat harshly, in conceding the penalty from which Marc Richards equalised.

And it could have been better had Guillem Bauza scored from the penalty spaot rather than sidefooting weakly at keeper Stuart Tomlinson.

Bulls caretaker-boss Jamie Pitman had the luxury of being able to announce an unchanged team.

Stuart Fleetwood, whose wife gave birth to their first child during the week, had failed to recover from a back complaint and so was not considered.

Port Vale included ex-Bulls John McCombe and Lee Collins in their defence with another, Kris Taylor, on the bench.

After attacking from the outset, Hereford were almost caught out immediately on the counter.

A long kick from keeper Stuart Tomlinson went straight down the middle and Adam Bartlett had to come out to fist clear as Justin Richards raced through.

Hereford showed plenty of early aggression and a drive from Guillem Bauza was fielded comfortably by Tomlinson.

Hereford had a let-off on eight minutes when Bartlett failed to hold a fierce drive from Jemal Johnson but Marc Richards, who followed up to put the ball into the net, was ruled offside.

At the other end, Tomlinson had to dive to grasp the ball after a powerfully driven Dominik Werling free-kick deflected off a defender.

And it was Hereford who took the lead on 15 minutes.

A free-kick from James McQuilkin fell nicely for Canham to drive the ball past Tomlinson for his second goal of the season.

Port Vale had a chance to level when Tony James conceded a free-kick 25 yards out but Gary Roberts blazed his shot high over.

Hereford’s luck changed on 26 minutes when Canham, back defending a further free-kick, brought down Justin Richards in the area.

Canham was shown a straight red card and Marc Richards rolled the penalty straight down the middle and into the net.

With Vale now seeking to profit quickly from their man advantage, Sean Rigg drilled a 30-yard effort inches over.

But Hereford made every effort to retail some attacking impetus and Werling was only inches from meeting a driven Joe Colbeck cross.

Bartlett, though, had to do well to push away a Marc Richards header from Lee Collins’ cross as Vale went after a second goal.

Hereford squandered an ideal chance to regain the lead two minutes before the break.

Anthony Griffith brought down Werling in the area and McDermid pointed to the spot.

But Bauza’s penalty was weak and Tomlinson saved easily.

Hereford made a lively start to the second period and Colbeck’s probing run down the right ended with a chipped-shot from Richard Rose which was easily held by Tomlinson.

Vale, though, continued to look an impressive outfit and Marc Richards flashed a header just over.

Justin Richards was then unable to get a touch to a neat downward header from his strike partner as the Hereford defence opened up.

Justin Richards was foiled by the onrushing Bartlett as the furious pace was maintained by both sides.

And Bartlett pulled off a brilliant save to parry away Louis Dodds; shot from Adam Yates’ cross.

Bartlett was left clutching at air, however, on the hour when Justin Richards’ drive flew inches over.

Hereford could have regained the lead on 62 minutes after Colbeck went streaking away down the right.

The winger dragged the ball back for Bauza whose shot was touched on to a post by Tomlinson, who showed remarkable reactions to reach the ball.

Two minutes later, the keeper foiled Bauza again, leaping to touch over a 20-yard drove for a corner.

Hereford retained the attacking momentum and substitute O’Neil Thompson was robbed by a last-ditch tackle as he powered on to Colbeck’s pass.

Vale kept up their resistance and gradually moved back on to the attack with Bartlett diving to hold a Dodds shot.

And Justin Richards missed a glorious chance, heading over from Yates’ cross, unmarked and only six yards out.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green, Townsend, James, Valentine; Colbeck, Rose (Thompson 64), McQuilkin, Werling (Gwynne 74); Bauza, Canham. Subs not used: Whittaker, Weir, Evans, Lunt, Malsom.

Port Vale: Tomlinson; Yates, McCombe, Owen, Collins; Johnson (Dodds 46), Roberts, Griffith (Loft 71), Rigg (R Taylor 71); M Richards, J Richards. Subs not used: Martin, K Taylor, Fraser, Sutton.

Referee: Danny McDermid (Hampshire).

Attendance: 2651 (including 804 from Port Vale).

Red card: Hereford – Canham, professional foul, 26 min; Yellow cards: Hereford – James, foul, 76 min; Thompson, foul, 90 min.

Goals: Canham, 15 min, 1-0; M Richards pen, 27 min, 1-1.