Hereford United 2 Lincoln City 2 MATHIEU Manset scored from the spot to keep Hereford’s involvement in the FA Cup going for at least another 10 days.

The Frenchman, who livened up proceedings no end after his appearance as a second-half substitute, left no-one in any doubt who was going to take the Bulls’ second spot-kick of the game.

As soon as referee Ian Williamson had pointed to the spot after defender Adam Watts had up-ended Stuart Fleetwood, Manset grabbed the ball and resisted the claims of Guillem Bauza and Joe Heath to place the ball on the spot.

His confidence was justified as he conclusively beat goalkeeper Joe Anyon, who had saved a first-half spotkick from Fleetwood, to record United’s second successful penalty, from five attempts, this season.

Some shocking defensive blunders from both sides saw the Imps lead 2-1 at the interval.

Lincoln were the first to benefit as the Hereford rearguard went to sleep after a quickly-taken free-kick.

Scott Kerr was alive to the situation and astutely picked out Ashley Grimes who outstripped the defence before chipping delicately over Adam Bartlett from 30 yards.

As if to prove that Lincoln were every bit as vulnerable at the back as the Bulls, the visitors presented Hereford with an equaliser within minutes.

Gavin Hoyte’s back pass was short and Hereford’s man-of-the-match Rob Purdie nipped in to prod the ball past Anyon.

It was his fourth goal in six matches since returning to the club.

Hereford, however, proved conclusive winners in the battle of the blunders with the next hapless episode.

Michael Townsend tried to hold off an attacker to let the ball run through to Bartlett instead of booting the ball into the stand.

Ball, defender and attacker were always destined to reach the edge of the penalty area at the same time and Bartlett, sensing the danger, came out to try to boot clear.

Unfortunately, he dragged the ball straight to Mustapha Carayol who slid the ball into the empty net.

Hereford should have levelled just before the break when Joe Heath, looking a useful addition to the squad at left-back, drilled in a shot which was handled by Watts.

Anyon guessed which way to go and dived to catch Fleetwood’s penalty.

The arrival of Manset, Bauza and newcomer Matt Lund during the second period lifted the Bulls’ performance.

Anyon tipped over a powerful Manset drive before the big striker levelled matters.

There was still time for fortune to favour Hereford when Townsend clearly handled in the penalty area.

This time, referee Williamson chose to wave play on.

BULLS FACTFILE Hereford: Bartlett; Gwynne, Rose, Townsend, Heath; Colbeck (Lund 61), Lunt (Bauza 80), Featherstone, Purdie; Fleetwood, Canham (Manset 53). Subs not used: Weir, Werling, Stratford.

Lincoln: Anyon; Hoyte, Watts, Gowling, Anderson; Carayol, Kerr, O’Keefe, Jarrett; Grimes (Broughton 65), Hutchinson. Subs not used: Musselwhite, McCallum, Clapham, Swaibu, Hughton, Hutchinson.

Referee: Ian Williamson (Berkshire).

Attendance: 1,803 (including 235 from Lincoln).

Goals: Grimes, 18 minutes, 0-1; Purdie, 22 min, 1-1; Carayol, 26 min, 1-2; Manset pen, 85 min, 2-2.

Yellow-cards: Hereford – Gwynne, 58 min, foul; Fleetwood, 66 min, dissent; Rose, 71 min, foul; Lincoln – Kerr, 28 min, foul; Grimes, 37 min, encroaching; O’Keefe, 48 min, foul; Watts, 85 min, foul.