DEFENCES came out on top in this scrappy affair as both sides looked to grab the goal that would seal the victory and all three points.

With Hereford looking to end a run of three straight defeats, they started the first half brightly, with a couple of half chances coming in the opening ten minutes, firing wide on a couple of occasions.

Hereford’s real opportunity came after 15 minutes when the visitors went a player down for ten minutes, following a yellow card sin bin. However, despite keeping Cardiff in the own half for the whole of this period, the home side were unable to find the back of the net, with both Mike Broady and Rich Green forcing good saves from the visiting keeper.

The half soon turned into a scrappy contest, as Cardiff went back up to their full complement, with both teams receiving two green cards, an official warning, apiece before the half time whistle.

There was very little goalmouth action to report in the second half as tempers began to rise as the contest became a midfield battle.

Again a number of cards were handed out throughout the half, with Cardiff receiving their second yellow as well as Hereford picking up two of their own but, despite both sides having periods of 11 v 10, neither managed to grab the vital goal and as the final whistle blew the 0-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game.

Hereford Pete Preece, Mark Allen (C), Leo Mather, Will Steel, Giles Stokes, George Veltom, Hamish Cameron, Rich Green, Mike Broady, Stew Goodarzi, Charlie Jones, Paddy Goodarzi, Tom Clarke