Full-time: Southport 2 Hereford United 2 (From Hereford Times)

4:57pm

HEREFORD missed a good chance to move up the table as they lost a two-goal lead at Southport.
Early goals from Sam Clucas and Ryan Bowman (pen) had given United a superb start but the home side were back level before the interval.
Hereford boss Martin Foyle was able to announce an unchanged team for the Bulls’ first trip to Haig Avenue – now renamed the Merseyrail Community Stadium – in seven seasons.
But there were a couple of changes on the bench, where Foyle opted to go in without a substitute goalkeeper and included the returning Josh O’Keefe and Luke Graham.
Hereford forced an early corner but swiftly turned attack into defence as Southport broke out on a swift raid.
Both teams knocked the ball around well in perfect conditions on a good surface in the early stages with the home side having the better of the attacking.
Hereford took the lead on six minutes with a swift counter-attack.
Phil Marsh’s perfectly-weighted pass sent Clucas away and he rounded goalkeeper Tony McMillan before sliding the ball into the empty net.
Six minutes later, Hereford were presented with a chance to extend their lead when James McQuilkin was brought down by Simon Grand.
Bowman stepped up to blast the ball into the corner of the net.
Harry Pell showed some defensive nous to concede a couple of corners as Hereford came under pressure.
Hereford continued to look dangerous in attack and a Clucas shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Again it led to a home attack with the lively Shaun Whalley running half the length of the field before shooting a long way wide.
But McQuilkin, who had a poor first 20 minutes, should have extended the lead when set free by good work by Marsh.
The midfielder, however, shot badly wide from an excellent position.
Hereford were lucky on 28 minutes when Marsh gave the ball away in midfield but Steven Tames headed wide from the breakaway attack.
The home side pulled a goal back on 33 minutes when a corner from Karl Ledsham curled in at the far post with Bulls keeper James Bittner clearly being impeded in his bid to get at the ball.
Hereford responded with a further corner and a shot from Will Evans which dribbled well wide.
Three minutes later, Hereford’s lead was gone.
Tames tumbled theatrically in the box under a challenge from Chris Todd and Chris Lever sent Bittner the wrong way from the spot.
Clucas should, however, have restored the advantage a minute later when he was unable to control a high-bouncing ball from a couple of yards out and hit the bar instead of the back of the net.
But Southport also had a good opportunity to complete their comeback on 41 minutes when Whalley, whose shooting did not match his approach play, shot wide from 15 yards.
The lively Whalley continued his threat as the second half got underway, skating past Heath before forcing Bittner into a low save.
Bowman was only inches from getting to a weak back pass ahead of McMillan as Hereford started promisingly.
And  McQuilkin, who was withdrawn  in a double substitution shortly afterwards, scuffed horribly wide from a good position on 58 minutes.
But Southport had a great chance on 68 minutes when the ball broke to the unmarked Darren Stephenson who sidefooted weakly straight at Bittner.
At the other end, Clucas spoiled a mazy run with a wild finish, shooting high over from 25 yards.
And Harry Pell lashed a shot into the side-netting after a promising build-up.
Hereford continued to create the occasional chance and Bowman headed wide from a Clucas cross with five minutes to go.
But Tames, at the other end, headed over from a good position as Southport tried to snatch the points at the death.
And the home striker saw an effort come back off the bar from a gilt-edged chance in stoppage time.
Hereford: 4-5-1: Bittner; Gallinagh, Stam, Todd, Heath; Marsh (Perry 59), McQuilkin (O’Keefe 59), Evans, Pell (Smikle 77), Clucas; Bowman. Subs: Graham, Clist.
Southport: 4-4-2: McMillan; Lynch (Smith 68), Grand, Parry, Lever (Willis 89); Whalley, Poku, Moogan, Ledsham; Stephenson (Almond 68), Tames. Subs not used: Hibbert, Benjamin.
Referee: Karl Evans (Manchester).
Attendance: 1,028 (including 143 from Hereford).
Goals: Clucas, 6 min, 0-1; Bowman pen, 12 min, 0-2; Ledsham, 33 min, 1-2; Lever pen, 36 min, 2-2.
Yellow cards: Hereford – Heath, foul, 31 minutes; McQuilkin, dissent, 45 min; Pell, foul, 74 min; Southport – Lynch, foul, 55 min;

4:51pm

And the home striker saw an effort come back off the bar from a gilt-edged chance in stoppage time.

4:49pm

But Tames, at the other end, headed over from a good position as Southport tried to snatch the points at the death.

4:46pm

Hereford continued to create the occasional chance and Bowman headed wide from a Clucas cross with five minutes to go.

4:37pm

And Harry Pell lashed a shot into the side-netting after a promising build-up.

4:30pm

At the other end, Clucas spoiled a mazy run with a wild finish, shooting high over from 25 yards.

4:28pm

But Southport had a great chance on 68 minutes when the ball broke to the unmarked Darren Stephenson who sidefooted weakly straight at Bittner.

4:19pm

Bowman was only inches from getting to a weak back pass ahead of McMillan as Hereford started promisingly.
And  McQuilkin, who was withdrawn  in a double substitution shortly afterwards, scuffed horribly wide from a good position on 58 minutes.

4:09pm

The lively Whalley continued his threat as the second half got underway, skating past Heath before forcing Bittner into a low save.

3:43pm

But Southport also had a good opportunity to complete their comeback on 41 minutes when Whalley, whose shooting did not match his approach play, shot wide from 15 yards.

3:40pm

Clucas should, however, have restored the advantage a minute later when he was unable to control a high-bouncing ball from a couple of yards out and hit the bar instead of the back of the net.

3:39pm

Three minutes later, Hereford’s lead was gone.
Tames tumbled theatrically in the box under a challenge from Chris Todd and Chris Lever sent Bittner the wrong way from the spot.

3:35pm

Hereford responded with a further corner and a shot from Will Evans which dribbled well wide.

3:34pm

The home side pulled a goal back on 33 minutes when a corner from Karl Ledsham curled in at the far post with Bulls keeper James Bittner clearly being impeded in his bid to get at the ball.

3:29pm

Hereford were lucky on 28 minutes when Marsh gave the ball away in midfield but Steven Tames headed wide from the breakaway attack.

3:25pm

But McQuilkin, who had a poor first 20 minutes, should have extended the lead when set free by good work by Marsh.
The midfielder, however, shot badly wide from an excellent position.

3:20pm

Hereford continued to look dangerous in attack and a Clucas shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Again it led to a home attack with the lively Shaun Whalley running half the length of the field before shooting a long way wide.

3:16pm

Harry Pell showed some defensive nous to concede a couple of corners as Hereford came under pressure.

3:14pm

Six minutes later, Hereford were presented with a chance to extend their lead when James McQuilkin was brought down by Simon Grand.
Bowman stepped up to blast the ball into the corner of the net.

3:08pm

Hereford took the lead on six minutes with a swift counter-attack.
Phil Marsh’s perfectly-weighted pass sent Clucas away and he rounded goalkeeper Tony McMillan before sliding the ball into the empty net.

3:05pm

Hereford forced an early corner but swiftly turned attack into defence as Southport broke out on a swift raid.
Both teams knocked the ball around well in perfect conditions on a good surface in the early stages with the home side having the better of the attacking.

2:22pm

HEREFORD boss Martin Foyle was able to announce an unchanged team for the Bulls’ first trip to Haig Avenue – now renamed the Merseyrail Community Stadium – in seven seasons.
But there were a couple of changes on the bench, where Foyle opted to go in without a substitute goalkeeper and included the returning Josh O’Keefe and Luke Graham.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Gallinagh, Stam, Todd, Heath; McQuilkin, Evans, Pell, Clucas; Marsh, Bowman. Subs: Graham, O’Keefe, Clist, Smikle, Perry.
Southport: 4-4-2: McMillan; Lynch, Grand, Parry, Lever; Whalley, Poku, Moogan, Ledsham; Stephenson, Tames. Subs not used: Hibbert, Almond, Smith, Wills, Benjamin.
Referee: Karl Evans (Manchester).