Full-time: Grimsby Town 1 Hereford United 1 (From Hereford Times)
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Full-time: Grimsby Town 1 Hereford United 1
2:13pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in Reports By Richard Prime
This live event has finished
6:02pm
RYAN BOWMAN ensured another point for the Bulls on the road with a battling performance at Blundell Park.
Grimsby have gone back to the head of the Blue Square Bet Premier table but United gave as good as they got on an entertaining afternoon.
Bulls boss Martin Foyle wasted no time in drafting Fulham loanee James Musa into his starting line-up.
The New Zealander was named on the left of a four-man midfield, with Marley Watkins reverting to the right.
The only other change saw the return of Ryan Bowman who took over from Kyle Perry after making an appearance as a second-half substitute at Kidderminster on New Year’s Day.
Former Bull Joe Colbeck was included in the Grimsby Town which also included a previous Hereford target, Richard Brodie, who has signed on loan for the Mariners from Crawley Town.
Hereford could hardly have made a worse start, conceding a goal inside two minutes.
Luke Graham was harshly penalised for a foul on Brodie and Colbeck’s free-kick to the far-post was headed in by Nathan Pond.
Colbeck, who made a lively start, forced a corner for the home side on eight minutes.
Joe Heath, unnecessarily, conceded a second moments later but neither caused problems for the Hereford defence.
The Bulls hit back with a neat move followed by a poor shot from Harry Pell which dribbled well wide of the target.
Hereford found some fluency on 28 minutes with Heath making good ground down the left.
His cross reached Musa who showed neat control before firing in a shot which was charged down.
The rebound fell to Pell whose drive from the edge of the area was turned around a post by the diving McKeown.
But Hereford again showed some vulnerability from a corner on 32 minutes.
Colbeck’s cross was headed down by Pond to Ian Miller who volleyed inches over.
Pell picked up a booking on 34 minutes for a scything challenge on Colbeck, just moments after dumping Brodie on the floor.
Hereford were level on 42 minutes with a superbly worked goal.
Watkins sped on to a pass from Corbett and raced to the by-line before crossing for Bowman to prod home at the near post.
But Grimsby almost regained the lead in the half’s final minute when Colbeck headed narrowly over after Heath failed to prevent Marshall from delivering a cross on the Grimsby right.
Hereford were pegged back at the start of the second half but showed early attacking intent with Josh O’Keefe volleying wide.
Grimsby started to increase the pressure and it took a fine block from Luke Graham to get in the way of a Colbeck shot after Marcus Marshall had made good ground down the right.
Colbeck was replaced on the hour as play continued to be even.
Hereford enjoyed good spells of pressure without really testing McKeown before Brodie blazed high over from 20 yards.
A carelessly conceded free-kick by Stam for a foul on Marshall brought danger for the Bulls.
But the short free-kick led to a shot from Brodie which flashed inches wide of James Bittner’s goal.
Watkins continued to look the biggest threat for Hereford and another searing run down the right was only stopped by the intervention of three defenders.
The winger then curled a free-kick just wide from the edge of the area.
But immediately at the other end, the ball fell conveniently for Brodie on the edge of the area to fire in a volley which flew straight at Bittner.
The Bulls keeper had to make more of an effort, however, on 82 minutes to keep out a low drive from Marshall.
With time running out, Hereford forced a corner on the right but the danger was easily cleared.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Corbett, Graham, Stam, Heath; Watkins, Pell, O’Keefe, Musa; Sharp, Bowman. Subs not used: McQuilkin, Clist, Hackney, Perry, Smikle.
Grimsby: 4-4-2: McKeown; Hatton, Pond, Miller, Wood; Colbeck (Devitt 60), Disley, Niven, Marshall; Cook (Southwell 79), Brodie. Subs not used: Pearson, Pearson, Thanoj.
Referee: Wayne Barratt (Worcestershire).
Attendance: 3,793 (including 70 from Hereford).
Goals: Pond, 2 min, 1-0; Bowman, 42 min, 1-1.
Yellow cards: Hereford – Pell, foul, 34 min; Sharp, foul, 83 min;
4:42pm
The Bulls keeper had to make more of an effort, however, on 82 minutes to keep out a low drive from Marshall.
4:36pm
But immediately at the other end, the ball fell conveniently for Brodie on the edge of the area to fire in a volley which flew straight at Bittner.
4:35pm
The winger then curled a free-kick just wide from the edge of the area.
4:32pm
Watkins continued to look the biggest threat for Hereford and another searing run down the right was only stopped by the intervention of three defenders.
4:29pm
carelessly conceded free-kick by Stam for a foul on Marshall brought danger for the Bulls.
But the short free-kick led to a shot from Brodie which flashed inches wide of James Bittner’s goal.
4:26pm
Colbeck was replaced on the hour as play continued to be even.
Hereford enjoyed good spells of pressure without really testing McKeown before Brodie blazed high over from 20 yards.
4:15pm
Grimsby started to increase the pressure and it took a fine block from Luke Graham to get in the way of a Colbeck shot after Marcus Marshall had made good ground down the right.
4:09pm
Hereford were pegged back at the start of the second half but showed early attacking intent with Josh O’Keefe volleying wide.
3:46pm
But Grimsby almost regained the lead in the half’s final minute when Colbeck headed narrowly over after Heath failed to prevent Marshall from delivering a cross on the Grimsby right.
3:43pm
Hereford were level on 42 minutes with a superbly worked goal.
Watkins sped on to a pass from Corbett and raced to the by-line before crossing for Bowman to prod home at the near post.
3:37pm
Pell picked up a booking on 34 minutes for a scything challenge on Colbeck, just moments after dumping Brodie on the floor.
3:33pm
But Hereford again showed some vulnerability from a corner on 32 minutes.
Colbeck’s cross was headed down by Pond to Ian Miller who volleyed inches over.
3:30pm
Hereford found some fluency on 28 minutes with Heath making good ground down the left.
His cross reached Musa who showed neat control before firing in a shot which was charged down.
The rebound fell to Pell whose drive from the edge of the area was turned around a post by the diving McKeown.
3:16pm
The Bulls hit back with a neat move followed by a poor shot from Harry Pell which dribbled well wide of the target.
3:13pm
The Bulls hit back with a neat move followed by a poor shot from Harry Pell which dribbled well wide of the target.
3:10pm
Colbeck, who made a lively start, forced a corner for the home side on eight minutes.
Joe Heath, unnecessarily, conceded a second moments later but neither caused problems for the Hereford defence.
3:04pm
Hereford could hardly have made a worse start, conceding a goal inside two minutes.
Luke Graham was harshly penalised for a foul on Brodie and Colbeck’s free-kick to the far-post was headed in by Nathan Pond.
2:34pm
BULLS boss Martin Foyle wasted no time in drafting Fulham loanee James Musa into his starting line-up.
The New Zealander was named on the left of a four-man midfield, with Marley Watkins reverting to the right.
The only other change saw the return of Ryan Bowman who took over from Kyle Perry after making an appearance as a second-half substitute at Kidderminster on New Year’s Day.
Former Bull Joe Colbeck was included in the Grimsby Town which also included a previous Hereford target, Richard Brodie, who has signed on loan for the Mariners from Crawley Town.
Hereford: 4-4-2: Bittner; Corbett, Graham, Stam, Heath; Watkins, Pell, O’Keefe, Musa; Sharp, Bowman. Subs not used: McQuilkin, Clist, Hackney, Perry, Smikle.
Grimsby: 4-4-2: McKeown; Hatton, Pond, Miller, Wood; Colbeck, Disley, Niven, Marshall; Cook, Brodie. Subs not used: Pearson, Devitt, Pearson, Southwell, Thanoj.
Referee: Wayne Barratt (Worcestershire).
