Battling Bulls earn replay

5:36pm Saturday 5th January 2008

Tranmere Rovers 2 Hereford United 2

HEREFORD United are in the FA Cup 4th round draw for the first time in 16 seasons.

But the Bulls will have to overcome Tranmere in a third round replay, likely to be at Edgar Street on Wednesday, January 16 to take their place in the next stage.

Hereford, who made one change with Trevor Benjamin replacing Steve Guinan, were under the cosh in the first period.

Gareth Taylor blasted an early chance over the bar and blazed over again shortly afterwards.

As Hereford struggled to come to terms with the game, it was the home side who had much the better of the chances.

Fortunately for the Bulls, though, the home side's finishing was wayward and Wayne Brown was only once called upon to make a save.

It was a memorable effort, however, as the United keeper flew to tip over a long-range effort from Craig Curran.

The Bulls keeper saved his side again twice at the start of the second period with one terrific block and then a tip-over as Calvin Zola threatened to break the deadlock.

But it was Hereford who opened the scoring on 65 minutes when Ben Smith smashed home a superb volley from 15 yards.

Hereford came to life after that and the equaliser when it came was something of a surprise.

The scorer, however, was well-known to Hereford as Steve Jennings, who spent three months on loan at Edgar Street last season, crashed the ball in off the bar.

But Hereford went straight back on the attack and Theo Robinson slipped a pass through to Trevor Benjamin whose flashing angled drive gave Danny Coyne no chance.

Within 60 seconds, Tranmere were level again when Paul McLaren's cross was headed in at the far post by Gareth Taylor.

After that, it was Hereford who looked the more likely scorers but the two sides must do it all again at Edgar Street next week.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, Collins, Taylor; Gwynne (McCombe, 77 min), Smith, Diagouraga, Johnson (Rose, 87 min); Benjamin, Robinson. Subs not used: Ingham, Fitzpatrick, Palmer.

Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, McLaren, Sherriff, Kay, Zola (Jones, 71 min), Taylor, Jennings, Chorley, Taylor, Curran. Subs not used: Tremarco, Mullin, Ahmed, Acterberg.

Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham).

Attendance: 6,909

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