DESPITE seeming a ‘little bit harsh’ the Bulls almost capitalised on a 83rd minute penalty decision by referee Scott Simpson in their 1-1 draw against Brackley Town.

With the game heading into the last seven minutes Jordan Nicholson’s shot hit the hand of a Brackley defender resulting in Simpson pointing to the penalty spot.

Tom Owen-Evans sent the resulting penalty over the bar, but the debate over whether it should have been a penalty continued.

“I’ve seen it and I know his hands were down but the ball has hit it,” said Hereford midfielder Simeon Maye.

“I went straight over to the referee and said ‘penalty’ and to be fair he gave it.

“The new handball ruling states that the ball has to hit an arm inside the box for a penalty to be awarded."

Asked if he would hit the ball at a defender’s arm intentionally? Maye added: “If I’m good enough to hit it then maybe, but I don’t think it was intentional today.”

Hereford Interim Manager Tim Harris thought that the penalty award was a ‘little bit harsh’.

He added: “I don’t want to stand here and say that I didn’t see it but it looked a little bit harsh from my point of view.

“We will take it but the biggest disappointment is that we never took advantage of it.

“He (Tom Owen-Evans) has scored a few penalties since he has come to the club and you would rely on him to do it but that’s the way it went today and you’ve just got to take it on the chin.”

Meanwhile Brackley manager Kevin Wilkin said it would have been a 'travesty' to lose the game from that penalty decision.

He said: “I think if you’re going to start giving penalties for moments like that we’re in a whole lot of trouble.

“Quite what you can do in that situation is beyond me. He is probably three yards away and the lad has struck it at pace.

“It would have been a travesty to have lost the game in that moment.”