Telford 1 Hereford 1 - Report and pictures
Daniel Udoh’s first half rocket earned AFC Telford United a point against struggling Hereford but it could have been all three had they been more clinical in front of goal.
George Lloyd stunned the hosts, who had dominated early on, but scrambling the Bulls in front.
By that point Telford should have been ahead, but they had to come from behind again for the second time in a week as Udoh turned and fired a fierce shot in off the foot of the post.
Goalkeeper Matt Yates’ double save early in the second period kept the scores level, before the visitors frustrated the Bucks throughout the half, and they couldn’t find that elusive winner.
Gavin Cowan was forced into just one change, with Ross White replacing the injured Zak Lilly in the back three.
Prior to kick off the Bucks joined the football community around the country, holding a minute silence in memory of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died along with four others in Saturday’s helicopter crash outside the club’s stadium.
Cowan was hoping his side could build some momentum with a second victory in a week, and they began on the front foot, almost racing into a two goal lead inside six minutes.
Darryl Knights had a shot deflected over after a poor Hereford clearance, before captain Shane Sutton rose highest in the box from the resulting Steph Morley corner, but he could only head wide.
Telford were bang up for this one, but in stark contrast Hereford were at sixes and sevens and looked like a side who had gone ten games without a win.
Knights went close on two more occasions in the opening 13 minutes, firing wide from 12 yards, before hitting a shoot straight at keeper Yates after Henry Cowans through ball.
Then, after dominating the opening 20 minutes, the hosts men were hit by a bigger sucker punch than they were against York, as the Bulls pinched the lead in scrappy fashion.
James Roberts had a shot blocked, before Hereford recycled the ball back into the box.
Cowans dallied in possession in the six yard area, allowing Lloyd to nick the ball off him and poke it into the corner of the net.
It was a horrible goal to concede, and rocked the Bucks who up to that point had looked like the only side who would score.
Tom Owen-Evans had a shot deflected wide, before Bulls defender Jordan Cullinane-Liburd missed a glorious chance to make it two, heading a Tom O’Sullivan cross over.
After a rocky spell, Telford settled once more and set about penning Hereford into the defence third.
They remained patient in their search for an equaliser, and it came in spectacular fashion on 36 minutes.
After playing it across the field, Udoh picked the ball up on the edge of the box before turning and crashing a low left foot rocket in off the foot of the post.
But within minutes, the Bucks almost fell behind for a second time.
Hereford broke down the left five minutes before the break, and Lloyd’s low shot beat Wycherley and cannoned off the post.
The game was ebbing and flowing and it could have been Telford with the half time lead.
Right on half time, Theo Streete found space to box but he volleyed a lofted Morley cross wide.
Ellis Deeney drew a save out of Yates early in the second period, before the Bulls stopper produced a top class double save to deny Telford the lead.
Udoh robbed possession from the defender on the right, before crossing for unmarked Knights who was denied by Yates, with the keeper throwing out a hand while on the floor to keep out the re-bound.
Hereford were restricted to chances, with James Roberts free kick held by the keeper, before Danny Greenslade fired wide.
But Marc Richards’ side were defending resolutely, stifling the Bucks who were struggling to find the key to the visiting defence despite dominating possession.
They continued to probe, but more disciplined defending from Hereford kept the door shut on Telford.
For all their possession they struggled to create the clear cut openings they passed up in the first period.
The first half misses cost the Bucks and players will know that it was two points dropped.
KEY MOMENTS
5 - CHANCE - Sutton rises highest to meet a Steph Morley corner but he can only direct it wide.
6 - CHANCE - Ball falls to Darryl Knights on the box but the forward lashes wide from 12 yards.
13 - CHANCE - Knights goes even closer in a frantic first 13 minutes. Henry Cowan’s through ball finds Knights who fires straight at the keeper.
23 - GOAL - Bulls take the lead against the run of play as George Lloyd robs Cowans of the ball in the box, and pokes it home.
35 - GOAL - Daniel Udoh turns 20 yards out, and rifles a left foot shot in off the foot of the post.
40 - CHANCE - Hereford break, and Lloyd’s low shot beats Andy Wycherley and cannons off the foot of the post.
Telford: (3-5-2) Wycherley, White, Morley (McQuilkin 85), Deeney, Sutton, Streete, Cowans, Royle (Dawson 67), Morgan-Smith (Brown 64), Udoh, Knights
Subs not used: Smith, Bramley
Hereford: (3-5-2) Yates, Thomas, Greenslade, Cullinane-Liburd, Wassall, Smith, McGrath, O'Sullivan, Roberts (White 87), Lloyd, Owen-Evans
Subs not used: White, Jackson, Murphy, Finn, Horsell
Attendance: 1,804
Referee: Alex Kirkley