Hereford 1 Telford 1 - Report and pictures

Gavin Cowan’s men were a goal down after a slow start on Bank Holiday weekend, where they fell behind inside 10 minutes to Rowan Liburd’s well-taken opener.

Telford, who began the day outside the top seven on goal difference, rallied in their game in hand and improved as the opener period went on.

Sutton netted a tap in just after the hour mark following superb work from Theo Streete to rescue a dead ball and put it on a plate for his defensive partner. The point keeps Telford’s fate in their own hands.

But in a physical encounter - where Hereford were shown five yellow cards - Telford were unable to snatch a winner, with Joe Bursik making some decent late saves to save the point.

It is a fourth draw (all 1-1) in six league outings for Cowan’s side, who are one clear of rivals Blyth with two matches to play, beginning at home to Alfreton on Easter Monday.

Analysis

The Bucks arrived at a sun-drenched Edgar Street knowing the task at hand. Most of their National League North rivals had played yesterday, where resurgent Blyth Spartans leapfrogged Cowan’s men on goal difference into the play-off places.

Telford knew any points would put their top seven aspirations back into their own hands against a Bulls side that have won just once in five, but have little to play for two places and 13 points clear of the drop zone.

Cowan made just one change from the team that comfortably saw off Curzon Ashton at home last time out. Rested top scorer Dan Udoh returned for Marcus Dinanga.

Brendon Daniels was missing from the Bucks 18 while Ellis Deeney served the second of his three-match ban.

There was a boost in the welcome return of Henry Cowans to the matchday squad. The midfielder has been out for a few months with a knee injury and has made his return ahead of schedule.

The travelling Telford fans were outnumbered by the locals but made themselves heard ahead of kick-off in support of their side, who were all in red in their changed colours.

There seemed little to separate the two sides in the untidy opening stages as both sides settled in. There were a few neat touches from the home side, who edged the opening few moments before taking advantage of the first real attack.

Hereford No.10, playmaker James Waite, had some time and threaded a clever through ball to Liburd, who was able to profit from some generous defending.

Bucks stoppers Sutton and Streete lost each other with a breakdown of communication and striker Liburd made them pay, taking a touch before curling a finish into the far corner beyond Bursik.

The opener knocked Telford off their stride somewhat. A lengthy stoppage for Andre Brown’s head injury and other niggling challenges - plus a meaty lunge on Ross White by Jak Hickman - made for a scrappy first quarter of the game.

Cowan was unimpressed at some of the stoppages. Both sides shared possession, neither looking after the ball to the best of their ability. Hereford got into some telling positions but the final ball was just off.

Dangerman Udoh had his pocket picked when about to shoot while Ryan Barnett’s well-struck half-volley was blocked.

The physical encounter suited Hereford. Cowan’s men saw more of the ball as the first half wore on, but were not making their possession advantage count.

The Bulls were not concerned about getting stuck in, skipper Josh Gowling was also booked, to add to Hickman’s early caution.

Telford finished the half much the stronger, with Barnett heavily involved. His lightning feet were too much for the home backline. One particular low cross cut through the Hereford box with nobody there to take advantage.

The visitors came out with more intent after the break. Darryl Knights, on the periphery in the first period, pushed closer to Udoh and Brown and, on occasions, they almost combined to go through on goal.

Barnett helped one over after a Yates spill but a foul was the decision. Hereford midfielder Elliot Richards was inches from stealing the show with an impudent chip from the edge of the box. Bursik dealt with it well.

On-loan Shrews man Barnett stepped through the gears and was proving too hot for Hereford to handle.

His crossing had varied throughout the afternoon but the youngster delivered a peach across the box and with goalkeeper and defenders unable to clear, Brown just couldn’t convert.

James McQuilkin was then denied by a decent block after Udoh had won a 50-50 challenge with keeper Yates.

Cowan rolled the dice on the hour, sending on Cowans for his return for Brown as Knights took up a more advanced position.

All the pressure was on the Hereford goal and Telford got their big breakthrough three minutes after the hour.

A Steph Morley deep delivery from the left looked to be flying out of play but defender Streete kept the ball in play superbly, winning a brave header across goal for partner Sutton to convert into the empty net.

It was a big goal for Cowan’s men who were in the ascendency and keen to go and get a winner.

Telford were, at times, unhappy with the overly-physical nature of Hereford’s play. Both Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and Kieran Thomas went into strong challenges.

And the hosts upped the ante inside the final 20 minutes, raising their performance after a sloppy start to the second period.

They could have regained the lead twice. Firstly Cowan’s men were indebted to Bursik for a fine one-on-one stop to deny Liburd a second, before Bursik made a more comfortable stop from a powerful Mike Symons header.

The Bucks were unable to generate a telling final chance to take all three points back to Shropshire but settled with a share of the spoils that was enough to lift them back to seventh.

Key moments

7 - Goal Hereford. James Waite’s through ball splits Shane Sutton and Theo Streete, allowing Rowan Liburd in to finish well into the far corner.

16 - Jak Hickman’s corner is a real danger and flies straight through the Bucks’ six yard box when it only needed a touch.

32 - Mike Symons has a sniff through on goal after Hereford play on from a head collision but Sutton blocks his shot.

37 - A Telford free-kick is flapped at by Matt Yates, the Bucks help it back in with Streete in on goal but he blazes it well over. The assistant belatedly raised his offside flag.

40 - James McQuilkin shoots low from distance but drags it well wide at the near post.

45+2 - Jon Royle has a go from 25 yards out and his decent strike is not far over.

51 - Nearly a glorious goal. Telford’s defence switch off out wide, Mike Symons keeps it in, finds Elliot Richards, who shows great feet before a delightful chip is acrobatically saved by Joe Bursik.

61 - James McQuilkin is forced wide after Udoh squared the ball and Hereford get a priceless block in.

63 - GOAL Telford! Steph Morley’s deep delivery is brilliantly kept alive by Streete and, with the keeper in no man’s land, Sutton puts into the empty net from close range.

71 - Big Telford let off. Waite’s little through ball for Liburd is perfect and the frontman goes one-on-one with Bursik, but the Bucks keeper pulls off a fine save.

82 - The hosts are asking questions with Telford off their stride. This time Mike Symons’ powerful downward header from a left sided cross is kept out by Bursik.

Hereford (4-4-2):

Yates; Hickman, Cullinane-Liburd, Gowling (c), Greensdale; Thomas, Richards (Finn 83), O’Sullivan (Wesolowski, 69), Symons; Liburd, Waite.

Subs not used: Ezewele, Wharton, Hill.

AFC Telford United (3-4-1-2):

Bursik; Streete, Sutton ©, White; Barnett (Morgan-Smith, 78), Royle, McQuilkin, Morley; Knights; Brown (Cowans, 59), Udoh (Dinanga, 90).

Subs not used: Smith, Dawson.

Referee: Steven Copeland

Attendance: 2,623 (237 AFC Telford fans)